Online auction website eBay has reported a 200% rise in the number of engagement rings listed in the past three months, as reported in The Independent.

With the average cost of a wedding in the UK now more than £20,000, eBay is one business benefiting from the effects of the recession as couples look at ways to keep spending down.

EBay said the average price of an engagement ring is £31 on its site, and it has reported a rise in sales of other wedding-related items, particularly wedding dresses.

Antique jewellery retailers have also seen generally good sales since the beginning of 2009, with many customers opting for second-hand rings that they perceive to offer better value. To read more about this, see our retail report in the May issue of Retail Jeweller.

To read Frances' thoughts on this story, visit the Retail Jeweller blog

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