Lower budget options - Used/simple setting/Ring as a whole??

[BeachGirlG]

What is your advice for lower budgets?
Do you suggest that the majority of the budget goes to the stone & the rest in a simple solitaire setting?
Do you suggest that they investigate used rings on PreLoved/eBay/DiamondBistro, etc?
Do you suggest a smaller diamond with more bling in the setting for an "overall" look?
And, finally, at what price point do you start to suggest these options? $1,500? $2,000? $2,500?

 

[liaerfbv]

Re: Lower budget options - Used/simple setting/Ring as a who

I think it depends on personal preference. Some people are really into a specific setting so they are fine with settling for a smaller stone. Personally, I'd get the best/biggest stone I could and would go with a plain solitaire. I've never thought about buying a used ring but I would definitely look into it.

 

[Niel]

Re: Lower budget options - Used/simple setting/Ring as a who

I would say they should look into used, maybe a colored stone (sapphire spinel etc) or a solitaire. It starts to get hard to get a .5 ct solitaire alone for around 1200, so if the budget is like 1500, i would start looking at other options. But the idea is good for any budget if you're looking to stretch it

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Lower budget options - Used/simple setting/Ring as a who

It really depends on the personal preferences.

Will they consider a sapphire center?
Does it have to be new?
What is their style?
Will they consider upgrades?

 

[yssie]

Re: Lower budget options - Used/simple setting/Ring as a who

Like laier suggested it very much depends on what the recipient wants, but in general I think of the ring as a whole unit where the whole can be greater (or less) than the sum of the parts.

If she loves pave then I can't think of a worse idea than putting a bigger/higher-spec'd stone in a basic solitaire.
If she hasn't expressed an opinion then I'd suggest the poster start digging - hopefully the couple has at least talked about engagement, and there's no way a woman who's thinking about marriage hasn't given any thought to what she'd like in a ring. Whether or not she's shared her thoughts with anyone is a different question.
If she's said that she wants it to be a surprise and nothing else I'd probably suggest the best stone possible in a cheap temp setting.

'Gently used, could use a little rehab' can be a really great cost-effective option for people with capable jewellers, but there are a lot of jewellers whom I wouldn't trust with rehabbing jobs on important pieces and the people looking for this sort of work for the first time aren't generally going to be those with good bench connections - theyre demographics & knowledge issues. There's also the fact that some women would be dead-set against a "used" Ering.

Below a certain amount - say 2k - if she wants diamonds I'd say forget the solitaire and go for a band. More presence, more impact, and she can use it as a wedding band or stacker if they decide to get a ring with a centerstone someday.

 

[Rhea]

Re: Lower budget options - Used/simple setting/Ring as a who

We had a smaller by PS standards budget and in 2004 we went for a pre-owned ring. Buying a 1/2 carat for $1,500 was difficult even back then and DH doesn't like the look of plain solitaires.

I think it's important to think long-term unless you know that you are both willing and able to change the ring in the future.

 

[AprilBaby]

Re: Lower budget options - Used/simple setting/Ring as a who

As the price of gold and diamonds rises the idea of a pre owned ring gets more and more appealing!

 

[Circe]

Re: Lower budget options - Used/simple setting/Ring as a who

Pre-owned, or, as I like to call it, "vintage" tends to be my default because I am a big cheapy-cheap-cheapskate. It actually doesn't seem to matter what my budget is: even when it's ridiculously generous, I still want to get the most bang for my buck. And I tend to suggest it to new posters, not because I ever mean to imply there's anything wrong with their budget - these are all luxury purchases, after all! - but because I know a lot of the time people who are all giddy about getting engaged haven't necessarily thought outside the box. Like, when I got engaged? I automatically defaulted to a solitaire. And I'm glad I did ... but in retrospect, I should have at least considered an enormous eternity band, just because I love them and think they're classic, and a great way to get outside of the weirder social implications.

In my experience, pre-owned is the best way to get a good deal, so if the couple has no issues with it, score. But I also counsel dudes who are flying blind to find out how their SO's feel about it: like Yssie said, people can have Strong Feelings, and it can be a risk.