Can't Buy Me Love: Inexpensive Engagement Rings

Inexpensive wedding rings don't have to be cheap, only easy on the budget. There is a variety of ways to get a great engagement ring for less. Buying an antique ring, a ring with a slightly lower quality diamond, choosing a ring in 14 karat gold instead of 18 karat gold or higher, and choosing a gem stone for the center stone instead of a diamond can all save money while dazzling the bride to be.

Antique rings are often less expensive than recently made rings of equal size for a few reasons. The first reason is that diamonds will not necessarily gain value over the years. Another reason is that rings which are 50 years old or older were often made with poorer quality diamonds or colored diamonds which were popular at the time, but are less seen today.

Antique rings are tricky to buy also though, to be sure a quality piece is being purchased documentation is required for age of the piece, quality of the stones, and a reasonable return policy, just incase the ring doesn't look as great in person as it did in the store or over the internet. Inexpensive engagement rings like an antique are special and unique although they don't always have the price tag.

Materials

Choosing less expensive materials can make for an over all inexpensive engagement ring. Ten karat gold is often undesirable for an engagement ring however; 14 karat gold is a reasonable blend of beauty and durability. Eighteen karat (or higher) gold rings tend to bend more easily and are usually designed to be "dress" occasion rings, not everyday wear like engagement rings.

Choosing a smaller or slightly lower quality of diamond could also make for an inexpensive engagement ring. Looking to the jewelry a woman already owns can point the groom to be in the right direction.

A woman who normally wears very low key pieces would appreciate the smaller stones or a solitaire which would also are often inexpensive engagement rings than elaborately decorated rings with lots of pave diamonds and filigree work.

For a woman who like flashier jewelry choosing lab created diamonds with high brilliance or diamonds of SI1 or SI2 quality which are flawless to the naked eye yet flaws may be seen at the 10x magnification jeweler's use. An inexpensive engagement ring made with either stone would still be dazzling but wouldn't break the bank.

Good quality metal, a beautiful stone, and the question that changes two peoples life are some of the pieces of an engagement ring. Making the engagement ring inexpensive doesn't sacrifice the symbol or the beautiful look of the ring.