engagement rings?
Michelle asked:
hi! my boyfriend and i are planning on looking for engagement rings soon and we kind of have no idea what we’re looking for. how much is the ring supposed to cost/how big is the diamond supposed to be? most people say it’s supposed to be proportional but i’m not sure what that means. i’m 5′4 and almost 120 pounds if that helps lol. thanks!
hi! my boyfriend and i are planning on looking for engagement rings soon and we kind of have no idea what we’re looking for. how much is the ring supposed to cost/how big is the diamond supposed to be? most people say it’s supposed to be proportional but i’m not sure what that means. i’m 5′4 and almost 120 pounds if that helps lol. thanks!
December 19th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Basically there is not set price or set size of a diamond. You go with what you like and more importantly what you CAN afford. No sense in going into debt over a ring. It’s not worth it!
December 21st, 2008 at 1:39 am
It is TOTALLY up to you. There really is no standard now a days. They used to say that it should cost 2 months salary. I think that’s a little silly, since that may not be affordable. Go with what you like and what you can afford. Let it be proportional to your personality.
December 24th, 2008 at 2:13 am
figure out out much you can pay in cash.
back in 1994 when we got engaged, we had $500 we could spend on a ring. we bought a gorgeous quarter carat.
the rest we put on a down payment on a house.
when i was 40 i bought myself a honker.
edited to add:
read renee newman’s diamond ring buying guide. learn all that you can. then go to pawnshops and look for used stones.
you can pick up a used pear or marquise for chump change. I bought a 1.25 carat gorgeous spready pear for 2000 US dollars. put it into a fresh solitaire setting. bingo!
December 25th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Don’t even bother about what people say. Go with what you like. That is all that matters. I would advise that you go online, and look up engagement ring pictures to firstly get an idea of what you like the look of. Then go to your boyfriend to get an idea of price ideas. Just really roughly. Then go to lots of different shops and don’t be afraid to try on different styles then what you like. The style that I liked looked horrible on me, so then I tried on all these other styles and fell in love with one I had previously hated! lf that makes sense lol. Just try on heaps, and get an idea of what you like then you can round it down. Oh I’ll tell you what I wished I had done, when you go ring shopping bring a little notebook, pen and a digital camera. Write down all the ones you like in the shop, including the name of the ring, the name of the shop, price and the shop phone number and then take a photo of it. After half an hour they all start to look really similar and you forget which ring was where. This is what I wish I had done. Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!
December 27th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
you just have to try them on and see what you like… you’re pretty small so a 1/3-1/2 carat would look good in my opinion but it’s your finger i’m 5′2″ 130lbs and mine is 1/3 - i picked it and i love it the stone is flawless and that’s much more important than the size to me
December 28th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Try on a lot of different styles. I didn’t think I would want a ring as big as I got, because I’m only 5′ tall, but the rings with the skinny bands just didn’t look right on my hand.
As far as the cost, get what’s in your budget. Keep in mind that it’s better to get a small diamond of better quality than to compromise on quality for a bigger diamond. If you like a bigger diamond, but can’t afford it right now, you can always “upgrade” when you celebrate your 10th, 20th or 25th wedding anniversary.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:20 am
it depends on you really. if you prefer round cut, princess, marquise…. if you’re small i would go for a smaller cut like pear or marquise. and then there’s the question of silver or gold. i prefer silver but that’s all on you too.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:23 am
It depends on what you can afford and what style you like. I was in love with princess cut (square) diamonds but when I saw the asscher cut on my hand…it was aaaalllllllllllll over! lol He ended up spending $4000 on my engagement ring and it’s perfect! But like all the others have said, buy what you can afford and don’t compromise quality for size…the clearer the diamond, the more sparkle!
Have fun and don’t stress out!! It’s gonna be a fun process as long as you two know what you can afford. Have fun with the rest!!!
December 30th, 2008 at 3:05 am
I’m hinting for an emerald ring with small diamonds on the side in a yellow gold setting. it currently costs less than $200, but I think it is perfect! if you like bling, start saving now. if you just want something you can treasure forever, without worrying about how much it costs, go for cheaper, even a CZ or gem stone.
look at kay jewelers website ( ) and see what you can find there. look at the gemstone rings too, even if you dont want one. first of all you might change your mind on whether you want a gem or a diamond, and second you might find a setting you really like and then go on a hunt for a diamond to take the gem’s place!
Good luck!
December 30th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I agree with everyone that the ring should be affordable. Go to the stores and try different sizes and shapes and then go online to find bargains. My fiance and I tried on rings all over and then found the exact same rings online for sometimes 1/10 the cost in jewelry stores.
I’ve also just recently become obsessed with a website where you buy used jewelry:
Another pointer: if you’re addicted to all things shiny (like me), think about a colored gemstone. You can get a lot larger stone for a fraction of the price and set diamonds all around it or to your liking. Jena Bush and Princess Diana both had sapphire engagement rings…
January 1st, 2009 at 6:16 am
Congrats!
Get something you love, but will not go into debt over. Pay cash for the ring! “)
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:40 pm
now a days most men spend about a 2 week paycheck up to a 1 month paycheck. i’d say for your height and weight, a 1/2 carat or 3/4 carat would look perfect on you. definitely no more than 1 carat.
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 am
Make sure you buy the wedding ring with the engagement ring so they will go well together. I have seen many people buy just the engagement ring, and later can’t find a band to match it.
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I’ve never given this a try, but I think it’s about time I do.