Engagement Rings for cheap

[Gavroche2000]

Hey all,
I am going to propose to my girlfriend but, obviously, want to by a nice engagement ring. Problem is I can only really afford to spend �300 on it, as I am quite skint at the moment. Any advice, or good places to go?

[Alixw]

You could try looking in a second hand jewellers. You are likely to get a nicer ring there than if you were buying it new from the high street. She wouldn't have to know it was second hand! Although, could be nice to think there's a bit of history behind the ring depending on how old it is.

At the end of the day though, no matter what ring you buy her - the fact that you're saying you want to spend the rest of your life with her - should mean more than any ring!

Good luck!

[meltoadhall]

�300!!!
Thats a heck of a lot of money to spend on a ring!!
You can get loads of lovely rings for a lot less than that - it doesnt matter what it costs and unless you tell her, what will it matter as long as its not tacky and is given in love.

I'd try the smaller jewellers rather than the big chains and see what you can find.

[Gavroche2000]

That's the impression I am getting, yes. Problem is that, in London, the small jewelery shops are being priced out of business. They are Diamonds in the rough, so to speak!

[B00]

Well I don't care how chavish some people may think this is, but have you thought of looking in Argos? Despite what some people think, they really do have some nice rings there.

Some pretty ones, for example here

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servl et/ArgosBrowseIterator?TOTrail=&previousperPag e=10&langId=-1&categoryId=50532&priceFrom=&y=1 6&priceTo=&x=6&giftFinder=&sortBy=2&attrName_4 =&attrName_3=&attrName_2=&attrName_1=&attrName _0=&catalogId=10651&zone=&storeId=10001&attrVa lue_4=&attrValue_3=&Trail=C%24cip%3D50518%3EC% 24cip%3D50528%3EC%24cip%3D50532&attrValue_2=&a ttrValue_1=&perPage=10&attrValue_0=&currPage=1 1


Ooooo big link, sorry! Like Alixw has already said though, no matter what ring you get her she'll (hopefully!) love it as it's from you.

And yes, Good Luck from me too!
xxx

[Gavroche2000]

So long as the diamond has a guarrantee, I think I would be happy. Thanks!

[pollyspeed]

another good place for rings is a pawnbroker.she doesnt need to know and you just buy a nice gift box to put it in.�300 will buy you a very nice ring indeed and your girlfriend is very lucky!!! good luck with the proposal and let us know what she says!!

[jake-the-peg]

Avoid diamonds, they bump up the price and are ethically dodgy.

Old article but fascinating reading:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond

[Gavroche2000]

Jake - I understand what you are saying, but doesn't an engagement ring, traditionally, have to have a diamond? If not, what do I use as a replacement?

[888sally888]

I wold get a simple pretty ring for her - chose on her age and the jewelery she already has i.e. - modern or traditional - white gold or yellow gold.

Ernest Jones are good and they have a website.

Good luck!!

[888sally888]

Oh and sorry I disagree with Jake - I think a diamond is the best option.

[jake-the-peg]

De Beers control the diamond market - entirely - diamonds are worth what they say they are. They've only just been allowed to operate in the US again after a long ban for restrictive practices.

There's a big thing about "conflict diamonds" which fund African wars and nasty dictators in Africa - many sellers now offer certified non conflict diamonds which is a step forward but that's just 20% of the jewlers.

Ever seen an antique "eternity ring" No? that's because de Beers created the concept to shift large quantities of small diamonds from Russia - sometimes apparently cut by children in India.

That's not counting the children in Africa digging them out.

You can get man made diamonds here:
http://www.diamondnexuslabs.com/?gclid=CPWerL_ foY0CFQLdlAod1Qhy2g

or how about something like this:
http://jimmeze.com/order/product_info.php?cPat h=26&products_id=177&osCsid=5j8tbuad9rh0323908 edvtiod5

I know it's a US site but you get the idea.

[Schlomo78]

Gav, take a look in ernest Jones, thats where we got mine from, i think it was about �250- its not a standard engagement ring, in fact its a white gold wedding ring with diamonds
http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/detail/R /3511782/
and its beautiful. Its just a little bit different from the standard cluster or solitaire.
depends on what kind of gal you've got, is she an old fashioned romantic? She might like an old victorian ring then-i.e pawn shop.
Its the thought that counts anyway mate!! I bet she won't give a monkeys how much it cost...

[tradey]

try half price jewllers, or argos have some lovely ones too at good prices,good luck

[winny]

wow lucky girl �300 quid. I agree Argoa a good bet. Dont you have a H samuels or something. Mine was nowhere near thet price.

[spanner7853]

Ernest Jones if you have one near you do lovely engagement rings under �300. Congratulations I hope it's a lovely day and she says YES ;)

[xhxmxsx]

�300 is plenty, its not about what it costs it's about the proposal, i got engaged in march got a gorgeous ring that was perfect because my fiance chose it.
i have quite long , skinny fingers so my fiance bought a gold ring that would look right if that makes any sense!
my fiance couldve proposed with one of them adjustable plastic rings and i wouldnt have cared the proposal was all that mattered

[annie0000]

My engagement ring is a blue topaz because that is my husbands bithstone and he also says it matches my eyes! It was not expensive (anout �120 - 12 years ago) as he was a student when we got engaged. We could now afford to replace it with something more expensive, but I still love it as it was well thought out. You could see if there is a stone that is significant for you or your girlfriend. I got him a ring made from local silver with a celtic design that was only about �50. Dare to be different. I would also recommend looking in antique shops. some on-line stores also do 2nd hand rings.

[wiggal]

I would try looking at hot diamonds, they do stunning jewelerry and could easily get something for less then �300!
www.hotdiamonds.co.uk
that is where i get all my jewellery from :)

[Ams6784]

arrr my god 300 pound is a lot of money to spend on a ring! yr girlfriend should be soo chuffed with that!!! my engagement ring was about 50 pound as its not really what the ring is worth is it/ its what it means thats the important thing! im sure yr girlfriend will love the ring no matter how much it cost, and youll know when you see the right 1!!