I paid $27,000 for my wife’s ring and band. Her finger is worth more than my truck but not my boat. I have a $50 rubber ring.

Can't remember what I spent back in 97. But over the years it's seen it's wear and she broke it on the bottom and hasn't worn it for a year. This last November was our 25th and a month before, I took it to the same place I bought it and added another diamond band to the other side and fix everything. That ran me $1200 and they asked about upgrading, but I wanted it the way it was when I proposed but with a little side bling. She is definitely happy to have it fixed.

DO NOT buy it at a jewelry store. Even thou she may not wear it at work she will wear it when she goes someplace special or family get togethers. Pawn shops are a good place but have it looked at by a reputable jeweler before you buy it. Another thing that works is if there is a family member that is special that has passed you could get that ring and have it resized. The meaning of the ring is sometimes more important that the size of the stone. She's a keeper if she tells you that the price of the ring should be reasonable. Also talk about it. Maybe there is an alternative that she would like. Most women do like jewelry. Now if she's kinda on the wilder side you could get her a nose ring.

I agree with "don't buy it at a jewelry store"...you can find some very nice rings at pawn, antique and coin/variety shops. A lot of times they won't cost you too much over melt (spot price). I'm partial to gold as it's a bit of wearable money.

Best of luck in your hunt for the right ring.

Dang and here I'm thinking her weatherby vanguard with the nice wood in .270 was good.....welp time to bump up to a chassis rig in .22 ARC I guess

I think it's a mistake for a young couple on a restrictive budget to spend a whole lot of money on wedding rings, dresses, a wedding venue, food, flowers, photographers, a DJ, a cake and all the many other basically frivolous expenses connected to getting married. They would be much better off spending the money on a house.

Keith

If she wants something with a bunch of diamonds in it,,give her a deck of cards.

The 800.00 tops thing could be a Test or a subliminal "test"

That will always come up in a Marital "discussion" when you want to buy another Rifle.

I don't think this is much help but I really broke the bank in 1978 and bought a two piece ring for $350 which was a LOT of money for me back then. I gave her the engagement part of it at the time and then the wedding part of it at the wedding ceremony. Had a jeweler fuse them together after the wedding.

I have a gold band that has been on my finger since April 21,1979 and it's not coming off without a saw, it's there till death do us part whether I want it to be or not.

I agree with Keith C

I think you're into it for three rings:
Engagement Ring - Wedding Ring and then- Suffering

I just wear a silicone ring. No chance of it getting caught in something I'm working on and I hate the weight of the gold band. The gold band sits in the gun safe. But I suggest you have one for the wedding and special occasions.

As for the bride, get what you can now. Upgrade as you succeed in life. You will.

My wife is always using her hands baking cooking gardening flower beds so instead of a ring she wanted diamond earrings! Never has to take them off to do all that stuff and they're still hanging in her ears 19 years later!!!

A couple of quotes here: "Not all men are fools, some are bachelors", "Nothing says sorry like a diamond" in a literal sense for the man, Just sayin' . There is still time to get these crazy ideas out of your head.

It's a trap Wolfie- don't go!

Wife lost the diamond out of hers, and I kept "ovaling" my gold band on things like headcatch lever, post drivers and big wrenches. We both got silicone rings, and we love them. Been married 22 years btw

You need a cajun style wedding, ..pig roast crawfish boil and keg beer...come as you are in your white shrimper boots and cutoffs. You'll have plenty of food, a good time, and few hassles, lol
Get a friend to take some pictures, cause after you look at them you'll never look at them again, so save your money to fix up your house...

PM some of us married guys we will fill you in on how that marriage thing really works over time.

My wife lost the diamond out of hers also. Took about a year to scratch together the money, but we were able to replace it. It cost more than the whole ring did to begin with.

I know that wedding/engagement ring means a lot to her, but it probably means more to me after 45 years.

For those of you who are cracking jokes about bad marriages, I hope the OP doesn't take you seriously.

Here's the best advice I can give you Wolfie: A lot of guys never realize that a great marriage is not about finding the right person, it's about being the right person.

Wolfie, wish you nothing but the best and hope all goes well

Lots of guys come on the internet and talk trash about being married and about women

You won't see me do that. I am blessed to have an amazing wife. Some men clearly don't think their decisions through and marry the wrong person

Every day that I wake up and have her is a day I thank God for.

Spend whatever is within your means. There is no magic number or minimum number. I echo the comments that say your money is better suited on buying some land or a house. Get her the nicest thing you can reasonably afford, and if one day down the road you can afford something nicer you can always buy another

Same thing goes for the wedding. But just remember what you spend on guns, trapping, etc.

Good luck!