Buying Diamond Rings

Engagements and weddings are as good as profanities for those on a tight budget. Very seldom do they signify a low-cost, low profile affair, which makes the bank balances of the groom and the father of the bride tremble. A common way to try to cut the costs of an engagement is to look for a cheap engagement ring. However, there are a number of obvious drawbacks with cheaper engagement rings which must be taken into account before purchasing one for your partner.

Drawbacks of Cheap Rings

Poor Quality – cheap rings are usually poorly made using low quality metal alloys which can break and deform with wear. Remember that an engagement ring is designed for life, so your purchase should reflect that rather than your current bank balance.

Symbolic problems – what does giving a cheap ring say about you? For one thing, your partner may take it as a sign that you are less than committed about the relationship or may see it as reflective of your personality. Make sure you only buy a cheap ring if you really have to, and that your partner is well aware of your reasons behind it.

Appearance – cheap rings don’t look good. That’s just a fact of life – from the bands to the stones, cheap rings invariably look cheap, and this will be identified from a mile off when your partner goes to show her ring to relatives and friends. Again, it’s all about creating a positive impression.

Lack of aftercare – jewellers who sell cheap rings tend to be more sales orientate than craft orientate, which means you can expect a poor aftercare service and very little warranty. After all, you get what you pay for.

Durability – cheap rings don’t usually stand the test of time, and can begin to rust early or weaken at the stone housing. With cheap rings, chances are they’re going to fail a couple of years into the marriage with daily use which will ultimately require a repair bill and a great deal of inconvenience.

Poor Stones and Setup – the stone quality in cheap engagement rings is rarely high, which means you might end up with some less pure or less well cut than another, more expensive ring. Again, it’s these details that really do make or break an engagement ring, and this can leave them looking cheap and tacky.

Engagement rings come in a variety of different designs and styles, to naturally meet the tastes of the market. Of course, they also tend to range vastly in price, so the trick is trying to find the style and stone you’re looking for at a price that’s well within your budget. Broadly speaking, there are a few general categories of style that encompass most engagement rings – plain and elegant, and what we call ‘over the top’.

Plain and Elegant
Plain and elegant style engagement rings are your basic, down-to-earth styles. A circular band with a simple stone, or perhaps even a simple collection of stones, can look just as glamorous, if not more so, than more intricate and ‘loud’ rings that are available. If you’re going for elegance, there’s nothing better than plain and simple white gold with one large diamond. Don’t be fooled by their more straightforward appearance – this kind of style can often rack up more of a bill that more intricate models, and tend to use higher quality materials to make up for less workmanship and jeweller involvement.

Over The Top
Whilst ‘over the top’ may have negative connotations, it is used in this sense to describe elaborate, intricate jewellery that involves complex craftsman shift and just demands to be admired. Some of these designs include a number of different stones of different colours, two-tone bands of different precious metals and a variety of other innovations and design features. Over the top rings are far more likely to be unique in their stylings as compared to most other rings available on the market which can provide that degree of exclusivity. Additionally, if you spend money on one of these rings it’ll show through the complexity of the design and setting of the stones.

Which To Choose?
The answer depends on both your personal taste and that of your partner. Whatever your budget, you should be able to find plenty of options in both categories, although it’s a good idea to find out what your partner actually likes before making any decision. Try to take photos of your partner’s existing rings to take in to the jewellers, or look at what kind of styles she seems to prefer – putting in this kind of research work might just pay off when it comes to choosing the perfect engagement ring design.