If you want this ring with real diamonds you will have to pay at least a half a million dollars. That is not what I call affordable.  Of course you will not have to pay this much.

If you get this ring at Amazon you will only have to pay about $80.

Now if you really want to get with the most recent news, how about this engagement ring that was the closest thing I could find so far to the engagement ring that Brad Pitt just got for Angelina Jolie.

If you find a better ring than this one let me know.  I am still looking.   This ring sure is a lot more affordable.

I saw this inside a beer bottle which shows another popular trend in rings:

If you take this trend and add it to all the emerald cut engagement rings lately you go from this

to this:

The average engagement ring price for 2011 is $5,200. The Average price in 2008 was $5,800. These results are from a report done by XO Group Inc., TheKnot.com, and the WeddingChannel.com. The average Luxury engagement ring averaged $13,500. This report also said that about 65 percent of brides were involved in the ring decision which is a higher percentage than in the past. These results were from a poll of about 10,000 brides and 1,000 grooms. The poll questioned people in all states, all economic groups and many different ethnicities.
Why not get the woman to help. It does not seem to make the price go up any. I just wish for the man’s sake that I could have said the average was a little less which would make it easier to get an affordable engagement ring.
What kind of engagement ring can you get for the average engagement ring price? I found this ring on Amazon. This ring is a platinum, round diamond solitaire engagement Ring of 1.00 carat. I found a similar ring on Amazon with a slightly smaller diamond but with a halo setting.

I will start with this video on how to care for an engagement ring:

In looking at this video on how to care for a diamond engagement ring you will notice that the most impotant things to remember about caring for your diamond engagement ring are:

1. Your engagement ring is jewelry.  Do not abuse it by doing heavy work,  putting your hand in tight places, cleaning heavy loads and dong things such as gardening.
2. Keep you jewelry clean.  In this video ammonia is suggested as a cleaner.  This is fine for diamond jewelry, but may not work for softer gems.
3. When cleaning in a sink, keep the stopper closed.  Why not clean in a bowl?
4. Make sure the rings prongs are tight. If the ring rattles when shaken near your ear, it needs to be taken to the jeweler for repair.
5. If the engagement ring is a diamond engagement ring, you may need to look into insuring the engagement ring.

Both of these are affordable Kardashian Engagement rings, so now you have decide on which Kardashian Engement Ring. I even found one website that seems to be having a bit of a contest to see which Kardashian Ring people like the most.  why not join the fun and vote.  Just do not wear it on your left ring finger if you want guys to ask you out. Even though Kim’s ring cost seveal million dollars, I can assure you that these rings will cost you much much less.  Even if you do not want to join the contest, you can find out which ring people like best, just click on the image below.

CONTEST: Which Kardashian Ring Would Your Wear?

 What are bezel set engagement rings? It is an engagement ring where the diamond or stone is encircled with a metal rim. In most engagement rings the stone is held in place by prongs. Each setting has its advantages. For really beautiful diamonds, the prongs alow much more light into the stone and make it shine more. The advantage of the bezel set engagement ring is that the gem is held in place more securely. This may be a better choice for an active women.

Be very careful when buying an expensive diamond in a bezel set engagement ring. It is next to impossible to see the stone clearly. On the other hand if you can not afford an expensive clear colorless diamond, the bezel setting will allow you to hide the defects. Because these are not the traditional settings for an engagement ring, you may want to talk about this first. Once again, a good jewelry store will allow you to return or exchange your ring. Get this in writting if you are at all uncertain.

Learning how to clean jewelry at home and in particular learning how to clean that engagement ring at home can make your jewelry and that engagement ring more affordable.

This method is probably the safest for your jewelry and it can be used on almost all your jewelry.  Just be careful because porous jewelry such as pearls and wood jewelry that need some oil on the outside should only be put in for just a second. Then they should  be put in water to be rinsed.  

Step 1. Get two bowls. they should be large enough that you can put the ring or jewelry in and take it out with your fingers…a cereal bowl or a larger bowl for larger jewelry.  
Step 2. Add a couple of drops of dish detergent and some warm water to one bowl.  Add just clean water to the other bowl.

Step 3. Move dish to a safe place, away from the sink; perhaps on the kitchen table. ( I think all plumbing must have some kind of jewelry magnet in the pipes)
Step 4. Put ring in bowl and let it soak for about 5 minutes. On something like the washer or dryer this method approaches a jewelry ultra sonic cleaner.  If you have to use a soft tooth brush to get the jewelry clean, make sure you polish well after cleaning the jewelry.
 

Step 5. Gently shake jewelry back and forth for a second then pick ring up with fingers and put it in clean water to rinse.

Step 6. Pat dry.

Step 7. Check any gemstones for loose fitting. .  For very valuable jewelry such as diamond rings it is good to have the prongs checked every so often.  If you suspect any loose fittings, have them tightened.

This method of using store bought jewelry cleaner is very similar to cleaning with Soap and Warm water, but it uses slightly stronger chemicals. Stones that have had fillers added to cover up fine cracks, and cheaply colored stones may have some of the filler and color removed. These stronger chemicals can also harm amber, apatite, coral, opal, pearls, chrome diopside, jade, lapis lazuli, moonstone, turquoise, zircon and other very soft gemstones.  These gemstones will also be very sensitive to physical abrasion and so even a soft toothbrush should not be used. For other jewelry these cleaners work great and do tend to give more shine than soap and water.  Gold Jewelry Cleaner is particularly good and easy to use on solid gold and Silver Jewelry Cleaner is particularly good for solid silver cleaner. Do not mix. In particular, do not use silver in the gold jewelry cleaner.

To use there cleaners simply put the jewelry on in the basket, put the basket in the cleaner for a minute or more. Remove the jewelry pad dry and wear.  Put the lid on the cleaner and store until next time.

Cleaning Jewelry with Home Made Jewelry Cleaner

See warnings for store bought jewelry cleaner.

1.  A person can make jewelry cleaner by adding one quarter cup of ammonia and one cup of water.
 

2.  One can also make jewelry cleaner by adding one quarter cup Windex (glass cleaner) and a cup of water and a couple of drops of dish detergent.

3.  Microwave  1 cup of water for 1 to 2 minutes.  While heating, cover the bottom of a bowl with a small piece of aluminum foil; add 1 table spoon salt, one tablespoon baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of dish detergent. Add warm water and stir gently then add jewelry and let sit there for 5 to 10 minutes.

4. Pure Vodka

5.  Rubbing alcohol (cheaper than vodka)

In all these one would soak for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse and dry.

Polishing jewelry is different than cleaning jewelry. Polishing makes the metal (Gold, Silver, or Platinum) shine more. For just a couple of dollars you can buy a polishing cloth. When done properly the metal will get warm from all the rubbing and the molecules on the surface will
actually move to fill the voids. Scratches will be removed and the metal will shine.  If the jewelry is really important with lots of shiny metal it would be worth it every few years to have it cleaned and polished by a professional jeweler. They will use a fast moving buffering wheel that can really put the shine back into an old piece of jewelry.

Online or Your Local Retail?

You have to be a bit careful in deciding where to buy an engagement ring. Everyone will be trying to sell you that ring for as much as possible. if that engagement ring is unique it is going to be difficult to compare, but it is important to compare anyway.  Making an assumption will most likely cost you.

I remember when I had a small jewelry store talking to someone who was trying to sell me their engagement ring. They said that they had got a great deal on the used ring because they had bought it at a pawn store.  I took them over to a showcase and showed them a brand new almost identical ring for about 20% less than they had paid for the used one.  So with that said, take the comparison of what I now discuss with a grain of salt.

Online jewelry stores are usually less expensive than your local retail store.  The reason is that their costs are less as can be seen in this graph.  I have sold jewelry both ways and feel the this is a fairly accurate comparison. If you want repairs or a unique man made engagement ring, you are usually better to go to your local jewelry store. They can also give you advise as to which they feel looks best on you.

Remember that just because they can sell for less, doesn’t mean that they will sell for less. Your best weapon for getting the best price is always to shop around and to have as much jewelry knowledge as possible.  The price of gold, the price of a diamond engagement ring is always what someone is willing to sell it for.  Why pay more?

OK, you gave her the ring, you asked her to marry you, and she said: “I will.”  Now the fun begins.  There are many engagement websites that are there to help you enjoy this time of your life.  After all, this time of life is fun, because you are looking to the future.  You do not have to go looking for someone in a smoky bar.  This a time to relax and a time to celebrate.  As I see people on the web who are trying to give you ideas on how to enjoy this time of your life, I will put those websites here.

I know that I have enjoyed almost every day since she said: “I will.”   I hope you life will be as happy as mine.  It is up to you.  Make the most of it.

OK, I know what you are thinking…This is going to cost me a fortune.  No, In fact some of these sites might just save you some money. Example,  how about this website that will help you get started saving money called Frugal living tips.  As you plan for the future, save you money for what is really important.

Perhaps you have friends that are also getting married.  Here are some great ideas on how to use just a little planning to give these unique gifts.  One idea at this website is to give the gift of pictures in the form of a slide show and shows you ideas on how to create these.  For some reason this website reminds me of the TV show “Do you know how I met your mom?”  Like the show, celebrate and cherish this time of your life.

Man and woman showing off their engagement rings.

When it comes to a men’s engagement ring the times are changing here in the USA.  In the USA, a male engagement ring may be considered a non traditional engagement ring,but in other parts of the world ,such as parts of India and Scandinavia and Germany, men have been getting engagement rings for a long time. The look of these rings is different than a woman’s engagement ring. The rings look more like a wedding ring with diamonds. The idea is similar to a woman’[s engagement ring. Just like a woman’s ring show that the woman is taken. The idea of a man’s engagement ring is to show that the man is spoken for.

Because of equal rights, this idea of a men’s engagement ring is growing. It is a great feeling to be getting married, and what better way to show your joy. No more having to go to bars and other places having to meet the woman of your dreams. Mission accomplished. Because these rings look so much like a wedding ring, these rings can later be used as a wedding ring.  If the ring does not double as a wedding ring, it should be removed and worn on the right hand at the time of the wedding. Both of these customs are acceptable. Here is an example of a wedding ring with fairly large diamonds:

                                       If you would like to order this ring, check it out at this store that specializes in men’s jewelry.  If a single guy wants to wear a ring like this it is fine, just make sure to wear it on something other than the left ring finger or he may be wondering why he is having a hard time meeting women. This type of ring would also make an excellent anniversary present for a husband.

You should talk before getting married

It takes two to get married, It takes two to get engaged. There are many decisions to be made, and one person does not have to make them by themselves.
For example: How much should you spend on an engagement ring? If you look on the web, you get answers all over the place. This article in Slate, argues that a ring may not even be a good idea. Most places in the world do not have engagement rings. Here in the US; however, about 80% of women that get married have been offered an engagement ring. It is usually wiser to just go with the flow, but then again what is the normal price. You will here anwers ranging from 10% of your salary to 30% of your salary. You will here, a max of $2,000, 25% of your savings. In 2007, of those that were fortunate enough to get a ring, the average price was $3,200. Warning about using averages…..I love this quote:

Say you were standing with one foot in the oven and one foot in an ice bucket. According to the percentage people, you should be perfectly comfortable. ~Bobby Bragan, 1963

Guys, It is possible to consult the bride to be. You will have much more difficult problems than this to deal with. Just be honest and try to be understanding. Don not try to get understanding, just agreement. After all how much logic is there in a romance novel. Also look for signs. Does she notice the rings of others?

If you really want to get the marriage off to a good start, get her to help you find the biggest diamond for your money.  It takes a little work, but the rewards can be astronomical. Check this out about the secrets of buying an engagement ring.

Princess Diana with her royal engagement ring

It would not be much of a blog, if I did not mention the royal engagement ring that Kate Middleton just received.  It is definately a beautiful ring. A saphire surrounded by diamonds.  I dare say most people reading this blog can not afford
such a ring, but here is a ring you can Afford:

How do you buy an engagement ring under 500 dollars?  It will be hard to find any solitaires greater than about 1/3 carat.  You will have to decide:

1. Real diamond less than 1/3 ct
2. Solitaire style diamond ring (several small diamonds mounted together to look like one large diamond)
3. Cubic Zirconia a dimond look alike.

Here is an example of a small solitaire. This might look a bit small on a woman with larger hands.

Do not let the pictures fool you; when you spend under $500 on a diamond solitaire,the manufacturer will have to save money on both the diamond size and the amount of gold.  Still a great choice for an average to small woman.  Nothing says I am engaged like the classic diamond soitaire ring.

Now let us look at a solitaire style cluster ring.  Do not rule these out. The technology of making several small diamonds look like one large diamond is getting better all the time. When it comes to cluster rings to be used as an engagement ring, keep it simple.  The closer it looks to a solitaire, the more it looks like an engagement ring.

I personally like yellow gold, but in this style the white gold might be helpful at helping to camoflage the borders between all the little diamonds.

Now to talk about Cubic Zirconia. This man made stone can be beautiful. It looks perfect.  It is this very perfection that can be a problem. If the stone is too big, the perfection will be more obvious.  definately keep it under two cts.

Now this might be a better choice for a woman with larger hands.  This is a larger ring with more gold.  Also note that I picked yellow gold for this type of ring. The yellow will make this stone look a bit more yellow, and thus more real. It is difficult to fake the color of real gold, and so people will know that this is real gold. I know that you can get a cz ring in silver for much less, but I feel that your investment in gold will be well spent in this ring.

An affordable engagement ring means different things to different people.  What does an engagement ring for under $1,000 look like?  You will not be able to go into the jewelry store and buy a big solataire…maybe a solataire ring of about 1/3 ct.  What else can you get?  Here are some other styles that are under $1000: 

1.  A cluster ring puts several small diamonds together to give the look of a big diamond but for less money.

2.  A simpler diamond cluster ring set in gold.

3.   A more intricate cluster ring set in gold.

4. Another more intricate cluster ring which is getting away from the round shape.

 5. Here is a engagement ring and wedding ring combo.

6. Here is the last ring. It is a diamond cluster combo.  By cutting the diamonds square they can fit them together.

7   This has a lot of bling for 1/2 ctw and yet is still fairly simple

Ok.  Now it is your turn. Which style is best for an engagement ring, and why.  Come on gals, help the guys out. Also give other examples.

For you guys: The classic engagement ring is on the left, the wedding ring is on the right.

There are a lot of advantages to classic engagement rings.  For starters people recognize it for what it is.  Like the wedding ring, it says:  “I am taken.”   No other style says this so clearly.  Do you feel like the woman may feel like she is being owned?  This was a talked about issue in the 60′s when women’s rights were a hot topic. So now a little US history lesson ;

Most men did not use to wear wedding rings.  For the most part only women wore wedding rings or engagement rings.  Women felt that this one sided ring thing did feel like ownership.  Well you know what, men listened and without any official laws men began to wear wedding rings.  It turns out that men did not want to “own” women, they wanted to form a team.

As a man I enjoy wearing a wedding ring.  It actually gives me more confidence talking to women, as I do not worry that they think I am trying to pick them up. Which in the past, I propably was.

A second advantage of the classic engagement ring is as an investment. A classic engagement ring is esietially a solataire, or single diamond on a ring. It can be as difficult to sell a small diamond as it is to sell a large diamond and so the larger the diamond the better it is as a form of investment.  Also those of you who feel like this is sounding too much like a business deal, remember  that to pass a ring down to your children and grandchildren is also an investment (tax free). 

Beyond the Classic Engagement Ring

Even if you decide to not get the classic engagement ring, keep its basic form in mind.  I feel like most people will be happier with a ring that looks somewhat similar to the classic ring. Here are some points that describe the classic engagement ring:

• Clear stone.
• Large stone
• Diamond
• Faceted Stone (not smooth and rounded)
• Stone in middle
• Simple

Keep these concepts in mind, when you stray from the classic design to keep it looking like an engagement ring and it will still say: “I am taken.”

Where you buy engagement ring, depends on your needs. If you are buying a classic engagement ring

A local jewelry store is always worth a try. Be informed first.

you may want to start with Blue Nile which has become the benchmark for buying diamonds. You may not get the best price, but you can depend on getting a very good fair price.  Only after calmly finding out what you want and how much it will cost should you try to go to your local jeweler. You should not be pressured into buying something that you really did not want.

When you get under $1,000, Blue Nile is not the best place to go.  Your local less prestigious or large chain jewelry store would be better. At this point it becomes more about your taste in jewelry than in value (unless you can score a great value). I have my ideas, but I would love to hear from others on where they think is a good place to buy such jewelry online.

For less than $50o you can also get beautiful engagement rings of CZ and gold.  The cubic zirconium does have a lot of sparkle, but it is a bit too perfect for some people.   Because they can look so much like a diamond, be sure to buy from a reputable person or jeweler.

When I owned a Jewelry Store, I sold lots of silver and CZ engagement rings for under $100 dollars.  They were beautiful and my customers were ecstatic. In some cities they can be hard to find, but they are everywhere on the Internet. Just remember that silver jewelry is not a good investment, and it requires more cleaning and polishing.  If you have a favorite place to buy silver jewelry on the web……I would love for you to share that information.

No matter where you shop, make sure they have a decent return policy. After all she may say no. Remember you are asking and not telling. Also she may want a different ring. Hey if you are really lucky she may even have an old family engagement ring that she wants to wear.  You can dream.

How Much Should I Spend on an Engagement Ring?  Wow, there is a hot topic!   Many people who are searching for this answer are looking for the simple answer that is …..two months of salary. I have even heard some in the jewelry business say three months salary, but two months is the general consensus.

I can hear the lawyers already. Is that before tax or after tax?  I can also hear the business men. I will go ahead and take a loss this year, I can live on my business expenses.  Relax, this is just one of those things that is trown out there to get you thinking.  The gift and the amount should come from both your brain and your heart. This rule does not work for everyone.  Here is who it might work for:

• You and your wife-to-be like the idea of a traditional marriage and wedding.
• You could pay cash for it if you wanted to.
• She wants an engagement ring.
• You feel an engagement ring could be an investment or heirloom to future children.

If you mostly answered yes to these points, go for it. Buy the ring. Ask her.  Chance are, if she says no, you were wasting your time anyway. 

Still not sure. It is ok, most people do not go by the formula.

Who should pay more than two months salary for an engagement ring?

More? Got you scared, didn’t I. 

• I think that those who just graduated from college with no loans and yet no salary should pay more.
• I think that millionaires that do not draw a salary should pay more.

Who should pay less than two months salary for an engagement ring?

• A man who pays most of his paycheck in child support.
• A man who is bankrupt. (give her a prenuptial to protect her finances instead)
• A man who is marrying someone who does not like jewelry.

 How much should I spend on an engagement ring?

Ask her. How much should I spend on an engagemnet ring?

Perhaps if you rephrase the question: How much should we spend on an engagement ring?  This is the perfect time to bring up finances with your perspective wife. The best marriages are working on the same goals or compatible goals. Will you be able to meet those goals and still have fun in life. On the other hand, as finaces get intertwined, this may be your last chance to her something of lasting value that is totaly from you to her.

But what if you could get her more ring for the money?  That would be great wouldn’t it.  If you are planning to spend more than $1,000 dallars it would be well worth your time to come up with a game plan.  I quarantee that the people at the jewelry store or where ever you plan to buy your diamond ring have there game plan together. By just showing that you know what you are talking about and showing that you know your options will mean a better price.  I checked at Amazon, and did not really see any good books on this subject, but I did see this e-book, called “Engagement Ring Secrets” which really got to the heart of the matter and showed me several different ways to save money when buying a diamond or diamond ring.

Why not get her involved with getting the most ring for the money?  I think you will find that talking finance and budgets can be a lot of fun.  If you are the kind of person that thinks the food at a reseraunt tastes better if you get a discount, then this book was made for you.

If you look at the cost of diamonds vs color in the chart below you will see that one could spend twice as much on a diamond based on its color. One thing you should realize is that all of these grades are considered jewelry grade clear diamonds.  The other thing that one should think about when buying a diamond for a ring is what color is it. The slightly off color might be blue or green which may be OK in a white setting especially if the woman has green or blue eyes. Many diamonds are slightly yellow.  In a yellow gold setting it would be very difficult to notice.

Data taken from Blue Nile June 2010. Other factors held constant. (1 carat, good cut, VVS2)

Linear graph showing the cost of diamonds go down with color.

I used 1 carat because it is a nice round number, but the same pattern works for smaller diamonds.   Also remember that every now and then there is a fad for colored diamonds. As an example the pink and yellow diamonds can be particularly beautiful.  But do not get too fancy.  You want it to look like an engagement ring. I want guys to know my wife is married.

Cost of Diamonds from one third carat to one and a half carat.

 

The cost of diamonds goes up with the Carat (weight) all other things being equal.  Unlike buying commodoties like gold and silver the price is not linear.  You will pay more than twice as much as you go from a 1/2 carat diamond to a 1 carat diamond.  Here is a chart I made to show this relationship.

Information taken from Blue Nile using average grade diamonds (G / VVS2 / Good)

Some may be able to visualize this same information in the form of a graph: 

Data taken from the price of Blue Nile Diamonds June 2010. Ave grade (G VVS2 Good)

I know I know I am supposed to be talking about affordable diamonds. 

So lets trow out the results of the really big diamonds.

For years I owned a jewelry store, and the customer I miss the most are men who want to buy engagement rings.  They are the customer who needs the most help. Most men are clueless when it comes to jewelry; however, once they have made the decision they are the happiest of customers, even if they are still extremely nervous.  Will she say: Yes?

Every Man had a different situation in terms of finance and style, but all left with more confidence knowing that they had made the best decision for them.

I envite men to leave me a description of their situation, so that I (and my visitors) can help him make the right decision.

I envite women to share with men what kind of engagement ring you would be looking for if you were about to be engaged.

To get the women started thinking, I am going to say what I think they want. They want a pretty ring that looks like and engagement ring. A large diamond (or relatively large diamond) in the center would be a definite plus. They want a ring that says…I am engaged (or married)  Most women do not want a colored stone…that says…this is a pretty ring and nothing more…although this would be great for an anniversary present.

Welcome to my WordPress blog. I hope I can help some people in their choice of an affordable engagement ring. It will be worth it!