What should engagement rings cost

Following the Depression, they promoted the idea that a diamond ring was an important investment. This helped to justify the price at a time many Americans were down on their luck. Unfortunately, diamonds always depreciate in value. They upped the ante a few decades later. Buy a ring that you and your fiance think is beautiful, and then start saving for the wedding.

Diamond engagement rings are still by far the most popular type of engagement rings. Once again, we have De Beers to thank: After miners discovered a large white diamond mine in South Africa, De Beers used their control over the mines to limit the supply and keep their prices high. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and colored diamonds obviously make lovely engagement rings. Plenty of other stones will keep their sparkle for many generations. But what does the average really mean for you?

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It's always good to have a basis for comparison. Here is the average cost and carat size of diamond engagement rings in different countries. To give you a better idea, see pictures of recently purchased diamond rings here.

Don't Be Pressured by the National Average : We get it that you may want to measure up to the average man. However, if the average is still a lot higher than you can afford, you should NEVER feel pressured to match it. Remember that certain large cities often have much higher average diamond sizes. And you still need to think about your own financial situation. The best way to make sure you're both happy is to have an honest conversation about expectations and finances.

If you're going to share a life together, you really should be on the same page about things like this. You should have an honest chat about where you are financially and what your goals for the future are. For instance, do you want to save money for a down payment or pay off student loans? Then you can figure out how the engagement ring fits in with those goals.

Once you have a number in mind, you can work to find exactly the kind of ring she would like that fits within that budget. What are you budgeting for an engagement ring? Talking about the cost of the ring may not be romantic, but it's important. Maybe she doesn't even want a diamond. Either way, you want to know. Do you plan to go engagement ring shopping together? More and more couples are choosing to shop for the engagement ring together. Shopping together is a great way to be certain that she gets a ring that she'll love.

If you really have no clue what kind of style she likes, then it's even a good idea to let your girlfriend pick out her own engagement ring. This way, she has a say in what she likes instead of you taking a blind guess. In fact, you can shop together and still keep the element of surprise. You can talk about stone and metal preferences and have your girlfriend pick out a few setting styles she likes. You can then choose the final design on your own and plan the surprise proposal. Tip : See our guide on the most popular engagement ring styles.

Also learn about diamond prices so you don't overpay. Do you plan to buy an engagement ring online or in store? Is James Allen better than Blue Nile? In terms of pricing, James Allen and Blue Nile both offer similar competitive prices.

James Allen has the edge when it comes to setting options, gemstones, and colored diamonds. It's also better if you need help, as it offers free diamond consultations with an expert.

Because of these, James Allen is our top recommended online jeweler. Read our detailed comparison review of James Allen and Blue Nile.

Have an idea for a budget? There are a few other things to consider before putting down money for a ring:. Treat her as seriously as you treat yourself : If you spend quite a bit of money on your own hobbies and toys, then you should be willing to spend just as much on her ring. Take your time: A purchase this big should never be rushed or taken lightly. Not only will you decide on the size, style, cut and color of the diamond, you'll also have to do some research on whether buying online or instore works best for you.

If you want a wider selection of diamonds at lower prices we recommend comparing your findings from Blue Nile to that of James Allen for the best online offers. Other future large purchases : Maybe there are other milestone purchases coming up, such as buying a house.

Make sure you know how the ring will affect that. Or maybe the two of you find that taking a dream, once-in-a-lifetime trip together is more meaningful. Expensive is not the same as thoughtful : If you're going broke buying a ring you can't afford, that's not showing you care.

That's just putting your joint financial future at risk. Sure, your bride may have a beautiful ring on her finger, but will she be happy if you're struggling to make ends meet every month because of it?

Explore their Inspiration Gallery to see current popular designs. Plus, there are many ways to show you care without going broke. Trying planning an unforgettable proposal. Maybe look into a one-of-a-kind handmade ring from a small independent jeweler. Or perhaps your grandmother's ring would actually be the perfect way to show her that she's part of the family.

Did you know? The proposal is going to be one of the most special moments of a girl's life, and a story she'll want to tell forever. If you can't afford a ring right now, the best thing would be to wait. Put money aside each month until you can buy the ring in cash. But that might not be possible, especially when you have other loans to deal with. Saving up what you need could take a year or more. We get it that you might not want to wait to propose. In that case, you could consider getting a cheaper ring, financing the ring or putting it on a credit card.

But be careful: financing doesn't mean you should pick the largest diamond you can charge. Following the contemporary trend of blushy toned jewelry, White gold has a low percentage because while it offers a practically identical appearance to platinum, is should be re-plated with rhodium every months.

Platinum does not require the same level of maintenance, making it a preferred choice for an item of every day jewelry. The average carat weight for a center diamond averages at around 0. Colored gemstones often provide slightly better value for money, resulting in an average carat weight for colored gemstones averaging at around 0. This website uses cookies.

For more information, please read our cookies policy. Login via a link sent to your email no password required or Reset your password here. Home » Ring Guidance » How much does an engagement ring cost? How much does an engagement ring cost? How much do people spend on an engagement ring? Lab Grown Diamonds If you are looking for a diamond engagement ring, choosing a lab grown diamond can have a large effect on the overall price of the ring. What most affects the price of an engagement ring?

So how do I decide what carat weight to go for? The chart below shows the prices of a one carat diamond in various shapes.

Colored stones Only one carat out of every 10, carats mined is a natural fancy color diamond. Trilogies and ratios of center stones to side diamonds A trilogy engagement ring , or sometimes called a three-stone engagement ring, or trinity engagement ring, is simply a design style that features three diamonds or gemstones at its center. Halos can give the appearance of a larger center stone A halo of diamonds or other precious stones surrounding your center stone is a great way to enhance the overall appearance of your ring.

Ranges of mount prices The mount, or the metal of an engagement ring can affect the overall price of your ring. Lab The Gemological Institute of America is an international non-profit organization dedicated to producing consistent, accurate and unbiased grading reports.