When speaking to our lovely customers about choosing their engagement ring, many ask us questions about placeholder engagement rings. Placeholder or temporary engagement rings are becoming more popular amongst those planning to propose to their partner, but what are they?
Today, we are talking all things placeholder engagement rings - read on to discover what one is, why you might need one, and some sustainable temporary engagement ring ideas.
What is a placeholder or temporary engagement ring?
A placeholder engagement ring is a ring used for a marriage proposal, with the idea that it is temporary and will be replaced by a permanent, ‘forever’ engagement ring following the engagement.
There are several reasons why one might propose a temporary engagement ring; it could be that they are not 100% sure what style of engagement ring their fiancé-to-be would like, but would still like to present a ring to their love during the proposal.
Is it OK to propose with a placeholder ring?
Yes, of course it's ok to propose with a placeholder ring! It is a personal choice and one many make either on their own, or with their partner before the proposal.
However, you don’t have to choose a temporary ring; every proposal is different, and many like to choose or design the permanent ring from the get-go if they’re confident in what their partner wants, they know their partner will love whatever they choose, and if they are not interested in shopping or designing a permanent ring together. If you don't want to opt for a placeholder engagement ring, you can browse our ready-to-wear ethical engagement rings here, or contact us about designing a bespoke engagement ring.
Benefits of choosing a placeholder ring
Sharing the shopping experience with your partner
Proposing with a placeholder ring means that following the engagement, you can share the ring shopping experience together, which is an appealing prospect to many couples. This can be an extremely enjoyable and romantic experience, resulting in a permanent engagement ring that’s been collaboratively chosen or designed that you both adore.
A stress-free experience
Many people planning to propose to their partner may experience stress or worry around the ring in the weeks or days leading up to the proposal. For example, carrying an expensive engagement ring through airport security could be stressful, especially if the ring is of large value, making it at risk of being flagged at customs and ruining the surprise. Or, many worry whether their partner will like the engagement ring they chose for them.
Choosing a placeholder ring can reduce the likelihood of these potentially stressful moments, as a lower-value placeholder ring is less likely to cause a scene at customs, and you go into the proposal with the knowledge that you’ll soon design a beautiful permanent engagement ring together which will be exactly what your other half wants.
Budget considerations
Generally, engagement rings are a high-cost item, so for those who are unsure of the design their partner might like, they may feel uneasy about making this large purchase alone. While at Wild Fawn we have the expertise and knowledge to help you design your perfect engagement ring every step of the way, we understand that some might like to choose a lower-priced temporary ring as a placeholder, before coming back to us as a newly-engaged couple to purchase a permanent ring.
How much should I spend on a placeholder engagement ring?
How much you spend on a placeholder engagement ring has no right or wrong answer, as it is totally personal to you, your budget, and your desired design.
The cost of the placeholder ring you choose will be influenced by whether you’d like diamonds or gemstones, and the metal used. While the ring is temporary for the engagement, we love the idea of the placeholder engagement ring shifting to a special piece of everyday jewellery the recipient can wear and enjoy forever, so it’s important to choose something of high quality. Depending on your budget, we recommend avoiding plated pieces and instead choosing a solid gold or sterling silver ring to ensure the it doesn’t tarnish over time.
Many like to choose placeholder rings with diamonds or gemstones to add sparkle to their proposal, which will cost more than a simplistic band or everyday style with no embellishments.
At Wild Fawn, our rings in our placeholder engagement ring edit range from £190 to £950.
Shop our placeholder engagement ring edit
Learn more about the benefits of choosing solid gold
Temporary engagement ring ideas
If you have decided to propose with a temporary engagement ring, we’d love to share some ideas with you. Each of our rings are handmade in our London workshop, using recycled metals, ethical practices, sustainably-sourced gemstones and lab-grown diamonds. Our rings are perfect for the eco-conscious who like to know exactly where their jewellery comes from and how it is made.
From simple bands to stacking and signet rings, the placeholder engagement ring you choose should be one that matches your partner's personality, and be something they would love to wear on a different finger as a meaningful everyday piece once it’s replaced with a permanent engagement ring. We have collated some of our favourite pieces which would make beautiful temporary engagement rings - discover them below.
Simple bands and stacking rings
For a classic, can't-go-wrong placeholder ring, consider a band or stacking ring. Some of our more unique wedding rings would work beautifully as a temporary engagement ring; we especially love our Entwined Ring, available 9ct, 18ct or mixed gold finishes, or bands embellished with beautiful lab-grown diamonds like our Light Flat Diamond Ring or Star and Diamond Ring.
For something a bit more unique and chunky, explore our Bloom Rings, statement stacking rings inspired by shapes found in nature, from the waves in a stream and the swirls of whirlpools to craters of a full moon. Perfect to stack, style and wear daily following your engagement.
Unique wax-carved organic solid gold rings
Discover our Gold Organic Gemstone Rings, perfect for colour-loving beaus. Our senior goldsmith, Rachel, originally carved these rings out of wax to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces featuring sustainably sourced sapphire, ruby and alexandrite stones. Choose from the 9ct Gold Organic Three Stone Ring, or 9ct Gold Organic Gemstone Ring, each with an organic, molten-inspired finish that’s beautifully unique.
Signet rings
Signet rings are a classic ring style that would make a beautiful placeholder engagement ring. We especially love our Diamond Compass Signet Ring, as the 2mm lab-grown diamond adds an element of sparkle. Or choose a signet ring with a plain polished face like our Ancient Pinkie Signet Ring, and engrave it with a special initial, number or other significant symbol for a perfectly personalised placeholder ring.
Bespoke placeholder engagement ring
Do you want to design your own placeholder engagement ring? Our bespoke jewellery service is the perfect way to design your own temporary engagement ring. Simply book a free consultation to chat to us about your idea. We can’t wait to help bring your design to life!
