Ladies, is this a nice/acceptable engagement ring?

[Deleted User] · 21/06/12 - 15:50

Hi all,

I am planning to propose to my girlfriend in a month or two, and have been looking into engagement rings. Despite a lot of research, I am still uneasy about the subject of cost/quality of ring. Some people say the cost doesn't matter at all, some say it does a bit, and some say super expensive is the way to go.

My budget is around £500, and I've found this ring, which I think my girlfriend would like - she's not a fan of anything big and "bling":

Pic: http://s7ondemand4.scene7.com/is/image/Signet/9190074?$detail$

9ct White Gold 0.25 Carat Diamond Solitaire Ring
Birthstone -April
Diamond- 1/4 carat
Material - 9ct White Gold
Stone setting - Claw
Stone shape - Round
Stone style - Solitaire
Stone type - Diamond

Just after some opinions before I buy. Worried about the quality of the gold and diamond and stuff. Would you be disappointed if you were offered the ring above? Thank you

shmisk · 21/06/12 - 15:53

yes its very nice, and I think white gold is a much better choice then yellow (just my opinion)

Beau_Soir · 21/06/12 - 15:54

Hi, it is a nice ring, but I guarantee a lot of respondents will say, and I agree, that you should propose with a token ring, and then go shopping together for the real McCoy, that way you can guarantee she will love it.

ikkleosu · 21/06/12 - 15:55

I think it's lovely. And I think it would be a very shallow woman who is "disappointed" with an engagement ring of any kind.

Pootmatoot · 21/06/12 - 15:56

Whether or not it's right is entirely dependant on the taste of your girlfriend...

[Deleted User] · 21/06/12 - 15:57

Beau_Soir wrote: »

Hi, it is a nice ring, but I guarantee a lot of respondents will say, and I agree, that you should propose with a token ring, and then go shopping together for the real McCoy, that way you can guarantee she will love it.

Hi Beau_Soir. I have considered that option, but would prefer to buy something like this

. I'm sure she will like the ring; more worried (perhaps stupidly?) about the quality/price issue.

molliepops · 21/06/12 - 15:58

That's lovely I am sure she will love it.

4smiffy · 21/06/12 - 15:59

It's a lovely ring. You have great taste. Good luck with everything. x

Pootmatoot · 21/06/12 - 15:59

Here's a very thorough and generally wise Guardian article.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2002/feb/13/shopping.familyandrelationships1

[Deleted User] · 21/06/12 - 16:03

Pootmatoot wrote: »

Here's a very thorough and generally wise Guardian article.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2002/feb/13/shopping.familyandrelationships1

Thank you, Pootmatoot, I have read that article many times already

It's bits like "the average size of most engagement-ring diamonds is somewhere between one carat and half a carat. And the one above is only 0.25.

Is this true for all? I could push to pay for something like that, but is it expected or necessary, do you think?

RandomSally · 21/06/12 - 16:05

katamaridamacy wrote: »

Thank you, Pootmatoot, I have read that article many times already It's bits like "the average size of most engagement-ring diamonds is somewhere between one carat and half a carat. And the one above is only 0.25.

Is this true for all? I could push to pay for something like that, but is it expected or necessary, do you think?

Not necessary no. As to if it's expected well you know your GF and whether she gets a bit funny about things like this. As she doesn't like anything big and blingy she probably will love whatever you get her anyway!

butterworth · 21/06/12 - 16:06

It is a lovely ring and I think she'll love it. I'm another white gold fan too...

Beau_Soir wrote: »

Hi, it is a nice ring, but I guarantee a lot of respondents will say, and I agree, that you should propose with a token ring, and then go shopping together for the real McCoy, that way you can guarantee she will love it.

Personally, I'd advise against it. If you do that then there will be a lot of talk about budgets and money and it will de-romanticise things....

Bendy Wendy · 21/06/12 - 16:08

It is a lovely ring but FWIW I'd try and get a ring that's all diamond and no illusion, even if its a smaller diamond/cheaper ring

Hope I've not put the cat amongst the pigeons there

ikkleosu · 21/06/12 - 16:12

katamaridamacy wrote: »

Thank you, Pootmatoot, I have read that article many times already It's bits like "the average size of most engagement-ring diamonds is somewhere between one carat and half a carat. And the one above is only 0.25.

Is this true for all? I could push to pay for something like that, but is it expected or necessary, do you think?

Do you know, i haven't the faintest clue what amount of diamond my ring is, and I chose it! i doubt any loving woman who is not minted herself and KNOWS jewellery will know what carat the ring is that you offer to her.

Edited to add: Ernest Jones have a sale on and some lovely white gold diamond rings, have you looked at them?

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/9442537/9ct+white+gold+quarter+carat+claw+set+diamond+solitaire+ring/

[Deleted User] · 21/06/12 - 16:14

ikkleosu wrote: »

Do you know, i haven't the faintest clue what amount of diamond my ring is, and I chose it! i doubt any loving woman who is not minted herself and KNOWS jewellery will know what carat the ring is that you offer to her.

Haha, true... except it is engraved on the inside (at least in the photo)

KidMoe · 21/06/12 - 16:14

It's hard to advise really - you probably know what your girlfriends tastes are, whether she would want you to spend a lot of money or not, whether she would want to choose her own ring so go with your instincts first and foremost.

Best thing to do if you do want to buy a ring to surprise her is to get local recomendations for decent jewellers and be prepared to haggle. Worst comes to the worst you can then get the place to resize it or swap it for another ring.

HenryBane · 21/06/12 - 16:16

I like the ring, do you know she likes diamonds? If she likes a certain colour you could get a slightly larger stone by choosing sapphire, emerald, ruby, etc.

RandomSally · 21/06/12 - 16:17

My engagement ring was £50 or thereabouts. A fair while ago now, I've been married nearly 20 years. Diamonds and Sapphires. Not huge but really pretty and in my eyes it was the thought that was far more important than the price.

MelodyMaker · 21/06/12 - 16:27

Beau_Soir wrote: »

Hi, it is a nice ring, but I guarantee a lot of respondents will say, and I agree, that you should propose with a token ring, and then go shopping together for the real McCoy, that way you can guarantee she will love it.

I think it means more if you've gone through the trouble of taking the time to choose the ring personally - I know I would find that more romantic and meaningful than being taken shopping to pick my own.

[Deleted User] · 21/06/12 - 16:30

Thank you for all of your advice, everyone. I think I will go for the ring above. Wish me luck

molliepops · 21/06/12 - 16:32

Good luck !

Miss XYZ · 21/06/12 - 16:33

I think it's a lovely ring, I personally would be very happy with something like that. All down to personal taste and if you think she'll like it then go for it. It's a very nice, simple ring. Good Luck!

[Deleted User] · 21/06/12 - 16:33

katamaridamacy wrote: »

Hi all,

I am planning to propose to my girlfriend in a month or two, and have been looking into engagement rings. Despite a lot of research, I am still uneasy about the subject of cost/quality of ring. Some people say the cost doesn't matter at all, some say it does a bit, and some say super expensive is the way to go.

My budget is around £500, and I've found this ring, which I think my girlfriend would like - she's not a fan of anything big and "bling":

Pic: http://s7ondemand4.scene7.com/is/image/Signet/9190074?$detail$

9ct White Gold 0.25 Carat Diamond Solitaire Ring
Birthstone -April
Diamond- 1/4 carat
Material - 9ct White Gold
Stone setting - Claw
Stone shape - Round
Stone style - Solitaire
Stone type - Diamond

Just after some opinions before I buy. Worried about the quality of the gold and diamond and stuff. Would you be disappointed if you were offered the ring above? Thank you

Thats gorgeous. The only thing that put me off with white gold was the fact that it needs recoating (?) every few years and I didn't like that idea, so I went for Palladium (I picked with my Fiance) Not as expensive as platinum but just as nice

ikkleosu · 21/06/12 - 16:35

katamaridamacy wrote: »

Haha, true... except it is engraved on the inside (at least in the photo)

haha see I just looked mine is too, shows how much attention I paid to that.

Maybe I'm strange but the big thing I was focussed on was that someone wanted to marry me, not what carat of diamond they had in their hand.

Good luck!

HenryBane · 21/06/12 - 16:35

katamaridamacy wrote: »

Thank you for all of your advice, everyone. I think I will go for the ring above. Wish me luck

Good luck. If it comes engraved with the size of stone on the inside band you could see if you could have it removed by a jeweller or covered over with her name.

[Deleted User] · 21/06/12 - 16:36

You can't go wrong with a classic solitaire, it's lovely

Hey there!

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Ladies, is this a nice/acceptable engagement ring?

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