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The Best Places to Buy Engagement Rings
Images: Kay Jewelers, Marrow Fine, VRAI. Design: Jessie Quinn / StyleCaster

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

An engagement ring is one of the most sentimental pieces of jewelry you’ll ever shop for. And, whether you’re already a fine jewelry collector or it’s your first time purchasing a diamond, there are a lot of things to consider, including where to actually buy your ring from. 

If you’re not sure where to start looking, we tapped jewelry and diamond experts to learn more about ring shopping, including the best places to buy engagement rings. See our top picks — plus some insights from our friends about their engagement ring designs — ahead. 

Best Places to Buy Engagement Rings, at a Glance

What to Look for (and Avoid) When Buying an Engagement Ring Online 

One of the best things about buying engagement rings online is that you’re not limited to what is in one store, says Jillian Sassone, founder and creative director of Marrow Fine. “You can explore a wider range of styles, stones, and price points,” she explains. “But since you’re not seeing the ring in person, paying attention to the details is key.”

According to Kristy Cullinane, the co-founder of Plum Diamonds, the most important thing to consider when buying engagement rings online is to “find a brand you can trust, whose ethics and values align with yours, and look for styles you love.” This includes paying attention to diamond certifications, metal type (and quality), and designs. Sassone seconds this and says it’s especially important to make sure the specs are listed out. “Cut, color, clarity, and carat weight all help you understand what you’re looking at.”

Alexis Nido-Russo, the founder of Local Eclectic, says to avoid websites that are final sale. “If it’s a significant investment, I recommend reaching out to their customer service and asking any relevant questions you might have,” she explains. “This is also a great way to screen their customer service and make sure it’s excellent before making a big purchase with the company.” 

What’s Considered a Good Price for an Engagement Ring? 

Engagement ring prices vary depending on the design, diamond, setting, metal, and more. For the most part, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $5,000 for a high-quality diamond engagement ring. However, there are many styles that cost more and less than that range. 

If you’re looking to save, Sassone says to consider stones just under major carat benchmarks like 0.90 carats instead of a full 1.0 carat. You can also look for eye-clean stones with slightly lower clarity grades. These stones will look almost identical to the higher clarity grades for significantly less. “Lab-grown diamonds are also a smart way to stretch your budget without compromising on sparkle or size,” says Sassone. Settings can also cost a pretty penny, so simplifying the design can also cut cost down. And, good news: Sassone says a simple setting is sometimes all you need to let a stone truly sparkle.

Is There a Best Time to Buy an Engagement Ring?

If you’re looking for a good deal on engagement rings, Nido-Russo says to shop around Black Friday, as most jewelry companies will run their best sales around then. Deals aside, she says the best time to buy an engagement ring is based on when you want to get engaged. “Figure out when you want to get engaged, then work backward from there and allow a minimum of 90 days for your ring to be made and safely delivered to you,” she explains. If you are looking at a fully custom ring, Nido-Russo says to tack on an additional three months (so, six months total). “It’s good to add a buffer for production and shipping delays — it’s always better to be safe than sorry!”

Choosing an Engagement Ring Style

Since engagement rings are worn daily, personal style is the most important thing to consider when selecting a design. Even the trendiest ring designs can feel timeless if they feel like an extension of the wearer. For a classic style, you can’t go wrong with a simple solitaire setting, or even a chunky bezel setting — like this one from our childhood bestie, Lauren Chromy — for something that still feels classic with a modern twist.

Image courtesy of Lauren Chromy

If you have more eclectic style or prefer something that feels vintage, writer and editor Kristine Thomason says to choose an art deco design. “I’ve always been drawn to the art deco style, and I knew that I’d want a vintage (or vintage-inspired) ring,” she explains. “I also envisioned something dainty, with a relatively flat profile—especially since I live a pretty active life, but still wanted to wear the ring daily with ease (a decision I feel really grateful I made to this day).” When shopping for engagement rings, Thomason also learned how a uniquely cut stone can also give a ring a more vintage-like feel. “I was originally drawn to an emerald cut stone, but once I saw the unique step cut of an Asscher, I had a change of heart.”

Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster’s contributing commerce writer, is also drawn to vintage-inspired style (especially when it comes to jewelry) and chose a hand-carved ring from Communion by Joy to achieve a more eclectic aesthetic. “When I saw the Communion by Joy Light Burst Ring, I knew it needed to be my engagement ring,” she explains. “All of Joy Smith’s designs are hand carved in wax and then cast in gold, giving them that extra special artisanal touch.”

Image courtesy of Jessie Quinn

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Brilliant Earth is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

The Best Places to Buy Engagement Rings Online

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