Engagement Rings For Cheap - Popping the Question on a Shoestring Budget

Inexpensive engagement rings may sound like a contradiction in terms, but they really do exist. Engagement rings are often one of the most expensive pieces of jewelry a woman will own, but this doesn't have to be the case. You can still give her the most beautiful ring she will ever have and not be in debt for the rest of your life.

Here are some ways to find inexpensive engagement rings.

• Jewelry sales

If you are looking for inexpensive engagement rings look for jewelry sales. Jewelry stores will have sales just like any other store. You can keep an eye on the ads that come in the weekly newspaper or you can go to the store each week. It may be possible that they can add you to a mailing and you will receive notices when they have a sale going on. You might also be able to see specials at their website.

• Used rings

There is nothing wrong with a used ring. They are checked out and any problems with prongs will be fixed before they ever put it on the shelf for resale. This is a great way to get inexpensive engagement rings. These types of rings are usually found at a pawn shop. You might be surprised at the rings you will find in these types of shops, they are beautiful and are often will cost much less than at a regular jewelry store.

• Discount stores

You may be surprised at what you will find at stores like Walmart or Target. They have beautiful jewelry that is half the price as a chain jewelry store. They may not have an extensive selection, but their pieces are just beautiful and will fit into any budget.

• Shop Online

You may be able to find good deals on inexpensive engagement rings online. Searching websites such as eBay or Craig's List is an excellent place to start. However, you need to be careful when purchasing on these sites since these are used items and you more than likely won't get to see and inspect them before you hand over your money.

Most people associate engagement rings with diamonds and gold. You can save a lot of money on inexpensive engagement rings if you go with silver instead of gold or you go with fewer diamonds. Engagement rings don't even have to be diamonds. You could go with rubies or emeralds and not pay as much as you would with a diamond. It's also possible to purchase a cubic zirconium rather than diamonds and you will still have a gorgeous ring.

Another option is to go with a solid gold band instead of diamonds. Some other options for inexpensive engagements rings would be smaller diamonds, promise rings, or birth stone rings.

When you are about to pop the question, you need a beautiful ring. Just because you don't have a lot of money doesn't mean you can't give her a beautiful ring. Inexpensive engagement rings can be found in a number of different places. All you have to do is be prepared to shop around and keep your eyes open for the perfect ring to give that special person.

By Darlyn Burkle

Choosing a Ring That's Right For You

Have you ever been to a jewelry store and have no idea where to start? This is very common. There are so many different types of rings including color, the type of gem, the cut, etc. I have put together a guide here to help you choose the ring that is right for you.

Go with your gut

Nothing can sway a woman once she decides what she wants. A lot of couples decide on a ring within the first 10-20 minutes, most jewelers believe couples should go with their gut, because it is the one that will make them most happy.

There's really no need explaining, if you like the ring, you like the ring. 85% of the time a woman goes back to the first ring she picked out.

If you really don't know

If you are set on keeping the proposal a secret, and you don't know what type of setting to get it's a good idea to get a solitaire diamond on a simple band, and have your bride to be come back to decide the setting of her choice.

If you're totally stumped, a solitaire diamond on a white gold band is a good choice.

Have something made unique for you

Jewelers can use optical illusion to make all sorts of shapes and styles work for a woman's hand. If the ring is tapered in the back and more narrow in the front, shorter fingers can take a wider band. For longer fingers, a stone set with two smaller ones on either side is suggested.

Take your skin tone into account

Typically, there are two different colors yellow, or yellow gold, or white which includes white gold or platinum. Platinum is more expensive, but more durable and white gold is essentially the same color.

Many jewelers argue that lighter skin tones look better with yellow gold. You should choose your ring on style and preference as well, however most brides these days are choosing white gold over yellow gold, say most interviewed jewelers.

National ads and marketing campaigns seem to have given rose gold a boost in popularity as a color for bands now. Rose gold was big once long ago, and now is coming back because everything seems to cycle.

You can purchase a removable band for about $400 that can instantly change the color of your ring, so don't feel like you have to stay with just one color. Or if you don't want to do that, a two tone ring is a great way to make a style more flexible as time changes.

Diamonds are forever

Diamonds always have and most likely always will be the number one choice for engagement and wedding rings. This is said to be because they are white and colorless so they can go with anything... still, there are trends these days going more towards pink, blue, or yellow diamonds.

Don't go overboard, a one carat diamond ring is the most common choice for engagement rings because they hold shine and luster the best, while still being a simple shape.

You may outlive the style of your ring

Just because you used the ring on your wedding day doesn't mean you're stuck with it for the rest of all days, many times couples can afford bigger diamonds later in life. We get used to the ring we have, but as we get older we tend to want something more substantial, lots of times couples add stones for each child, for instance.

By Evelyn Whitaker