How much for an engagement ring?

blue note

I'm not entirely sure I want the answer ..... but what sort of money are we talking? I know the answer is also it doesn't matter, the cost isn't the important thing and all of that. And I fully agree. However, I don't want to be completely ignorant of what's going on around me.

theteal

Male or female?

Mine was £60 from some jeweler, MrsTeal's was something mad about £600+ (had to be made to fit against non-straight engagement ring)

dragonfly!

I don't mean this to sound rude but it kind of depends on what you want, if you want plain, fitted, diamonds, what metal etc etc....
We have been looking recently and its really a matter of what you fancy
One thing we did find is you get way more bang for your buck to get one made rather than buy off the shelf

blue note

theteal wrote: »

Male or female?

Mine was £60 from some jeweler, MrsTeal's was something mad about £600+ (had to be made to fit against non-straight engagement ring)

Sorry, engagement ring I meant to say!

Mod: can the title be changed? Apologies for the mistake!

GingerLily

That is a loaded question - some people will say less than 100e.

Some people will say one months salary, some people will day 3 months salary, no idea if that's meant to be net or gross, but it doesn't really matter.

Don't spend money that you don't have, I think most rings fall between 1-3k but if you like something for 500e go for it

baby and crumble

My engagement ring was on sale (woo!) for €600- original price was €1200 which I would believe, this thing is solid white gold with a diamond. I balked at the cost (even on sale) tbh but I really do love it. My wifes engagement ring was a family heirloom, I proposed with an engagement ring charm from Thomas Sabo because I was beyond broke at the time. Once we got the money together we looked around but nothing came close to that ring for her.

What I'm saying is, try not to worry about cost too much, have a budget you can afford comfortably and stick to it. The tradition of them being expensive (2/3 months salary) was made up. I think most reasonable decent women wouldn't want someone going into debt for a piece of jewelery.

I would also recommend, if you're going to get "the ring" to propose with, have a look in antique and jewelerry stores. You can get really beautiful rings in those places. And don't worry about it having to be diamond. It doesn't.

See if you can suss it out with your other half/ her friends what she might like.

Faith

Mod note: Title updated.

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El_Duderino 09

It depends on what you want. We didn't have much budget for rings. So instead of buying an engagement ring, she wore a ring her grandmother left her before she died.

Wedding rings were bespoke handmade jobs. Told the guy in the craft workshop the our budget was 500 for both and he made rings to order. Couldn't have happier. Engagement and wedding rings for 500 euro.

Think about what you want rather than necessarily following convention.

lazygal

What you like within your budget. We didn't have a budget per se but I was practical too. Definitely didn't spend near three months salary.

If I wasn't limited by time I'd keep an eye on auctions. Super bargains to be had.

tweek84

Just wondering or is it the norm for the the engagement ring to be more expensive than the actual wedding ring?
Any indications on how much should be spent on the actual wedding ring?

SheepGoHere

tweek84 wrote: »

Just wondering or is it the norm for the the engagement ring to be more expensive than the actual wedding ring?
Any indications on how much should be spent on the actual wedding ring?

However much you want. You can get a beautiful 9k gold ring for €100, or a band with diamonds in it for several thousand.

baby and crumble

tweek84 wrote: »

Just wondering or is it the norm for the the engagement ring to be more expensive than the actual wedding ring?
Any indications on how much should be spent on the actual wedding ring?

Often engagement rings have stones, and often (but not always) wedding rings will be plain metal. My wife made my ring on a day jewelery making course for €150, it's silver and I love it. Usually wedding rings will be less expensive, just because no stones are involved.

dragonfly!

tweek84 wrote: »

Just wondering or is it the norm for the the engagement ring to be more expensive than the actual wedding ring?
Any indications on how much should be spent on the actual wedding ring?

You might get more replies on this if it was in a new thread?

dragonfly!

tweek84 wrote: »

Just wondering or is it the norm for the the engagement ring to be more expensive than the actual wedding ring?
Any indications on how much should be spent on the actual wedding ring?

This will depend on what metal you decide to go with, if you want plain or with stones, what thickness you go for etc etc...
It also depends if you buy in from a catalogue or get it made
For me it was cheaper to get what I wanted made
We also spent a good amount on them as they are one of the few things we will have forever after the day has been and gone and we went for what we really wanted

laoch na mona

mine was 100 euro from a jewlers we saw on holiday mná na mona's ring was just under 500,


depends what you want but gold with a diamond will be a few hundred you can spend as much as you like sofocus on what you like

GingerLily

tweek84 wrote: »

Just wondering or is it the norm for the the engagement ring to be more expensive than the actual wedding ring?
Any indications on how much should be spent on the actual wedding ring?

Yes, if you look at wedding rings sets the engagement ring us always more expensive - but spend what you want and can afford, the norm shouldn't matter.
400e for a plain gold ring to 1600e for diamonds and platinum ring seemed to the the rough price range from the usual jewelers, it can be cheaper to get it made yourself though.

heretothere

I think the 'norm' is €1,000 - €3,000. You know your girlfriend and her taste you'll know if she'll want an expensive ring or not. Just set your budget and look at rings within that range. If you have time then also sign up for newsletters that will email you discount codes. You might get lucky!

jenjoeful

It really depends on you. 
How much can you afford?
Do you have much expense around the time you buy the ring (house, rent, wedding etc) that will impact your budget?
What does she want, what type of ring? (this includes a big one, a neat one, a different one)
Having recently gotten engaged and been through the process of buying it with my new fiancee, there are so many ways of doing it. 
It's incredible in that everyone wants to see the ring when you get it, but actually spend less than 10 seconds looking at it, everyone says its lovely and they don't ask to see it again. So make sure when you buy it, you get wht she wants exclusively because people don't really care (or maybe this was just my experience)! I got carried away with the 3 C's becuase we went down the making it route! I have a complete colorless and almost flawless rock, but anyone notice (or care) or even ask.....no? Jewelers   can put pressure on you (not all of course). So stick to what you and she both like, don't get bogged down on any other factors, just make sure it's what you can afford and she loves it! 
They say 1 carat is the ultimate for any girl, but it's they're very expensive and out of reach for so many. It's very hard for anyone to look at a rock and tell the carat, so don't get bogged down in that either. 
If someone asks you how much you spent - don't tell them! It's a very rude thing to do! 

Enjoy the process, it's what it's about!

Fagashlil

My engagement ring was a little under €7K, when we went to look after getting engaged, I fell in love with it. I paid for half, I didn't feel right him doubling his budget on something I was wearing.

My wedding ring cost approx €400 as it's a plain platinum band. HiS was about €1000.

There's no right or wrong amount to spend,

Anne1982h

My engagement ring was €3,000 wedding ring €1,000 my best friends engagement ring was €12,000 my sister in laws €14,000. It really depends on the couple and their budget. You know if you go to fields you can get a proposal ring for €25 and it looks lovely. Then you can go ring shopping with your fiancée afterwards and work out your budget. See what her tastes are.

GreeBo

+1 on looking at antiques!

Personally I wouldnt buy one without my wife being there.

Wood

My two best mates that recently bought theirs:

Mate A, steady job, saving for a house, gonna be a big wedding, planning on having loads of kids, €1500

Mate B, on disability allowance, just wanted to marry his missus, small reg office wedding, €70

Point being, it doesn't matter how much you spend. Spend within your means, it's the deed that matters, not the cost.

DavyD_83

baby and crumble wrote: »

Often engagement rings have stones, and often (but not always) wedding rings will be plain metal. My wife made my ring on a day jewelery making course for €150, it's silver and I love it. Usually wedding rings will be less expensive, just because no stones are involved.

Loving this idea.
It's too late for me; we have combined rings worth about 3K (I really regret spending much on the wedding bands in particular).
But 'm definitely looking into the ring making course as something to do for 5th (coming up) or maybe 10th anniversary.