Should I Buy My Partner a Promise Ring? A Guide to Promise Rings & Commitment Rings

There is something truly magical about being young and in love... Whenever your partner walks through the door, your heart skips a beat and you can’t help but smile. Whenever they speak, the beautiful melody of their voice brings you joy. Whenever they are not around, all you can do is think about the times you have spent together and the next time you will meet. And when you hold their hand, you can’t help but picture a sparkling engagement ring and wedding band resting on their ring finger. The problem is, neither of you are quite ready to settle down and get married. This is when you might ask yourself, should I buy my partner a promise ring?

What is a Promise Ring?

The first step in determining whether you should buy your partner a promise ring is understanding what a promise ring is. A promise ring, sometimes called a commitment ring or pre-engagement ring, is a tangible promise to the one you love that says, “I am committed to you and only you, now and forever.” It is a pledge to stay true to your relationship, often with the guarantee of getting engaged and married one day. For that reason, you should only give a promise ring to the person you want to be with for the rest of your life.

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Due to its symbolism, promise rings are traditionally the step before an engagement ring. This explains where the term “pre-engagement ring” came from. A delicate diamond promise ring like CDD3106-1W is a significant placeholder until you and your partner are stable and settled enough to afford a real engagement ring and wedding. Therefore, a promise ring tells the one you love the same thing an engagement ring will when the time is right: “I love you so much that I want us to be together for the rest of our lives.”

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Alternatively, for those of us who do not believe in marriage, a promise ring is a sparkling reminder of a committed relationship. These couples typically prefer the term “commitment ring” because “promise ring” is associated with the promise of getting married in the future. Commitment rings are perfect for these relationships because if you don’t care about a big expensive wedding you likely don’t care about big expensive engagement rings either. For these relationships, a simple and sleek ring like our sterling silver and rose gold diamond promise ring RSD002-T is more than enough to signify the couple’s everlasting loving bond.

No matter what a promise ring means for your relationship, it always symbolizes love.

When Should I Give Someone a Promise Ring?

Most people give someone a promise ring once they realize they are in love and that their partner is the right person for them. Therefore, you should give someone a promise ring when you are ready to let them know your intentions, whether that is marriage or just being together forever. But be cautious – wait to present your partner a promise ring until they are also ready for the commitment tied to the jewelry. This is especially true if you fell head over heels quicker than they did and if your partner is cautious of love or commitment. So, the real answer to “when should I give someone a promise ring?” is to wait until you are both on the same page and ready to make a long-term commitment to one another.

When You Want to Propose but Can’t

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A good sign you are both ready for a promise ring’s commitment is if you have discussed getting married – the most common reason people give someone a promise ring is when they are both emotionally ready but not financially ready to get engaged. For these pre-engagement circumstances, you should give your partner the promise ring at least a year or more before you think you will actually propose. Giving your partner two commitment rings in less than a year is strange – superstitious people have even said this can jinx your relationship. Instead, you will be better off giving the one you love a promise ring then waiting a year to propose or just proposing with an engagement ring now. To avoid jinxing yourself, consider giving your partner our lucky rose gold four-leaf clover promise ring CDD3105-1P accented in diamonds – with this adorable promise ring, only good fortune will fall upon you both!

When Moving Away

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The right timing is always a must when giving someone a promise ring, but significant life events can speed up this symbolic commitment. For example, people give their partners promise rings if either one of them is about to move far away. This is normal after high school and college graduation, or if someone is about to move for a new job or military position. Being separated can be heartbreaking. It also adds ambiguity and pressure to your partnership because you do not know if either of you can withstand a long-distance relationship. To ease fears of growing apart, a promise ring is given as an oath to stay truthful and to never lose sight of your love. When put in this uncertain situation, a 3-stone promise ring like CDD3104-1T is perfect because it represents your relationship lasting in the past, present, and future. With this promise set in gold, no matter how much time or distance separates you, you will both believe your relationship will survive and that one day you will end up together. This is truly an amazing hope to hold in your heart.

How Much Should I Spend on a Promise Ring?

Now that we know what a promise ring is and when you should give someone a promise ring, let’s look at how much you should spend on a promise ring… Since promise rings are often given when we are younger and just starting careers, these rings are on the cheaper side. Instead of costing a few thousand dollars like the average engagement ring, promise rings typically only cost a few hundred dollars, making them much more affordable. The average couple spends under $400 on a promise ring, but you can easily get away with spending under $100. No matter what your budget is, we believe you can find the perfect promise ring for the one your love! There is no reason to feel bad if you cannot spend a lot on a promise ring – remember, it is a placeholder until you are both stable and successful enough to have a proper engagement with a stunning golden ring covered in glittering diamonds.

Are There Alternative Promise Ring Options?

Even though diamond promise rings are the most common choice, they are not your only option when shopping for a piece of jewelry to signify commitment. Your promise should be sealed in something your partner will truly enjoy. So, if the one you love is not into diamonds or rings or even jewelry, you should consider promise ring alternatives.

Gemstone Promise Rings

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Gemstone promise rings are a great alternative promise ring option for people who prefer colorful jewelry. With a 3-stone sapphire and diamond ring like CCS2558-W, you are still symbolizing your past, present, and future together, but with a more unique design. Also, depending on your true love’s color and style preferences, this ring comes in yellow gold with emeralds and rose gold with rubies. Since these rings are set in 14K Gold and since sapphires, emeralds, and rubies can cost the same, if not more than diamonds, these are the most expensive promise ring option we have discussed. Their quality and beauty are worth every penny, especially if the colors are sure to take your true love’s breath away.

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Luckily, most gemstones are more affordable than diamonds, especially when paired with silver instead of gold, like with our amethyst split shank ring RSD009-WAME. Both you and your love are represented in this ring by the two trillion-cut gemstones and by the two bands making up the shank. Along with the romantic symbolism, this ring style also comes in every birthstone color, and it is the most affordable promise ring option available from Valina.

Promise Necklaces

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Depending on your partner’s hobbies, job, or comfort preferences, they might not like rings at all! In this circumstance, show your commitment through an equally loved piece of jewelry, a necklace. Due to their protected position on the body, promise necklaces experience a lot less wear and tear than promise rings. Another benefit of promise necklaces is that they can easily be worn with the engagement ring your true love will wear one day. Finally, a promise necklace can represent everything a promise ring does, especially if its design is as symbolic as the ring’s never-ending band. The most symbolic pendant designs are infinite symbol necklaces or open-circle necklaces like on our round diamond pendant PDD2774-W. This glittering golden sphere can easily become a staple of your true love’s wardrobe, acting as a constant reminder of your love and devotion.

Non-Jewelry Promise “Rings”

Finally, if you really want to give your partner a promise ring but they do not like jewelry at all and never wear jewelry, seal your commitment to each other with something more creative:

• Present your partner with a key and ask to move in together. Besides getting married, this is one of the greatest acts of commitment you two can do together.
• If your partner has a green thumb and loves nature, buy them a long-lasting plant. When giving them the gift, say that the plant is like your love – you both will care for it, making it grow stronger and larger. Make sure you research and buy a plant that can last a lifetime. Some great options include bamboo, succulents, and indoor trees. Or for a real commitment that requires time, patience, and love, consider an orchid. Orchids might take a lot of care but they bloom year-round and are absolutely gorgeous.
• Surprise your partner with a new pet! This is a great idea if you two have been dreaming of and discussing getting a pet, but haven’t given in. A little furry baby will be one of the happiest, cutest, and cuddliest gifts your partner has ever received. Also, by becoming fur-parents, you are committing for the long-term. This gift will take more time than a plant, but the love and bond formed between you three will be nearly unbreakable.
• Just sit down together on a pleasant or romantic evening and discuss your long-term goals together. Sometimes an honest and open conversation is the best gift you can give the one you love. It might be scary, but this conversation lets you get on the same page and understand what everyone wants from the relationship.

How Should I Give a Promise Ring?

When you give a promise ring to the one you love, it doesn’t have to be a huge spectacle like with a proposal. Instead, just create a very happy experience where your partner is the focus of all your attention, either with an intimate evening or by doing an activity you both enjoy. Once you feel like you are both in a great place, just sit down and casually give them the ring and your declaration of love. If you are both ready, this affair should be nothing but memorable!

A promise ring is a deeply emotional commitment and if you are both ready, the way you give it to your partner should not matter. Instead, the fact that you care enough to give them a promise ring is what matters. So, don’t question yourself if you are considering a promise ring because asking “should I give someone a promise ring?” should be enough for you to know – yes, you are ready and should give your true love a promise ring! Now all you must do is commit to love them for the rest of your life with a promise set in silver and gold.