ENGAGEMENT RINGS ON A BUDGET: AFFORDABLE OPTIONS AVAILABLE
At Braverman Jewelry, we strongly believe that high quality, beautifully-made jewelry should be not just for the privileged few, but for everybody. Buying an engagement ring is a huge commitment, and should be a life-changing moment that will bring you and your partner untold joy and happiness.
Because we want everybody to be able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime sense of achievement, we have put together a brief guide to helping you choose your perfect affordable engagement ring.
THINK ABOUT YOUR BUDGET FIRST
There are plenty of myths flying around regarding the ‘rules’ of how much you should spend on an engagement ring, and what percentage of your salary it should cost. Of course, at the end of the day how much you invest in your engagement ring is entirely up to you - although it’s worth keeping in mind that a quality engagement ring can easily become an investment or heirloom.
No matter what your budget is, it’s well worth setting a realistic budget for your ring before you begin shopping around - this will allow you to focus your search, and may open up plenty of alternative options and fascinating variations for you to explore.
CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE METALS
One of the easiest ways to make your engagement ring a little more affordable is to think about the metal you want. With a bit of creative thinking, and a bit of inside knowledge, it’s easy to find the perfect metal for your ring. If you love the gleam and shine that platinum brings, yet this particular metal is outside of your budget, you don’t have to look far to find similar alternatives.
Many metals which have a similar appearance are considerably more affordable, such as palladium. Rose gold tends to be a budget-friendly option, too, and white and rose gold are also slightly more accessible to those on a modest budget, making them highly popular and stylish choices.
CHOOSE AN AFFORDABLE DIAMOND OPTION
Diamonds are the classic and traditional choice for an engagement ring. No matter what your budget might be, we believe there is a diamond for your, and our experts are always keen to point our customers in the direction of more affordable diamond options… of which there are many.
It just takes a little know-how and insider knowledge, and before long you’ll be able to select a beautifully cut, brilliant diamond for your affordable engagement ring to present to your beloved.
Did you know that round diamonds are by far the most popular shape there is? This high demand for round diamonds means that other fancy-shaped diamonds are often considerably cheaper, which is surprising when one considers their beauty, and the fact that - for example - emerald and asscher shaped diamonds are a truly elegant option which should never be overlooked.
On top of this, princess cut diamonds, oval, teardrop and heart shaped diamonds are all often more affordable than round diamonds, and yet bring a certain charm and dazzling effect to the engagement rings they are set it.
It doesn’t even stop there - other ways to make diamonds more accessible and affordable still exist! Why not opt for a more affordable diamond with a lower colour grade, and set it in a rose gold engagement ring which will make the diamond look just as brilliantly white as any other.
You’ll end up with a stunning diamond engagement ring, at a price which is far kinder on the wallet.
OPT FOR A DIFFERENT GEMSTONE… OR NONE AT ALL!
Who said that diamonds are the only option available? At our workshop we love showing our customers just how many different possibilities there are for more affordable engagement rings, made with a variety of different gemstones.
One of the most popular gemstones for engagement rings is the sapphire. Not only does sapphire engagement rings symbolize commitment and dedication, but sapphires come in a range of beautiful colours and styles, and when they are paired with smaller accent gemstones (which could well be diamonds, even if you’re on a budget) they really do look incredibly elegant and eye-catching. If sapphires aren’t for you, there are so many others you can choose from - emeralds, rubies, morganite and more!
That being said, there’s really no need for a central gemstone at all, if you don’t want one. Traditions don’t need to be obeyed to the letter, and if you and your partner are keen to follow a more modern route, why not go for an engagement ring which either features several smaller gemstones, accent diamonds, pavé diamonds - or nothing at all? The choice is entirely yours, and as any member of our Braverman family will tell you, we’re always open to new ideas and modern trends!
CONSIDER A DAZZLING SETTING
One other way you can make your affordable engagement ring more accessible is to focus more on the setting, rather than on a central gemstone. By accentuating the setting with diamonds, accent gemstones, filigree metalwork or other decorative details, you can add a smaller - and thus more affordable - central gemstone, which will nonetheless look stunning on the finger of your beloved.
Halo engagement rings, with their distinctive design, are a wonderful way of enhancing the appearance of your diamonds, and rose gold halo engagement rings especially are highly popular at the moment for this very reason. We know that ‘affordable’ is a high subjective concept, but we are dedicated to ensuring that all of our customers end up with their dream engagement ring.
Feel free to call our approachable expert, and we will be able to talk you through the options available to you.