Rings Engagemant
When couples announce their engagement, often there are other financial outlays to be considered, including wedding arrangements, a honeymoon, and for many, saving for a home as well. Little wonder that many newly engaged couples are hoping to spend a little less on an engagement ring and later on for the wedding rings. How can you save a few dollars with an inexpensive engagement ring that still ticks all the right boxes?
Stones. As a rule, diamonds are going to cost you more. However, once you start researching you will realize that there is plenty of leeway in diamond pricings. Selecting a smaller diamond, or one with slightly more color will dramatically drop the price. Does your diamond need to be perfect under a jeweler’s loupe or just to the naked eye?
Another alternative is to select precious or semi-precious gems instead of diamonds. Those can be ideal for those who have a favorite color, or are seeking an engagement ring that is a little more unique. Almost any gem can be used as a stone for an engagement ring, although pearls and opals are a little more frail and do require special care.
Settings. Complicated and ornate settings will significantly increase the price of the engagement ring.
Metals. OK, first up, platinum is the very most expensive metal that you can use for an engagement ring. However, all is not lost if you admire that look. White gold plated with rhodium will give a very similar appearance but at a lesser cost. Better still, the white metal palladium is hypo allergenic, looks very similar to platinum, and is less expensive than white gold.
Where to Buy an Inexpensive Engagement Ring. Trying on a few rings in the flesh can be a great place to get an idea of what looks good on your hand. Once you have a basic idea of stones, sizes and settings, you will be able to start looking at jewelry websites.
The Internet is a fantastic place to start researching what your ring budget will buy. Most sites have their engagement rings displayed in specific budgets, allowing you to head to the appropriate price page straight up.
Even better are the sites that allow you to build your own engagement ring. This can be an excellent exercise in determining which factors you may be happy to compromise on or not, such as size, color, cut, or clarity of the diamond or gems.
Do you really need to purchase your ring from a prestigious jeweler? Once the engagement ring is on your finger nobody will be able to see that stamp which may have impacted heavily on the final cost. Jewelers working from the Internet have much lower overheads than those working out of a storefront with extra business costs. As a general rule, the jewelers with the lower overheads will convert their lower business outgoings into a lower priced item.
Andy Moquin has spent 20 years in the jewelry industry with much of his experience in polished diamonds, engagement rings, wedding rings, rings and custom jewelry design. He is an accomplished business consultant and is available for advice on topics such as marketing, advertising, merchandising and business turnarounds.
Why is my white gold ring turning ‘gold’ gold?
I have a white gold engagement ring which I have had 7 years. About 6 months ago, my husband bought me an eternity ring (also white gold) and I wear them on the same finger. They both started off the same colour, but the engagemant ring has now started to turn a golden colour. What is going on here and how do I stop it getting any worse?
White gold is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal, such as silver or palladium. Like yellow gold, white gold is measured in carats.
Its properties vary depending on the metals and proportions used. As a result, white gold alloys can be used for different purposes; while a nickel alloy is hard, strong and therefore good for rings and pins, white gold-palladium alloys are soft, pliable and good for white gold gemstone settings. The highest quality white gold is usually at least 17 karat, and made up of gold and palladium, and sometimes even trace levels of platinum for weight and durability, although this often requires specialised goldsmiths.
While some higher quality white gold alloys retain their shine and lustre, most will be coated with a very thin layer of rhodium. This will give the naturally more dull white gold a shine comparable to platinum or silver. Often white gold will require cleaning, or re-coating of rhodium at a later date.
Paradiso Collection of Diamond Engagement rings by Verragio
