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Inexpensive Engagement Rings

With so many choices today, it is possible to find inexpensive engagement rings made with stunning, eye-catching and durable materials and quality workmanship. Use the tips below to find out what type of affordable engagement ring styles may suit you or your partner best. With these tips you will find quality affordable wedding rings that will last you a lifetime – you don’t have to settle for anything less!

Inexpensive Diamond Rings

You can find low cost diamond rings through these resources:

Consider purchasing a used engagement ring – clink on the link to find shopping tips for used engagement rings.

Consider purchasing an engagement ring made with man-made simulant or synthetic diamonds. Synthetic diamonds are laboratory diamonds which have the exact same physical and chemical properties of a diamond – they are diamonds, the only difference is they were made in a laboratory. Simulant diamonds look like real diamonds, but they have different chemical properties – the most popular simulant diamonds today include Cubic Zirconia, Moissanite and Nexus simulants.

Look for discount diamond engagement rings made with diamonds that have lower clarity and cut characteristics. If you follow the parameters on this page, you can find lower priced diamonds without sacrificing on the quality or look of the diamond – only a professional jeweler will be able to tell the difference.

Affordable Gemstone Engagement Rings

Gemstone engagement rings are making a big comeback – more and more couples are looking for unique engagement rings made with affordable diamond alternatives. If you are thinking about purchasing an engagement ring which features a beautiful gemstone, you may appreciate the durability, elegance and allure of these affordable eye-catching gemstones:

Amethyst – a rich purple gemstone

Aquamarine – gorgeous soft blue to sea green

Citrine – pale yellow to vivid orange, an alternative to yellow diamonds

Garnet – in shades of reds, green, yellow, and sherry brown.

Iolite – a beautiful soft purple gemstone.

Morganite - a charming and affordable alternative to light pink diamonds.

Peridot – from soft to dark tantalizing green colors.

Spinel – in colors ranging from pink, purple, blue, red and red-orange, a terrific affordable alternative to pink diamonds, blue sapphires or red rubies.

Topaz – almost all colors of the rainbow, an affordable alternative to fancy color diamonds, sapphires, and red rubies.

Tourmaline – countless shades of blue, pink, purple and red, an affordable alternative to higher priced fancy color diamonds and gemstones.

If you are interested in affordable sapphire, ruby or emerald gemstone engagement rings, you may want to purchase a man-made synthetic gemstone which has the exact same properties of a real gemstone – the only difference is where the gemstone came from (nature vs. laboratory) and of course the price!

Inexpensive Wedding Band Materials

To further reduce the cost of an engagement ring, look for inexpensive engagement rings made with affordable – but durable – metals. Some of the most affordable metals which are used to create engagement rings for today’s couples include tungsten, titanium and stainless steel. Engagement ring styles made with these metals are steadily growing – so you may be able to find a very affordable engagement ring, made with a stunning diamond or gemstone, if you choose a low cost band.

Silver engagement rings are quite affordable too – but silver will scratch and tarnish with time. A good clean and buff will restore a silver engagement ring, but a ring made with silver should always be treated with care.

Shopping Precautions for Inexpensive Engagement Rings

While many inexpensive engagement rings on today’s market are made with quality workmanship and materials, shoppers still need to use caution when they search for affordable wedding rings.

One of the biggest concerns for affordable engagement rings involves the quality of the metals and settings used to create the ring. Some markets for low cost rings include rings that are made with poorly alloyed metals which include:

Low grades of silver (not sterling silver) coated with rhodium plating to temporarily improve the look of the band.

Low grades of white gold alloys including 14K, 10K white gold or 9ct white gold alloys that may have been mixed with high amounts of nickel (which can cause allergic reactions). Again, a thin coat of rhodium plating is used to improve the look of the ring, but the rhodium plating will eventually wear off and the ring will yellow with time.

In worst case scenarios, some low cost wedding ring manufacturers create wedding bands made with brass or copper and then plate the ring with a thin layer of silver, gold and possibly rhodium. Once the thin layers wear off the ring will quickly discolor.

Watch out for inexpensive engagement rings made with poor quality gemstone settings. Look for manufacturers who offer affordable rings made with quality gemstone settings which are either set inside the band, tension set or pronged settings that are made with platinum.

Beware of sellers who offer low cost diamond rings made with diamonds that have been graded and certified by their own laboratories or by gemstone laboratories which have no verifiable history or contact information.

One other concern for inexpensive engagement rings – some cheaper rings are made with unethical blood diamonds or gemstones and metals which have been obtained in methods that are extremely harmful to the environment.

Shopping Tips for Inexpensive Engagement Rings

Plenty of wedding ring companies offer low cost ethical and eco-friendly engagement rings which come with lifetime warranties and exchange or replacement policies. While you are searching for that perfect affordable engagement ring, always check to be sure that your ring comes with at least a 30-day no-nonsense return policy and some type of warranty.

Weigh the pros and cons of rhodium plating before you purchase a rhodium plated engagement ring. Even with a thicker application of rhodium, the plating will wear off in one to two years – a thinner application will wear away in a few months. Continually paying for another rhodium application every few years, or few months, can add up to well over a thousand dollars with time.

Affordable diamond rings made with synthetic or simulant diamonds should feature gemstones which have been hand cut and hand polished. Low cost diamond engagement rings made with real diamonds should always come with a grading and certification report by a reputable laboratory such as the American Gem Society (AGS) or the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

Double check the materials and metals used to make the rings, including the composition of the metals used to create the band and the ethical and eco-friendly policies of the companies that produce low-cost bands. If the company cannot provide you with this information – go somewhere else!

Remember – in today’s competitive wedding ring market, full of alternative metals, diamond simulants and synthetics and affordable gemstones, you don’t have to settle for anything less!

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