Ways to Save - How to Buy Wedding and Engagement Rings for Less

These tips will help you find a stylish engagement ring and timeless wedding bands on a budget.

Less is More

Embellishments are nice but sometimes plain and simple engagement rings make more of a statement while costing less. Any embellishments will increase the price. 

Forego Platinum

If you’re on a budget and want a silver hue, skip platinum and opt for white gold – it costs about 45 percent less.  The downside is that it may need to be re-plated in the future. Keep your eye out for a high quality white gold, this is marked by a soft white color and may not require any rhodium plating.

Just Short of a Carat

For diamonds, always buy just short of the next carat level. So if you’ve got your eye on a two-carat stone, swap it out with a 1.8 carat. You’ll save almost 20 percent, and the size difference is negligible. 

Get a Set

Buy a matching or coordinating set (engagement and wedding ring), and you can save as much as 50 percent. You’ll save even more if you buy a three-piece set (engagement ring plus his and hers wedding rings).

Go Local

Good at haggling? Skip the national chains and test your bargaining skills at a local jeweler. You’re more likely to successfully negotiate prices at a privately owned jewelry store and you’ll feel good about supporting a local business/

Upgrade Later

If you’ve got your heart set on a ring that’s out of your budget, consider purchasing a “starter ring,” and upgrade on a future anniversary.