You did it. You found the one! Now you need to find the ring. Shopping for an engagement ring shouldn’t be stressful, and something like budget shouldn’t keep you from enjoying it. This moment should be filled with excitement for the future and the anticipation of surprise.
What kind of friend would we be if we weren’t here to help? Here are five tips and tricks to building the perfect engagement ring with stunning sparkle that won’t break the bank, along with a few of our favorite budget-friendly rings.
Consider Solitaire or Halo Styles
1. Consider a solitaire style. Classic, simple, and chic. And wallet-friendly too. Solitaire rings typically cost less than similar styles with accent stones and let that perfectly cut center stone steal the show. With a solitaire, you have the flexibility to put more money toward the center stone and still stay within your budget.
If your significant other likes a little more sparkle, give their center stone a bigger look by encircling it with a sparkling halo of smaller diamonds. These eye-catching rings make any size diamond look even more impressive while keeping you, your significant other, and your wallet happy.
Explore Fancy-Shape Stones
2. Fancy-shape stones like oval and pear tend to distribute their carat weight differently and have a larger surface area, making a 1.00-carat oval look larger than a 1.00-carat round — and at a fraction of the price. We carry thousands of sparkling loose stones in a variety of gorgeous shapes. While a round diamond may be the traditional route, shapes like emerald, marquise, or heart cost less than round stones of the same grade and carat weight.
Consider a Lab-Grown Diamond
3. Unlike moissanite or cubic zirconia, a lab-grown diamond is a real diamond. Chemically speaking, lab-grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds. To the naked eye they look exactly the same. The fact of the matter is lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds are both diamonds.
When it comes to lab-grown diamonds, we take the same approach we do for all our diamonds. We work with the best diamond vendors — people who’ve perfected the art and science of creating gorgeous diamonds in a lab — then hand-select only the best stones and have them cut by the best diamond cutters.
But because lab-grown diamonds are less rare than natural, you’re able to get a larger diamond for your budget. Lab-grown diamonds also come in all the same shapes as natural diamonds and in a range of carat sizes. It’s a win-win.
Learn more about lab-grown diamonds.
Add Color with a Gemstone
4. Color her world with a gorgeous gemstone center stone instead of a traditional diamond. If she loves to add a pop of color to her outfits, why not do the same with her engagement ring? Sapphires cost less than diamonds of the same size. We offer thousands of hand-picked natural sapphires in over 12 stunning shades like pink, yellow, and even classic white!
If sapphires aren’t their style, explore other options like morganite, amethyst, and aquamarine. These gemstones are durable enough for everyday wear and are absolutely stunning.
Buy Now, Upgrade Later
5. Take advantage of our upgrade policy. While your budget may say one thing today, it may speak a completely different language a year from now. Build the perfect ring for your budget today and you can always upgrade your center stone down the road. With our upgrade policy, you can take her diamond to the next level for as little as $1. Colorful gemstones and lab-grown diamonds are also included in our upgrade policy. If the stone you choose today holds sentimental value, you can even upgrade the engagement ring setting instead.
Now that you have a bag of tricks to make engagement ring shopping affordable, we’d like to introduce you to a few of our favorite rings. From solitaire to halo, we carry a wide selection of engagement rings that can be completely customized by choosing your metal type and center stone, as well as by adding more personalization with an engraving or by adding a decorative crown.
Affordable Engagement Ring Inspiration
Luminary Solitaire Engagement Ring
Simple yet sophisticated, this stunning engagement ring is the perfect way to show off your center gemstone in style. The timeless design is perfect for stacking with wedding bands to create a one-of-a-kind look. This ring also comes in 14k yellow or rose gold, as well as platinum.
Timeless Engagement Ring with Pavé Setting
Make the engagement ring of their dreams come to life with this stunning setting. The accenting natural diamonds all measure a 10 on the Mohs scale, making them strong enough to be worn every day. The added copper, zinc, and silver alloys in our 14k yellow gold ensure that this ring is consistent and bolder in color.
Dewdrop Engagement Ring
Remember when we said a halo design or fancy-shape diamond helps your budget go further? Well, here’s a ring that does both. Your center gemstone will be beautifully featured in this stunning halo setting. The halo design will make your center gemstone appear larger and keep it securely in place.
Natural Aquamarine Engagement Ring
This lovely vintage engagement ring shimmers with eight round natural diamonds paired with a 5.02mm aquamarine gemstone. The 14k yellow gold pulls the whole look together. And the best part? This ring is part of our Perfectly Preset Engagement Ring collection, where the price shown includes the center stone.
Our Perfectly Preset collection features rings that are ready for a proposal. Our designers pick their favorite styles and match them with the ideal stones, whether that’s a natural diamond, lab-grown diamond, or a colorful natural gemstone.
