subject: Cheap Engagement Rings – How to Find the Best Deals and Discounts [print this page] Cheap Engagement Rings How to Find the Best Deals and Discounts
Contrary to popular opinion, it is possible to get a quality, beautiful engagement ring at a low price. You just have to know where (and when) to look.
The first step in securing a cheap engagement ring is to start your search online. This is the easiest way to learn about your different options as well as to compare and bargain hunt to your heart's content, without the pressure of a commissions-based salesperson looming over you and making high-priced suggestions. Learn about the different aspects of a diamond and decide what you can and can't live without.
My advice would be to shop only with those online jewelers with established reputations. You don't want to leave anything to chance with a purchase as important (and potentially large) as this one.
That said, there are a few options that will help you reduce the price of your engagement ring. You can choose a setting that is very simple that will then dovetail with a more elaborate wedding ring.
You can even design your own ring at a number of leading online jewelers. This option allows you to essentially set your own price because you get to choose everything, from the quality and size of the stone to the setting.
When you are looking for a stone at a good price, you may want to step down a bit in the brilliance of the diamond in the interest of price. "Clarity" is one of the ways that a stone is categorized and rated. These clarity ratings range from Flawless to VVS1 and 2 (very, very slight imperfections) to VS 1 and 2 (very slight imperfections) to Sl 1 and 2 (slight imperfections) and, finally, to I diamonds (imperfect.) You can save money on your engagement ring by choosing a diamond that is somewhere between VVS2 and Sl1. This will give you a quality diamond without having to pay out the nose for perfection.
Another way to save money on engagement rings is to choose a diamond with a bit of color. Color is rated from D to Z. It's best not to go lower than a J-rated diamond. They get pretty yellow at that end of the spectrum.
You also have choices when it comes to choosing the ring itself. 14K gold is both more durable and less expensive than 18K gold.
You can also save money on the engagement ring by choosing a different gemstone. More and more people are using stones other than diamonds in their engagement rings, and this can certainly bring down the price. I personally have a sapphire in my bridal set, surrounded by smaller diamonds. This has a symbolism all its own, which is unique to our relationship, and I love that it's non-traditional.
Moissanite engagement rings is another growing trend. These are nearly colorless gemstones that are created and then faceted by hand. Moissanite is very durable as well as being environmentally friendly and conflict free. Do a search online for moissanite rings. You might be pleasantly surprised at both the look and the prices of these engagement rings.
If you don't have a lot of money now, but you have the promise of a higher income in your future, consider the move-up ring. This is a great alternative for a cheap engagement ring because you are essentially choosing a setting with an inexpensive stone with the promise that this stone will be replaced with something bigger and better on a particular anniversary.
Once you know what kind of a ring you are looking for, start looking for deals. The key here is to be patient. I have seen astounding deals on fine jewelry come up suddenly and then disappear just as fast. Get on the email lists or subscribe to RSS feeds for jewelry discount sites or your favorite online jewelers, and be ready to buy when the right ring comes along at a discount.
It doesn't take long to see significant price drops, but often only for a short time. For example, Ice.com has frequent 20% off sales and Szul.com offers frequent daily and weekly deals that offer significant discounts as much as 70 percent. The key is to be sure you are getting those daily deals so you can jump on a bargain before it's too late.
