E-ring on a budget!

[applepromise]

Hello all!

I'm brand new to this site... I am looking for advice on where to buy an engagement ring on a budget. We have about $600 for an engagement ring and I'm going shopping with my boyfriend. We have been together forever and are having a surprise wedding next month (Surprise for our family!) So we don't have much time. Any ideas on where to go and get a quality ring for that price? Thank you!!!

 

[audball]

Hi applepromise! We'd be happy to try and help but most of the shopping help is done in the RockyTalky section of the site! Next to the reply boxes, hit report concern and ask the moderators to move your topic to that section.

Secondly...what kind of ring are you looking for? A simple solitaire? A band? What shape for the main stone? Metal preferences?

 

[madelise]

#1 -- Welcome. and Congratulations!
#2 -- Click "report", and have this thread moved to Rocky Talky. That's where you'll get all the ring buying advice.


#3 -- Are you okay with buying 'preloved' goods? $600 is a TIGHT budget, but you can stretch it if you aren't picky. This little antique roval is .59ct and for $275. You can still get yourself a simple setting with the remaining budget. http://diamondbistro.com/category/2.../listings/32214/Reduced-Sweet-49ct-stone.html

Surf the pre-loved forum, DB and LoupeTroop to see if there are any choices. I wouldn't go risk an eBay purchase without the skills needed to sift through junk and cheats, unless you involve Rocky Talky, and have some pros help you out. Are you okay with having a colored stone e-ring? Or even just a band rather than solitaire? Here's the link to LoupeTroop: http://loupetroop.com/listings/rings. Hunt around.

In order to help you, you need to post exactly what you're searching for, and what ring size you are, so we can find something that may fit the bill. You're in an extreme time crunch if you need it by next month!

 

[applepromise]

Thanks for the tips and I did send a message to move the topic!!

Honestly on the style of ring, I'm pretty flexible. I haven't even thought much about it. I was happy just getting a wedding band but my boyfriend said he would really like to get me an engagement ring. We were thinking about going shopping this weekend... we will have to drive 1-2 hours for decent cities and malls. So I was just wondering if it's worth browsing at a store like Zales or Jareds and seeing what they have?

Sorry this is so vague - I never thought about it much before this point or looked into anything. Thank you for all your help!

 

[LibbyLA]

applepromise,

The vendor diamonds11 on ebay has some pretty engagement rings and wedding sets. Some of the vintage rings and sets are really interesting and quite reasonably priced. I don't remember which PSer posted a link to a $300 set there several months ago, but I like to go there to browse. You may be surprised at what you can find.

I wouldn't bother with Jared, Zales, or any mall stores. You might see if there are pawn shops with good reputations in your area, or maybe a jeweler that handles vintage and antique jewelry.

Good luck! I think you may be pleasantly surprised at what you can find within your budget. If you are able to find something vintage, it won't look like anything anyone else has.

liz

 

[madelise]

Thanks for the tips and I did send a message to move the topic!!

Honestly on the style of ring, I'm pretty flexible. I haven't even thought much about it. I was happy just getting a wedding band but my boyfriend said he would really like to get me an engagement ring. We were thinking about going shopping this weekend... we will have to drive 1-2 hours for decent cities and malls. So I was just wondering if it's worth browsing at a store like Zales or Jareds and seeing what they have?

Sorry this is so vague - I never thought about it much before this point or looked into anything. Thank you for all your help!

If you're flexible, I'd def vote for buying from the secondary market, WITH the help of Rocky Talky. Don't go at it blindly

If you have to drive 1-2 hours to see Zales or Jareds, I'd nix that idea. Their stones aren't usually labeled with accurate specs, so it might even add confusion to the plate.. (for example, there are ALOT of people out there who think J/K stones are "ugly" because the ones they saw in maul stores weren't actually J/K.. I've seen one labeled J/K that was almost BROWN!.. so it might scare away someone who may have been okay with a true J/K, but now think they have to go with DEF just to have a clean stone).

 

[iheartscience]

Here are 2 pretty rings on Diamond Bistro. They're $700 and $695 but it's worth making an offer if you like either of them.

Pear in blingy setting: http://diamondbistro.com/category/2...stings/32211/Reduced-Beuatiful-62ct-Pear.html

5 stone old cut diamond ring: http://diamondbistro.com/category/2...stone-Victorian-Old-European-ring-sz-625.html

Good luck!

 

[iheartscience]

Here's a pretty antique diamond ring with sapphires for $585: http://diamondbistro.com/category/2...co-18K-Filigree-Carved-OMC-Sapphire-Ring.html

 

[audball]

Okay...here go a bunch of ideas! Any of the ones with "best offer", you should go in with a best offer of $599. There is a ton of variety in styles, colors, shapes, etc. Hopefully you find something you like!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18CT-SAPPHI..._Watches_FineJewellery_CA&hash=item257310a3ce

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pretty-Anti..._Watches_FineJewellery_CA&hash=item20cb83ed3f

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXTRAORDINA..._Watches_FineJewellery_CA&hash=item1c2d3e1065

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18K-Gold-Co...94671447?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item45fcd6af57

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ESTATE-18K-...24793831?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item35be3ad6e7

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Estate-Plat...t=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item19d6470e1b

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18K-YELLOW-...17200277?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item2c61aba695

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ladies-18ct..._Watches_FineJewellery_CA&hash=item1c20cf44b9

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brilliant-p...61970964?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item20cc071a14

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150823971042?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Platinum-3-...97397387?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item1e6e2c048b

http://www.ebay.com/itm/36-SI2-F-AG...t=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item4abe39dcc3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-HEA...t=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item3ccc390f70

http://www.ebay.com/itm/14k-White-G...01951220?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item1c2c473ff4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-4-ct-Plat...s_with_Diamonds_Gemstones&hash=item19d6948bc0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18k-750-WHI...05099190?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item416d3588b6

http://www.ebay.com/itm/14-KT-WHITE...098332286?pt=Wedding_Sets&hash=item3ccaac607e

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18ct-GOLD-D..._Watches_FineJewellery_CA&hash=item337da7f780

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-PLA...t=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item1e744abe6c

http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-80-CTW-5c...078636659?pt=Wedding_Sets&hash=item3f1d8bbc73

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-14K...s_with_Diamonds_Gemstones&hash=item484b4883a4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEAUTIFUL-1...31530543?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item2ec27df62f

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-14k...91560045?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item519aecc86d

 

[CharmedOne]

Audball, Nice Job! Boy was that fast

 

[Niel]

Does it have to be a diamond?
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/1-7ct-red-spinel-t181555.html']https://www.pricescope.com/forum/preloved-ps-jewels/1-7ct-red-spinel-t181555.html[/URL]


I bet someone on here could find a nice halo to match. I though maybe LOGM?

 

[cabbitstarr]

There's a .62ct Pear ring on diamondbistro that you could try offering $600 for

 

[mandasand]

That's sweet he wants to get you an engagment ring. If you wanted to buy something new, you could get a solitaire and either a round or princess around .40 ct from James Allen. What is nice about JA is you can get a smaller stone now and upgrade a few years now using their trade-up policy.

eBay is great too. Here are some I found:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SI1-G-Prong-Set-60Ctw-Diamond-Jewelry-White-Gold-Solitaire-Ring-Engagement-Band-/140882729659?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item20cd43dabb

ID Jewelry is an authorized PS vendor and they also have an eBay store. This one is a little over budget, but very pretty:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-50CT-Round-Cut-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-G-SI-14K-/380258037112?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item5889252d78

Check out their eBay store:
http://stores.ebay.com/I-D-JEWELRY-ONLINE

Edit: I was looking at this auction again...FREE ring sizing, FREE shipping, 30-day return period...100% positive feedback...appraises for over $2k. The only thing I would do is message them and ask what the center stone weight is. The ring says .50 carats TOTAL weight, but in the "diamond" info it says center stone .50. I think the center stone is less than .50 ct. Just may want to confirm to make sure it isn't too small for you.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-50CT-Round-Cut-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-G-SI-14K-/380258037112?pt=Diamond_Solitaire_Rings&hash=item5889252d78

 

[Niel]

http://www.etsy.com/listing/112655629/striking-elegant-vintage-18k-white-gold?ref=sr_gallery_32&ga_search_query=sapphire+engagement+ring&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_min=0&ga_max=600&ga_search_type=vintage

 

[LibbyLA]

Here's a pretty little old mine cut diamond ring. http://www.etsy.com/listing/107572295/lovely-art-deco-18k-old-mine-cut-diamond?ref=v1_other_2

 

[AprilBaby]

That pear halo is a sweet deal! You won't beat that at the mall!!!

 

[Niel]

of all of those links I really like this one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/14k-White-Gold-Modern-Look-Ring-w-40-pt-Brilliant-Cut-Diamond-/121001951220?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item1c2c473ff4

 

[Dandi]

This one is really pretty for $420, I have a Daussi cushion as well, wihich I love!

http://www.diamondbistro.com/category/215/Loose-natural-Diamonds/listings/31950/036ct-Henri-Daussi-cushion.html

 

[CDCsparkles]

thing2 of 2 and libby la posted some excellent choices!! But then again, I am partial to antique styles like the jabel ring.

 

[madelise]

This may be against the forum rules, but look up ASHA diamonds... Great quality for someone on a budget.

That is against forum rules.

 

[madelise]

This one is really pretty for $420, I have a Daussi cushion as well, wihich I love!

http://www.diamondbistro.com/category/215/Loose-natural-Diamonds/listings/31950/036ct-Henri-Daussi-cushion.html

OOH, I VOTE THIS ONE! Daussi's face up larger, too, no? Hehehe

 

[LibbyLA]

That Daussi cushion is loose, though....

liz

 

[Niel]

If your budget is close to 600 I would offer 400 for that stone then send it to JA an have them set it in this, maybe yellow gold?
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/14k-white-gold-2mm-knife-edge-solitaire-ring-17001w.html

 

[SB621]

This one is really pretty for $420, I have a Daussi cushion as well, wihich I love!

http://www.diamondbistro.com/category/215/Loose-natural-Diamonds/listings/31950/036ct-Henri-Daussi-cushion.html

OOH, I VOTE THIS ONE! Daussi's face up larger, too, no? Hehehe

LOVE!

 

[applepromise]

Wow, you guys are awesome! Thank you so much for everything!! I can't wait to look through all these Thank you again!!!!!

 

[TC1987]

Stuller makes settings in sterling silver. I don't know what the prices are, but certainly less than gold. And you could probably get something like that ebay half-bezel setting, except with an ideal-cut diamond that has a tradeup policy. I'm just picking one Stuller setting at random, and it happens to be a full bezel:
http://www.stuller.com/products/12712/?groupId=6565

Another possibility for a setting might be have a jeweler drill a hole in a wedding band and install a peg head in it. Or hammer set a diamond into a wedding band. (I am picturing a wide wedding band with a diamond mounted on it or in it.) This might not be for everyone, but upscale pawn shops might have some unique used wedding bands that can be bought inexpensively. Hey, if it looks like it's an heirloom, why not, is how I look at it. But I am a ring junkie, and my first priority would be getting the largest best-cut diamond that budget allows and then finding something used or inexpensive to set it in. And I'd buy the diamond from a PS vendor.