How much to spend on an Engagement Ring?

DP and I have decided that we would like to choose my engagement ring together. Something that we both like. The only thing is, he wants to spend ALOT of money on a ring and I want to spend under $1000-, 2 reasons.

#1 - I do not feel comfortable carrying something that costs over $1000 around on my finger.

#2 - I could think of better things to spend the money on, especially since I have soooo much jewellery and wear none of it except the same earrings everyday (I know that THIS ring will be special and I will not take it off but still.)

So my question is how much do you think should be spent on an engagement ring? and are there any jewellery shops that you recommend?

Only spend what you are comfortable spending. Don't decide on the ring based on price - if you fall in love with a ring that is $800 then your DP shouldn't say no because it's not expensive. On the other hand, if you find a ring that is over $1000 that you really love and your DP is happy to pay for it then you should get it.

You don't get an engagement ring every day - it will be the most sentimental and special piece of jewellry that you own - so make the most of it! My DH used to manage a Michael Hill store and they are always fantastic and very helpful. They have interest free deals and also reduce the price if you pay cash so don't be afraid to haggle. You also get lifetime jewellry cleaning for free! They have heaps of "sets" which include the wedding band.

I'm a jewellry lover from way back so I'm probably not the best person to ask - we spent a fortune on my engagement ring, wedding ring and wedding jewellry!

I think you should look at what you want first before deciding on a price.
I had a certain style in mind when we looked at engagement rings. The one I wanted was a reasonable price, but not as much as we could have spent, but that was because I had my eye on a wedding ring that cost the same amount.
My sister got an engagement ring perfect for her that was a lot cheaper than her DF was planning on also. It really is about what is right for you.

ETA - You can always get your ring insured. All mine are insured. If it is under $2k(?) you can put it on your contents insurance.

The "recommendation" these days is 2-3mths wages (who comes up with these things?!) but I say go with whatever youre comfortable with.
A few of things to consider:

* Your DP will want to be proud of whatever ends up on your finger
* It's something of great sentimental value to pass on to your DD :)
* You dont HAVE to have a diamond engagement ring! You can still get something gorgeous, but less expensive. I have a pink sapphire and LOVE it, and get comments all the time ;)
* You do have to LOVE it - I have a couple of friends who were a bit blah-zay (sp?!) about their rings at time of purchase and have since regretted what they got - one actually got a new one a couple of years later!
* Most jewellery stores have massive MASSIVE mark-ups - find something you like and then get prices of getting it made, you can save a fortune.

Thats all I can think of atm - all the best with what you decide! :)

Well someone once told me don't spend too much because if you're ever in financial trouble and your ring is worth a nice amount of money its the first to go (from a woman who had to sell her engagement ring). But spend enough so that its nice and it'll last (no use getting something cheap and flimsy that might warp or split).

Thats just my opinion anyway... I'm pretty practical though lol, and not the funnest (is that a word? lol) person to shop with hahaha!

i agree with the other ladies - go with something you love, NOT the price tag on it! we spent under 1000 on mine (engagement and wedder), simply because we both liked the rings, not because we were looking at a particular price range. we looked at heaps, and nothing caught my attention! i know we could have gotten something similar with larger stones, and paid a whole lot more for it, but to be honest, i'm like you - i like simple, and was happier with the smaller stones!

i honestly think the rules of what the guy is supposed to pay are archaic! who CARES about the dollar value - it's about the sentimental value!

I spent a lot less on my ring than we had budgeted for because I looked at heaps and they were all too boring and when I finally found one we both loved it was relatively cheap.
I agree that it doesn't need to be a diamond - the diamond convention is nothing more than a clever bit of marketing by deBeers.

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the diamond convention is nothing more than a clever bit of marketing by deBeers.

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SOOOO0 true! Diamonds are actually MORE COMMON than the amythest!

DH wanted to get me a diamond at one stage - I told him that I dont want to be just as special as everyone else.

I have a lovely yellow sapphire that takes everyone's breath away.

As far as the cost is concerned - can you put a price on love? Does it really matter if it cost $100 or $10,000? Who cares for the cost - it is what it means that is the important part.

As little as possible. You will appreciate the extra money saved when you pay for your wedding.

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As little as possible. You will appreciate the extra money saved when you pay for your wedding.

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lol I'm the opposite. I would rather spend more on something I'll wear for the rest of my life and save on the wedding.

I fell in LURRVE with a $3000 eng ring, and flatley refused to let Adam buy it. We SO didn't have the money, even though we were both working at the time, with only the 3 kids, not 5!!

Within months it was on sale for $1800, interest free layby at Micheal Hills. So we layby'ed, and it took a few months but I have my perfect ring for almost half price!!! :dance:

So shop around, and dont be in a rush. The perfect ring WILL come along.... ;)

We spent more than we wanted to but we loved the ring!! Bonus was that it was on special or there is no way we would have got it as it was 50% off we just were lucky.

I had idea that i wanted princess cut diamond and when i tryed them on i didnt like it and neither did dh, we then spoted my ring and fell in love with it!! I onoy tryed on 2 rings and looked in 1 other shop before returning and getting the ring i loved!!

Go with what you like not how much it costs. As it is one special piece of jewlerry u will have forever.

i didnt get to pick my ring and still to this day i have no idea how much its worth!!!!

We spent a bit more than what we wanted. But the particular style i had in mind was not easy to find, nor cheap. I don't regret it at all though.

I wanted something plain, and I did not want the traditional solitaire diamond with claws or in a round setting. I ended up with a flat band with 13 little square diamonds in it. I absolutely love it, glad it is flat and not raised, glad it is different. We spent about $1400 i think.

If you want bling but are worried about the money, would you consider going to secrets? They have awesome rings, synthetic diamonds, and you can pick up a ROCK for much less than a grand. Depends on whether or not you want the real deal. I personally couldn't care if it is real or not, no one else will know!

Mine was just under $1000 from what i can remember & it has a matching wedding band. DF wanted to spend more, but i am happy with what i chose. I know its something special to keep forever, but to be honest i just wouldnt be comfy walking around with some thing that cost anymore on my finger.
Just because it doesnt cost $1000+, doesnt make it any less special

Ok so I am totally different. I didn't get an engagement ring - I got an engagement piano. I figured that it is slightly more useful, is still beautiful and is really hard to loose LOL.

As everyone else has said.. go with what you love!! I knew what I wanted right from the start and DH knew it wasn't going to be cheap. I absolutely LOVE my engagement ring and wouldn't trade it for anything! We crunched them on the price and ended up getting about 1k off. We spent WAAAAY more on my engagement ring than the wedding but we still had a gorgeous wedding at a beautiful venue!!

You will know when you find it... Good luck searching!!

My now DF brought a split wedder (engagement, wedding and friendship ring) for $200 but everytime he went to give it to me we would have a massive spat and we wouldn't give it to me.

So around xmas 2006 I was out shopping with some GFs and they suggested that we look at some rings! I tried this one ring on and it was a perfect fit so we got the details and they left hints for him at work (his work friends) a few months later we went back and brought the ring which he gave to me on bended knee in the rain at Crown casino on our Anniversary last year!

We spent $500 and it came with the wedding ring.

Spend what you like on it as long as you LOVE it, it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks!

I absolutley agree with everyone else.
My DF brought my ring online for $300 about $2700 less than the valuation I had done (for insurance on the ring). It was the most beautiful thing i'd ever seen and something that no one else had. Everybody comments on how unique it is. You need to find something you both like and agree on the price for. Remember...it's not about the money but the meaning behind it. I wouldn't have cared if my ring was 50cents.. the fact that it came from my DF and there was thought put into would be enough for me. Good luck with it. :D

i say go ring shopping and pick out a ring you like..... then ecide if you want to spend that much!

personally, i wouldnt want to spend a lot on an engagement ring. my best friends ring was 5g! i almost died! i would be happy with a silver ring, with a pretty coloured stone in it, i reckon id find one for $200 or less!

i love jewellery, but just can justify spending up big!!

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Ok so I am totally different. I didn't get an engagement ring - I got an engagement piano. I figured that it is slightly more useful, is still beautiful and is really hard to loose LOL.

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I should of gotten a piano too!!! :lol:
I lost my first engagement ring....:wall:

It slipped off when I got hot and sweaty at a club with my ExH.:crying:
So I dont have it to give to DD. She gets my old wedding ring though, and DS gets his dads wedding ring.

I am very careful about where I wear my rings now... ;)

My ring has a value of 1600 DH told me to choose what i love so I did, just so happens that my mum worked at that jewllers and we got 15% off from her plus another 30% coz the ring was on sale

i chose an antique reproduction with rubies and seed pearls, which is a flat filigree ring i can wear all the time. i wanted bezel-set stones (rubover setting) for the sheer practicality - and i do wear it ALL the time, except for gardening. the pearls had to be replaced and we chose citrines - but i knew that would happen. i also didn't want a conventional ring, or another wedder when we marry. and i'm really happy with my choice, which cost us @ $400.00 from a manufacturing jeweller in Coffs, What Women Want (and yes they have a website, DF designed it!) i didn't want to be worrying about losing an expensive piece, and i didn't want diamonds due to the history of forced labour associated with them. just my quirk...

i think if you assess the "style" of your other jewelry, and choose something fitting in with your personal look, you won't regret it. and it's not the expense, it's the meaning of the gift. take it from me who was married before to a man who "forgot" to organise a ring for our wedding - and never made good on it!! eighteen years later i divorced him and still had never had a ring, lol. and he wonders why i left?

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Ok so I am totally different. I didn't get an engagement ring - I got an engagement piano. I figured that it is slightly more useful, is still beautiful and is really hard to loose LOL.

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i just LOVE that idea!!!

Thankyou so much for all of your replies and reassurance.

My DP realises that it is not about the money but he does want to be proud of what he gives me.

I heard that you are 'meant' to spend 2-3 months wage on a ring and may I say that it ridiculous (sp?), I would NEVER wear something worth that much on my finger, I wouldn't even wear 1 months pay!

You have all reassured me that I can buy a ring that I love regardless of the price, I am eyeing off 2 at the moment, just have to decide. One costs $599 and the other $899, they are similar but not exactally the same... decisions, decisions... there is no hurry though I don't need the ring on my finger to prove hes my man.

Thanks Again.

Deanne.

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there is no hurry though I don't need the ring on my finger to prove hes my man.

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couldnt have said it better!!!:clap:

I was so worried about spending too much of DH's money that I went for the cheapest set I could find - and have since regretted it. Don't get me wrong, its a beautiful ring, and I will always treasure it, but I want something.....nicer? I don't know what the word is!

Lately we've been going to a store called Sshhh....Secrets. They sell diamond simulants with a lifetime guarantee - not just CZ, these simulants actually have a carat rating as well. They're similar to the Hush range in Zamels, but I find they are a lot nicer! We're actually getting a new engagement ring made, as well as an eternity ring eventually, so I can wear all 3 as a set.

I'm pretty sure there's a website - believe me, you won't believe they're not real diamonds!

We had no set price...and price wasnt something we worried about. Dh just wanted something i liked regardless of $ figure. I hated everything...but liked a bits and pieces off different rings, so we seen a jeweller and had it made. I picked the diamonds i wanted in it...of course i went for the dearest ones (without even knowing) and it ended up being over $4k....but worth every damn cent! I then had my wedding band designed too.....so all up....i carry alot of dosh on my finger!

You go with what you like and CAN afford...good luck!

OMG " sneakysparkle " my DP heard it was 2mths income - if he was to hear it could be up to 3mths i think i might be waiting until i'm an old lady for an engagement ring ... what am i saying i am old i'm 42 ... well, um 43 in January, LOL :ROFL:

Well, i'm the master of engagement rings as i have had THREE :rolleyes:

Yes, engaged THREE times ... 1st at age 19, second at age 28 and 3rd at age 34 ;)

And yes DP jokes & tells me to get one out & put it on ... only thing is i kept the 1st one which is so dated & yellow gold which i don't wear anymore ... 2nd ring i stupidly gave back ... and 3rd one i never got to wear !!

I say don't sell yourself short ... GET THE RING THAT YOU TRUELY WANT & LOVE :dance:

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lol I'm the opposite. I would rather spend more on something I'll wear for the rest of my life and save on the wedding.

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I would have to agree with dachlostar here :rolleyes: and if we got married, the wedding would be small and inexpensive

My DF picked my ring out himself, I had no idea about any of it! He got a great deal from Michael Hill Jewellers, the ring is worth a bit over $1500 (we have it insured under our contents insurance policy, for theft and if it gets lost while we are travelling or something which is excellent) but he paid about $750 and did it through their finance system so he paid for it monthly and didn't take long for him to pay it back.
Certegy I think was the company they use. I love it, and it really suits me as I don't wear much jewellery at all, and I honestly couldn't care less about how much it costs.
I am glad that it is insured though...although I would still feel terrible if something happened to it, at least I know we could afford to replace it!

I so hear ya on not wearing what ya already own i jewlery.

ppls ay you should spent 1 months earnings on the engagement ring, Personally we got an engagement set. Was exactly what i like. When looking do try to ignore pricing and pick what ya like what seems to stand out to you and talk to you don't be in a hurry to find one.

I also didn't want to spend a fortune on a ring in the end i didn't like any of the real expensive ones i just wanted a diamond cluster style rather than some huge diamond. I am happy with what we picked. I wanted something that was me not what everyone else would think would be lovely.

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lol I'm the opposite. I would rather spend more on something I'll wear for the rest of my life and save on the wedding.

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Thats exactly what we did!

My engagement ring cost more than our whole wedding... and is actually worth about 3 times as much :redface:
(If you ask my SIL, its way too over the top... and ridiculous & impractical to have a ring like mine as something you wear everyday! :rolleyes:)

My brother is a designer/jewellery maker for one of the most prestigious private jewellers in Sydney.
He took DH to buy the diamond (at his price, so it was actually affordable) and then designed & made the ring.

The only thing I knew was that it was a princess cut (which was my only request) - and apart from that I had no clue ;)

I'm probably the wrong person to ask, though, as I'm obsessed with jewellery & have no issues spending the $$ because I see it as something that lasts a lifetime.... and I wear it everyday.

It just has to be up to you what you like - don't put a cost on it.

If you're wearing the piece of jewellery you love representing the man that you love, then thats all that matters.

Price has no importance. If you love it, then it will be beautiful ;)

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Only spend what you are comfortable spending. Don't decide on the ring based on price - if you fall in love with a ring that is $800 then your DP shouldn't say no because it's not expensive. On the other hand, if you find a ring that is over $1000 that you really love and your DP is happy to pay for it then you should get it.

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i agree.

my ring was my mums she and my dad are divorced and i just loved it so much she said i could have it. i had it valied for insurance its worth about $2500 if we bought a ring we prob would have spent about $1500 my wedding band was $700.
my ring is not a huge dimond but good quality. make sure you get quality over size it will make it better when you pass it on to your children.
i only have boys so i hape to have a gran daughter some day so i can give it to her....

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I'm probably the wrong person to ask, though, as I'm obsessed with jewellery & have no issues spending the $$ because I see it as something that lasts a lifetime.... and I wear it everyday.

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I regard it as the investment you can wear :p

Absolutely Dach ;)

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I regard it as the investment you can wear :p

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well diamonds are getting rarer

We aren't even engaged yet but have spoken about it and my future parent's in law who i haven't met face to face because they live on the other side of the world have said that they will give us engagement/wedding rings as a present, only problem is that my partner is set on platinum and i only wear gold. I spose we'll have to sort that out when we get to it, but we will probably choose a diamond together and have our rings made overseas because it is way cheaper overseas.