If you haven’t heard of this growing proposal trend yet, you will soon. Placeholder or stand-in engagement rings are an increasingly popular way to propose marriage and for many good reasons, not the least of which is cost. Given the high cost of weddings, many newly engaged or soon-to-be-engaged couples are looking for smart ways to save. One trend, as we discussed in our previous blog, is to order custom engagement rings. Another is to go with a placeholder or stand-in ring.

What are placeholder rings?

A placeholder ring is a ring that you wear when you want to get engaged but for whatever reason aren’t yet ready to buy the forever engagement ring. Placeholder rings are typically much less expensive than actual engagement rings. The best part? Nobody knows that your ring isn’t the real deal.

How can they help you save?

Stand-in rings can be set in less expensive metals like sterling silver and sport cubic zirconia instead of diamonds or other expensive gems. Essentially they make it possible for you to have the look now without breaking the bank to pay for the real engagement ring.

What if money isn’t an issue?

If you’re one of the lucky few who isn’t concerned about the cost of an engagement ring, a placeholder ring might still be the best way to go particularly if you’re not sure about the style you want to wear. A placeholder ring gives you a chance to take a ring for a test drive; see if you like it, or if you want to change it a little, or perhaps get a completely different look.

Stand-in rings are also a good idea if you’re afraid of losing your ring or having it stolen. Perhaps, for example, you’re taking an adventurous holiday where your ring might get damaged or lost. Wouldn’t it feel better to lose the placeholder rather than the real engagement ring?

Or perhaps you want to pop the question as a surprise, but you prefer to buy the real ring with your partner. Stand-in rings are the perfect solution. You can use the placeholder ring when you get engaged, but shop for the permanent ring together.

Less Pressure

Marriage proposals can be pretty scary and very high pressure. Placeholder rings help remove some of that pressure because you don’t have to worry if your partner will like the ring. Instead, you can focus on the proposal and get the permanent ring later.

Of course, that doesn’t mean stand-in rings can’t be beautiful. They can be downright stunning. Check out a few of our favorite placeholder engagement rings below:

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