Engagement rings?

**Big Dan** · 23rd August 2007, 19:57

Hi All

As i have decided that my lady is the one i want to spend the rest of my life with. But not sure how much to spend on the ring

A penny for your thoughts

Cheers All
BD(Big Dan)

**chanceyy** · 23rd August 2007, 20:02

firstly congratulations

in answer to your question .. what you can comfortably afford ..

**MisterD** · 23rd August 2007, 20:06

Isn't the traditional guideline about a month's wages? I think I spent a tadge less than that cos a bigger rock would have looked daft on my missus' finger....IMHO the important thing is to have the cojones to go out and buy the ring you thing she'll like.

**Hitcher** · 23rd August 2007, 20:09

Congratulations!

Take your fiancé out browsing and see what your choices and options are. Once you've got an idea of the sort of thing you'd like, go to a manufacturing jeweller and get something designed and priced for you. You'll save a lot/get more this way than buying at retail. And your ring will be unique!

And while the cost of a ring seems like a big spend in the early stages in a relationship, it will be a drop in a bucket compared with other things you will invest in during your life together.

Ahh. Young love. Good on you both.

**Oakie** · 23rd August 2007, 20:11

26.5 years ago I shelled out $400 for Mrs Oakie's engagement ring. Never looked at one since but if I guess if I had to buy her another one it'd be between $500 and $1000.

**Mom** · 23rd August 2007, 20:11

Congratulations! The best days of your life are ahead of you!

The engagement ring is a bit of a bling symbol of what sharing your life with another person is all about. My wedding ring cost much, much less than my engagement ring but is worth a million times more to me than anything money can buy.

Buy a ring that you can actually afford to buy, dont hock yourself for it. You have the rest of your life to buy your lady bling...........make sure you do!

**McJim** · 23rd August 2007, 20:12

Crickey - I wasn't even aware you could get a decent diamond for under $2,000. I think I spent about GBP2,000 on me missus' ring. Heavy guage Platinum setting (so it doesn't get scuffed up when she's doin' the housework!

)

**Toaster** · 23rd August 2007, 20:12

Hey BD!! well done that man! Congrats to you and your good lady. Spend according to your heart dude. Love has no price.

**Nasty** · 23rd August 2007, 20:18

Originally Posted by MisterD

Isn't the traditional guideline about a month's wages?

Yeah that is what I was thinking .. saw something today taht indicated two months salary ... but the reality is to get something that both you and her will like and appreciate ... its not actually about the money .. but the 'true value'

**Bekki** · 23rd August 2007, 20:36

Originally Posted by Big Dan

Hi All

As i have decided that my lady is the one i want to spend the rest of my life with. But not sure how much to spend on the ring

A penny for your thoughts

Cheers All
BD(Big Dan)

Congratulations!!!!

Once you've sussed out the ring you'll have to start thinking about the proposal.....

Ask her friends if they know what kind of ring she'd like?

There are stunningly gorgeous rings for less than $1000 if you shop around.

And if you check out TradeMe.. there are second-hand engagement rings for africa, for about 1/4 of what they would cost you in a store. You'd want to get an independent valuation before you hand over the cash.

It has to be well-made, cause it has to last a zillion years while being knocked into stuff and rubbed against things, but if I were buying a ring, there's no way I'd spend more than $2000, and I'm a ring-crazy girlfriend

Save some money for weddings and houses and babies!

**oldrider** · 23rd August 2007, 20:36

We just went a Jeweller in Wellington and asked him to make a ring.

She described what she wanted it to look like and he just worked on it until she was pleased with it.

Then he set about making it for us.

The jeweller constructed it to a price I could afford without skinning us out!

Worth every penny 43 years of perfection, best wife I ever had!

**enigma51** · 23rd August 2007, 20:39

You should spend fuck all mate its a piece of jewelry that is useless buy a new pair of boots or something at least you can use and she can clean them for you. Keeps them busy ie less moaning in your ear

**Blackbird** · 23rd August 2007, 20:49

Well our eldest son is a true romantic! He wanted to propose to his partner as a complete surprise with a ring, but give her the chance to actually choose one later when they could afford a decent one. How did he do this? He made a ring out a piece of copper wire and wound little flowers round it. They had champagne by the water on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne and then he got down on one knee and did it the old-fashioned way. What a smooth operator! They still have the flower ring as a lifetime memory and his fiancee got the ring of her dreams at a later time. And you know what? They both treasure the original one the most.

Be creative and good luck!

**fireliv** · 23rd August 2007, 21:12

Good on ya for making the commitment, wish ya the best of happiness!

Personally I actually dont care what it cost, more interested in the proposal itself. I would prefer a cheap ring in a style I like rather than a huge rock that looks ugly.

Be romantic and I'm sure she will be happy!

Good luck!