What Is a Placeholder Ring and Why You Might Need One

If you're searching for the perfect engagement ring and have come across the idea of a placeholder ring—also called a temporary engagement ring or promise ring—you’re not alone! These rings are growing in popularity as more couples are choosing bespoke designs or want to enjoy the engagement ring buying journey together. In this blog, we’ll explore what a placeholder ring is and help you decide whether proposing with one is the right choice for you.

A placeholder, temporary engagement, or promise ring is a ring used for a proposal but isn’t necessarily meant to be worn forever. It serves as a thoughtful stand-in so you and your partner can choose the perfect permanent ring together at a later date. Often crafted from affordable materials like silver or gold plating and featuring stones like cubic zirconia, these rings let you celebrate the moment while saving your budget for the real deal!

There’s no need to panic if you don’t feel confident in choosing the perfect engagement ring for your partner, after all, there are so many factors to consider and it's not always easy knowing every detail your partner is looking for in an engagement ring. Here's some reasons why you might want to opt for a temporary engagement ring:

If you know exactly what your partner wants in an engagement ring, from metal type and gemstone to style and overall design details, then a placeholder ring might not be necessary! However, for those who haven’t had a conversation about what style of ring their partner wants, or those who want the proposal to be a complete surprise, then a temporary engagement ring reduces the stress of wondering whether they’ll love the ring they’re given or not.

These engagement rings are great to use on the day of the proposal and can be worn for a short period of time afterwards while you and your partner search for their dream forever ring. Our bespoke and custom services can take up to 10 weeks, so a promise ring is a great stopgap for you or your partner to wear a ring while you wait to receive your forever ring. This means you get all the romance of a surprise proposal and get to experience the engagement ring buying or designing process together, making it all the more meaningful and memorable for both you and your partner!

If anyone can relate to how nerve-wracking a proposal can be, it's us! We understand that you want it to be just perfect, no matter how, where or when you do it. A placeholder ring can make all the difference when it comes to a relaxed proposal, eliminating many elements of stress that you don’t even consider until it comes to planning a proposal.

If you’ve got a big, romantic gesture in mind, you might be considering a holiday proposal, and while it might seem like the dreamiest way to pop the question, you might want to consider doing so with a placeholder ring! A temporary engagement ring takes out all the worry of travelling with an expensive piece of jewellery, as ours are priced at just £50, whereas the average spend on an engagement ring in the UK is approximately £2,000, making it quite a stark contrast! A placeholder engagement ring also removes the stress of having to secretly (and safely) sneak the ring past airport security without your partner catching on.

Another reason you might opt for a placeholder ring is if you have a specific date or event in mind for when you'd like to pop the question but don’t quite have the budget to buy the ring of your partner's dreams. Temporary engagement rings allow you to experience all the magic of a proposal and being engaged without breaking the bank. 

Placeholder engagement rings are often priced at a far lower point than regular engagement rings due to the fact that they’re crafted from more affordable materials such as silver as opposed to platinum, gold plating instead of solid gold and cubic zirconia in place of diamonds. This means that you can have the proposal you’ve always wanted while you continue to save for a forever engagement ring.

However, it’s important to note that these materials are inexpensive for a reason. Silver and gold plated rings are far less durable than platinum and solid golds, meaning your placeholder ring will damage and tarnish over time. That’s why we recommend only using these rings as a temporary solution, as engagement rings are meant to last a lifetime!

Though not designed for everyday wear, these rings still hold sentimental value and can be worn on your right hand as a meaningful reminder of your special day after you receive your permanent engagement ring.

Overall, placeholder engagement rings are a great choice for those who want to experience all the joys of engagement ring buying or designing with their partner while also providing peace of mind for those who are looking to travel with their engagement ring or to ease the financial pressure of purchasing a forever engagement ring.