How to Buy an Engagement Ring on a Budget?
By Devorah Isenberg 
, Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:54 AM
We’ve all seen it hundreds of times—the couple enjoys a lavish and romantic dinner, complete with champagne and soufflé, and then the guy gets down on one knee, pulling a small velvet box out of the back pocket of his designer suit. Popping it open to reveal an extravagant, sparkling diamond ring, he asks the question, prompting the girl to open her mouth in shock, while the crowd in the restaurant to burst into applause. The music swells, and the couple kisses while he slides the ring—which fits perfectly, of course—onto her manicured finger.
While this version of the proposal moment is the one immortalized in books and movies, and is acted out several times a year on shows like The Bachelor, as anyone who has actually gotten engaged knows, the real process towards getting engaged is actually both more fun and more complicated. For one thing, the engagement ring is rarely a completely surprise—over 50% of brides say they had some part in choosing the ring along with their fiancés-to-be. Additionally, the reality is that many couples these days tie the knot before they have the finances to purchase that multi-carat, designer, platinum, diamond-embellished diamond ring of their dreams. But not matter what your engagement ring budget, you can find the perfect diamond engagement ring that you and your fiancée will treasure for years to come. There are several tricks you can try to stretch your budget without ending up with a ring that looks cheap or tacky. After all, a budget engagement ring can be just as beautiful, if slightly more modest, than the most dazzling million-dollar celebrity diamond engagement ring!
--Shop online. Not only do Internet-based diamond retailers have wider inventories, which means it will be easier for you to maximize your engagement ring budget when it comes to buying the diamond, but e-tailers are also able to offer slightly better prices on everything from diamonds to engagement rings, because they do not have the overhead costs of operating a retail store.
 |
| Amphora for Princess Diamond Engagement Ring |
--Choose a halo. While the small diamonds set into the band of a ring can add a lot to the cost of your ring setting, maximize that sparkle by choosing a setting that clusters those small pavé diamonds right around the center diamond. That way, the eye is drawn directly to that center setting, and the halo of sparkle can make even a modest-sized stone shine beautifully.
 |
| Vatche Solitaire Engagement Ring |
--Go for the gold. While celebrities often opt for platinum engagement rings and wedding bands, gold makes a more affordable replacement that can be significantly more affordable, perfect for a budget ring. Choose yellow gold for a classic, vintage-style look, or white gold for the clean, modern look preferred by most brides. Keep in mind that white gold rings will need to be redipped in rhodium every few years to maintain their luster. Still, if the goal is to buy an engagement ring on a budget, white gold may be your best bet.
--Purchase the correct size. While some grooms-to-be try to guess their girl’s ring size and count on getting the ring resized if it doesn’t fit, you can allot more of your precious engagement ring budget to the ring itself if you take care to make sure the size you are purchasing will fit well in the first place.
 |
| Custom Platinum Diamond Halo Engagement & Wedding Ring with Blue Sapphire |
--Think outside the diamond. Although over 90% of brides still opt for the classic elegance of a diamond, if you are looking for a budget engagement ring solution, you might want to consider a different gemstone instead. Rubies, emeralds and sapphires are all classic choices, although some modern brides are even looking at stones in every color from yellow to pink. With everyone from Jessica Simpson to Kate Middleton wearing gemstone rings, it doesn’t have to be obvious that you were looking for an engagement ring on a budget all together!
For more specific questions ask our experts
