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Cheap Engagement Rings: How to Find a Beautiful Engagement Ring for Less

An engagement ring is one of life's most unique and most significant purchases. But that does not mean you have to empty your wallet. In this guide, I explain how you can buy the perfect engagement ring for less.
by
Julie Abelstedt
Founder of Abelstedt

An engagement ring is one of life’s most unique and most significant purchases. It symbolizes your relationship and the special bond you share with your better half. It is therefore important to find a ring with a long-lasting durability.

But that does not mean you have to empty your wallet. There are many affordable options for engagement rings as well as ways to reduce the price without sacrificing beauty.

Whatever you plan to spend on an engagement ring, this guide will help you to get the most out of your budget.

First, Set Your Budget for an Engagement Ring

Figure out how much you want to spend on an engagement ring. You may have heard somewhere (in movies) that you need to spend two months’ salary. But it is a tale created by the diamond industry as a marketing ploy. Instead, use an amount that best suits your financial situation. Consider how much you earn after expenses like rent and insurance. Figure out an amount that you can reasonably afford and that will meet some (or all) of your partner’s expectations. Remember that purpose means more than price. You can find a beautiful ring for almost any budget.

Go For More Small Diamonds Rather than One Large One

While it may be natural to search for a 1 or 2-carat diamond or sapphire, it may make more sense for you to focus on several small diamonds when looking for the perfect design. If you want a ring that makes people turn heads but can not afford to invest in a 1 or 2-carat diamond or sapphire, I recommend that you go for a halo design. A halo is a ring of diamonds around the center stone. At Abelstedt, our most popular choice is the double halo, i.e. where two halos surround the center stone. Small diamonds are always cheaper than large ones, and the price difference can therefore be significant without it having an effect on the size of the engagement ring crown.

Aim for VS1, VS2, or SI1: The clarity of a diamond indicates how many spots and inclusions it has. Clarity is ranked on a scale from Internally Flawless (IF) to Included 2 (I2). Instead of paying more for better clarity, it’s better to spend your money on one of the four Cs that will affect the beauty of the diamond more, such as the cut. You can usually find a (by eye) pure diamond, which means that no imperfections are visible to the naked eye in the VS1 or VS2 clarities. You might even find an eye-catching diamond in the SI1 series. In short, there is no need to spend your money on an FL or VVS1 diamond if you’d rather save a little.

Do Not Pay More than You Need for Color

The color of a diamond indicates how white or colorless it is, and it is classified on a scale from D to Z, where Z is a diamond with a noticeable yellow or brown hue. Typically, you can find a diamond that looks white in the G to I range. Save your money instead of paying more for a D- or E-colored diamond. You may even be able to find a J- or K-colored diamond that looks colorless. This is especially true if you buy a ring in gold instead of white gold. The diamond should look white in relation to the ring itself, so a darker ring makes the diamond appear lighter. For example, a J-colored diamond looks white in a gold prong. Instead of paying for an E-colored diamond, which can quickly cost thousands more, buy a J-colored diamond that still looks amazingly white.

Choose a Sapphire as the Center Stone in Your Engagement Ring

My very best advice is to get the idea out of your head that the center stone must be a diamond. Alternatively, sapphire is the obvious choice. You can find sapphires in all the colors and qualities of the rainbow, typically for a third of the price of a diamond.

Historically, the sapphire is certainly not a big step down from the diamond. On Mohs hardness scale, the sapphire is a 9, which is an extreme hardness approaching the diamond. For these reasons, we offer sapphires in all our engagement rings as the default center stone surrounded by diamonds. However, if you want a diamond as a center stone, this is also possible by requesting it on the chat or by email.

Buy Your Engagement Ring Online

Buying your engagement ring online gives you great benefits. There is a wider selection online, giving you more choices for less money. The engagement rings you can find online are typically 30-40% cheaper than what you can find in stores. Just be sure to shop at a reputable online supplier so you feel safe before you buy.

Choose 14K Gold

Platinum is the most expensive precious metal for engagement rings and it is not necessary. White gold, rose gold, and yellow gold are all beautiful options that will hold up for everyday use. 14 karat and 18 karat gold are similar, but 14 karat gold is cheaper because it has less gold in the mix. Choosing a 14 karat gold quality is an obvious way to save on price without sacrificing quality. On the contrary, your ring becomes hardier against scratches and scratches. I can also recommend 10 karats, which can also be selected when you shop engagement rings here at Abelstedt.

I hope this guide has been able to help you a bit on the way to finding an engagement ring for your better half within the budget that suits you. Just keep in mind that your decision is entirely up to you. As long as you have your heart with you, she will be overjoyed. Finally, do not hesitate to write on the chat if you want further guidance on finding the perfect engagement ring. Then we will figure it out together.

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Men's Ring Size Guide
Abelstedt Size Inner diameter (mm) Inner circumference (mm) US Size UK Size
XXXS 16.3 52 6 L
XXS 17.0 54 7 N
XS 18.0 57 8 P
S 18.8 60 9 R
M 19.6 62 10 T
L 20.4 65 11 V
XL 21.2 67 12 X
XXL 21.8 70 13 Z
How to Measure

The Tape Method

1. Grab a tape measure, string, or strip of paper.

2. Wrap it around the finger you’ll wear your ring on—if you’re creating a ring stack, consider where on your finger the ring will sit—and mark where it joins with a pen.

3. Lay your string or paper strip on a flat surface and measure the length up to the mark using a ruler. Use the chart above to match the measurement to the closest Abelstedt ring size.

Measure finger for ring size

Measure an Existing Ring

1. Choose a ring that already fits the finger well.

2. Measure the inner diameter of the ring in millimeters (mm).

3. Use the measurement chart above to match the size of your ring to the closest Abelstedt size in mm.

Measure ring size
Abelstedt Blue Box

Abelstedt Gifting Tips

  • If you’re between sizes, go for the larger size if the ring is wide and the smaller size if the ring is narrow.
  • There’s not a large difference between two subsequent sizes on the size chart. If in doubt, go with your gut. You can always exchange the size through our easy returns process.

At Your Service

Our customer service is always ready to help. Chat with us live or send us an email.

Find Your Ring Size (Women)
Abelstedt Size Inner diameter (mm) Inner circumference (mm) US Size UK Size
XXS 15.3 48 4.5 I
XS 15.9 50 5.5 K
S 16.5 52 6 L
M 17.3 54 7 N
L 17.7 56 7.5 O
XL 18.5 58 8.5 Q
XXL 19.1 60 9 S
How to Measure

The Tape Method

1. Grab a tape measure, string, or strip of paper.

2. Wrap it around the finger you’ll wear your ring on—if you’re creating a ring stack, consider where on your finger the ring will sit—and mark where it joins with a pen.

3. Lay your string or paper strip on a flat surface and measure the length up to the mark using a ruler. Use the chart above to match the measurement to the closest Abelstedt ring size.

Measure finger for ring size

Measure an Existing Ring

1. Choose a ring that already fits the finger well.

2. Measure the inner diameter of the ring in millimeters (mm).

3. Use the measurement chart above to match the size of your ring to the closest Abelstedt size in mm.

Measure ring size
Abelstedt Blue Box

Abelstedt Gifting Tips

  • If you’re between sizes, go for the larger size if the ring is wide and the smaller size if the ring is narrow.
  • There’s not a large difference between two subsequent sizes on the size chart. If in doubt, go with your gut. You can always exchange the size through our easy returns process.

At Your Service

Our customer service is always ready to help. Chat with us live or send us an email.

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