There are many places to look. The first place to look could be in your own family. Many times in families there is jewelry that is passed from one generation to the next. You could start by asking around the older generations of the family. There might be something nice sitting in someone's safety deposit box. They might even give it to you if they really like you, or at least sell it cheap. A family heirloom ring might be just the thing to make your girl feel like she is really part of the family.

If this isn't an option, then it is time to go places that sell inexpensive jewelry. One place could be a pawn shop or second hand store. You are thinking your girl wouldn't want someone else's ring, but you could have it cleaned and reshaped so it would look brand new. Then give it to her in a clever way so she doesn't ask about the box. Most rings bought in these places don't come with a box.

There are discount stores that have jewelry counters. You might get lucky here and find something suitable. Just make sure it isn't one she shops at, so you don't get caught being cheap. You can always look in the mail order magazines. Most of the mail order places are easy to research to find out if they are reliable and their products have quality. You will always want to find out their return policy just in case you don't like it after it arrives. Another place to look is on the home shopping network, they sell everything. They have a good return policy and usually stand behind their products.

There are also diamond alternatives, like cubic zirconia or moissanite. These can look as good as a diamond but cost much less. You want your ring to look good enough for your girl to want to show it off to her friends. My wife and I chose moissanite for her ring because I was able to get a beautiful stone over half a carat for a tenth of what a diamond would have been.

It is a good idea to do a little research before you shop. You will want to find out what size ring to get and the kind of style your girl would like. You might have to get a little tricky to get the right answers if you want to keep it a secret. You don't want to get a big ring for someone with a small hand, it wouldn't look good.