If you are going to wear your ring every day, you should really only get diamond, sapphire, and MAYBE ruby. Everything else is too soft for years of daily wear (will crack or scratch over time) My ring is sapphire and diamond, picked out in the diamond district in NY for a song (picked out a loose stone and had it set). Blue nile is probably your best bet for reliable and not too expensive gemstones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why have one? We didn't and our marriage of 14 years is great!

Because my then fiance loves and cherishs me, and wanted me to have it as a gift and symbol of his love? And he could afford it.

I do not connect an engagement ring with love, the ring is a preference. The point was to say that if you want a good marriage, an engagement ring isn't necessary. However, it matters to OP, now we know, so GL OP!

Buy a pretty gemstone from that gemstone channel on cable TV and get it set by a local jeweler. (you can buy a cheap ring on bluenile). they sell gemstones all day long and most are under $100. I love green gemstones. Or you could do something red. I would opt for something not lab created or heat treated though, as the color will fade over time. try to find something natural and untreated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Engagement rings were traditionally to know that the woman was taken and belonged to a man. Unless you hold very traditional views about gender roles then I am not sure why you would get an engagement ring.

I always find it odd when someone tells me they didn't take their husband's name but they have an engagement ring. Their values only hold up until money or diamonds are involved.

Well, my DH and I don't have traditional views on gender roles, and I'm not trying to humble brag, but my ring has saved me from several unwanted advances, mainly on business trips. You can always sense when the guy at the airport bar is checking you out. . .casually flash the ring and it shuts that business down. I like having a symbol that I am "taken;" so does my husband vis a vis his wedding band. It's a symbol to us, not a gender thing.

Why do you need to be saved from unwanted advances? Just say no. My wedding and engagement rings have not stopped men from hitting on me.

Of course I would say no. I just prefer them to leave me 100% alone, frankly, so that I don't have to say anything. On business trips, I'm not into idle chit chat. I spend all day being "on." When I'm at the bar waiting to fly home at 8pm, I want to enjoy a drink and let my mind relax, not make small talk with the guy next to me. So, when I get the sense some guy is about to try and chat me up, I will purposely mess with my hair, scratch my shoulder, whatever, to flash it. Even being small it always works. Well, that and my "leave me the eff alone" vibe, I guess.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, would like to keep it under $1,000. Only requirement is that the band be white gold.

Don't bother.

I have a couple of gem stone cocktail rings that I love and could look really great as an engagement ring. one is yellow sapphire the other is a blue topaz. my old college roomate has a cool blue and white sapphire ring for her engagement ring, its a cool cut too, not traditional, but you also recognized it on her hand as an "engagement ring" if that's important. I see lots of people without them or without diamond ones.

Anonymous wrote:Why have one? We didn't and our marriage of 14 years is great!

Because my then fiance loves and cherishs me, and wanted me to have it as a gift and symbol of his love? And he could afford it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Engagement rings were traditionally to know that the woman was taken and belonged to a man. Unless you hold very traditional views about gender roles then I am not sure why you would get an engagement ring.

I always find it odd when someone tells me they didn't take their husband's name but they have an engagement ring. Their values only hold up until money or diamonds are involved.

Well, my DH and I don't have traditional views on gender roles, and I'm not trying to humble brag, but my ring has saved me from several unwanted advances, mainly on business trips. You can always sense when the guy at the airport bar is checking you out. . .casually flash the ring and it shuts that business down. I like having a symbol that I am "taken;" so does my husband vis a vis his wedding band. It's a symbol to us, not a gender thing.

Why do you need to be saved from unwanted advances? Just say no. My wedding and engagement rings have not stopped men from hitting on me.

Anonymous wrote:If someone doesn't want to spend a ridiculous amount on a diamond engagement ring, do you have any suggestions for other stones? (not fake diamonds, but other types of stones)

What is your budget?

Anonymous wrote:Engagement rings were traditionally to know that the woman was taken and belonged to a man. Unless you hold very traditional views about gender roles then I am not sure why you would get an engagement ring.

I always find it odd when someone tells me they didn't take their husband's name but they have an engagement ring. Their values only hold up until money or diamonds are involved.

I hyphenated (which is a totally different debate) and yes, I have an engagement ring, but so did my husband.

OP-

I really like Lang's and Jewels By Erica Grace (links a PP posted) but definitely find Lang's expensive. I've been in their store and it's amazing. You might try Ruby Lane if you're still interested in an antique or vintage ring.

Anonymous wrote:Engagement rings were traditionally to know that the woman was taken and belonged to a man. Unless you hold very traditional views about gender roles then I am not sure why you would get an engagement ring.

I always find it odd when someone tells me they didn't take their husband's name but they have an engagement ring. Their values only hold up until money or diamonds are involved.

Well, my DH and I don't have traditional views on gender roles, and I'm not trying to humble brag, but my ring has saved me from several unwanted advances, mainly on business trips. You can always sense when the guy at the airport bar is checking you out. . .casually flash the ring and it shuts that business down. I like having a symbol that I am "taken;" so does my husband vis a vis his wedding band. It's a symbol to us, not a gender thing.

Anonymous wrote:Engagement rings were traditionally to know that the woman was taken and belonged to a man. Unless you hold very traditional views about gender roles then I am not sure why you would get an engagement ring.

I always find it odd when someone tells me they didn't take their husband's name but they have an engagement ring. Their values only hold up until money or diamonds are involved.

I didn't take my husbands last name and I told him I wanted a nontraditional engagement rings -- no diamond. He got me a diamond anyway and guess what, I never wear it. Plus his mom picked it out and it's ugly. Anyway, whatever you are saying is not always the case.

Engagement rings were traditionally to know that the woman was taken and belonged to a man. Unless you hold very traditional views about gender roles then I am not sure why you would get an engagement ring.

I always find it odd when someone tells me they didn't take their husband's name but they have an engagement ring. Their values only hold up until money or diamonds are involved.

Anonymous wrote:Gemstones can be pretty pricey, too, but you can get a larger stone for your money that way.

Does it have to be a huge stone? What is your budget?

Despite what DeBeers wants you to believe, you can get a very nice engagement ring in the 3K range. It won't be a D or E/FL or IF stone, but you can get a mid-range stone that is well-cut for a reasonable price.

You know, there are great jewelers that can work with you to design your own ring depending on your priorities. My DH did this at I Gorman and got a smallish but very clear and brilliant diamond for a great price. They rock.

I knew a woman whose ring was a sterling silver band with a pearl setting (one large pearl). It was gorgeous. They used the crap ton of money he would have spent on a more expensive ring and bought a house. Win win. My DH was similarly told not to spend a fortune. Such a waste IMO.