Tips to Save Money on an Engagement Ring

(466 Words)
An engagement ring is a symbol of your love, a one of a kind piece that a woman wears as her signature piece. You want something special, but you are also on a budget. Use the following techniques to get a beautiful ring for a reasonable cost.
Choose a ring with many small diamonds instead of one large one
There are many ways to make an engagement ring look more substantial than it is and save hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Generally the most expensive part of a wedding ring is the center stone. Instead of one huge stone, buy a ring with a cluster of many smaller stones. This gives much of the same look but can make a $500 ring instead of a $5000 one.
Look in discount sources
There are many discount stores that offer engagement rings such as Wal-mart. Price compare at the stores to look for the ones that offer the best deals. You might not even need to go to an actual discount store. For instance, department stores are not “discount stores” but they do vary in the deals they offer for their rings.
Look online
There are a variety of online sources that can provide excellent deals on engagement rings. For instance, you can look on EBay. Of course there is a great deal of fraud, so you must be very careful. Use Paypal with a credit card to protect yourself. Shop online to see what deals you can find.
Look for sales and special
Diamonds and engagement rings go on sales and specials during different times of the year. This may be especially so before the winter holidays on days like Black Friday and before Valentine’s day. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars on a beautiful ring.
Choose a center stone that is not a diamond
There is no rule that says an engagement ring has to have a diamond in the center. If you have a huge amethyst, for instance, you will pay a fraction of the cost. Of course, some women expect a diamond, so make sure she is on board with this before going this route.
Look for slightly lower quality or color in the diamond
Diamonds cost more based on size, clarity and color. Sometimes you can give in a little on these and save a lot of money. Oftentimes the differences are so small that you can barely notice.
Metal
You can also save money based on the type of money you get. For instance, a ring with 10c gold will be cheaper than one with 18c gold.
There are many great ways to save money on an engagement ring. Of course the love it represents is priceless. The above strategies can be combined to provide even more savings.