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How to Reduce your Engagement Ring Costs
For many couples who are thinking of getting engaged, the cost can be a big concern. Maybe you feel irresponsible spending a ton of money on engagement rings.
You might have heard of the ‘three-month’ salary rule about needing to spend up to three month’s salary on an engagement ring. This seems to be a traditional approach, but it’s not reality for a lot of people these days.
The good news is that nobody needs to spend a small fortune on an engagement ring to make it meaningful. There are many ways to reduce the cost of your engagement ring and to make it more affordable.
Here are five ways that Don Roberto can help you to reduce the cost of your engagement ring:
1) Choose 10k or 14k Gold
One of the best ways to reduce the cost of an engagement ring is to reduce the karat of the gold. Most of the focus of a ring is on the stone in the center, so changing the gold type has little to no impact on most people’s impression of the ring. Typically a ring that is set in 10-karat or 14-karat gold will be less expensive than an 18 karat gold ring.
2) Choose a different colored stone
As well as the classic option of a diamond for an engagement ring, some couples are now choosing colored stones for engagement rings. While these options will keep costs lower, it also provides a very unique look. Some other colored stones to consider for an engagement ring are morganite, sapphire, aquamarine, and amethyst.
3) Keep the carat size under 1.00
Did you know that the cost of diamonds always jump at the half and full carat weight? This means any stone that is slightly under 1.00 carats will help reduce the cost. When it comes to engagement rings, many people obsess about the size of the ‘rock’. But truly, who can actually tell the difference besides an experienced jeweler? If a ring is just over or under a carat it doesn’t impact the overall look. If you can manage to keep the overall carat size of the stone under the 1.00 carat, it will also mean the ring will cost less overall.
4) Choose a halo setting
Another excellent way to increase the overall look of the ring is to use a ‘halo’ setting. This is when a jeweler sets a group of smaller stones around a larger center stone. This creates a halo effect and also increases the overall appearance size of the stone. It can also make for a beautiful vintage look to the ring, so many couples also choose it for this reason.
5) Choose a cluster or quad center design
Depending upon your personal tastes, another option to reduce the cost of your engagement ring is to look at a cluster or quad center ring design. This uses several smaller diamonds rather than one large diamond, which also reduces the cost. It is worth exploring the different design types to see which you like the most. You might be surprised to know that the more conventional single diamond look may not be as appealing as a cluster or quad design.
6) Consider purchasing a wedding trio
Another clever way to reduce the engagement ring cost is to consider a Wedding Trio set. This is when the engagement ring and wedding bands for the bride and groom are all designed at the same time. These sets of three rings are often known as ‘wedding trios’ or ‘trio sets’.
Matching your wedding bands with the engagement ring also takes the guesswork out of choosing wedding bands later, and gives the bride-to-be a chance to be involved in the decision for her engagement ring.
Remember that the choice of your engagement ring is about personal meaning. Although there are some conventional ideas out there that can influence people’s minds, most important is what you feel about your ring. So choose something that is a wise decision financially, as well as something that will grow in sentimental value for many years to come.