Engagement Ring Guide
Buying an engagement ring is a significant and deeply personal milestone, but the process doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Our step-by-step guide simplifies every decision from setting a budget to selecting the perfect stone. Whether you’re drawn to timeless diamonds or vibrant gemstones, selecting the perfect ring is about finding a piece that reflects your love story and meets your unique needs. Read on for expert tips and insights to help you confidently choose an engagement ring your partner will treasure forever.
1. Set a Budget
Before exploring ring options, determine how much you're comfortable spending. While some traditional guidelines suggest spending three months’ salary, there’s no set rule for how much an engagement ring should cost. Your budget should reflect your significant other’s preferences and your financial circumstances. Financing options are also usually available to make the purchase more manageable. Assess your finances, consider financing, and prioritize what matters most — whether it’s a larger diamond, a unique setting, or a balance of both. The best approach is to find a diamond or gemstone engagement ring that combines size, quality, style, and affordability.
2. Choose a Setting
Once you’ve set your budget, it’s time to select a setting. The setting includes all the ring’s design elements apart from the center stone — such as the prongs, gallery, band, and any accent stones. This element not only securely holds the center stone but also defines the ring’s overall style. There are two main elements of an engagement ring setting to consider: setting and metal type.
Setting Styles
Engagement ring settings range from timeless solitaires to intricate designs and fully custom pieces. To find the right setting, consider your partner’s personal style and lifestyle. For those with active lifestyles, a secure option like a bezel setting might be ideal, while someone who prefers delicate, eye-catching details might appreciate a diamond-accented design. Observing their clothing and accessories can offer helpful clues — for example, if they gravitate toward modern, vintage, or classic designs. To make your decision easier, we offer 30-day free returns and exchanges on unworn items, ensuring you choose a ring they’ll love.
Metal Type
The metal you choose impacts both the appearance and durability of the ring. Popular choices include white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum. Each metal offers distinct characteristics that can complement different styles and preferences.
White gold and platinum are celebrated for their sleek, modern look, with platinum being the most durable and hypoallergenic option. Yellow gold provides a warm, timeless appeal and is often associated with classic and vintage-inspired designs. Rose gold, with its romantic blush tone, has grown in popularity for those seeking a unique and contemporary aesthetic.
Ring Size
Select your ring size after choosing your preferred setting style and metal type. While you can order a complimentary ring sizer from our website, we understand some proposals are meant to be surprises. Don't worry about getting the perfect size right away — we offer free resizing within 60 days of purchase.
3. Select a Center Stone
The center stone is the focal point of most engagement rings, and selecting one depends on personal preferences and priorities. Here are a few elements to consider when choosing a center stone:
Diamond or Gemstone
Diamonds remain the classic choice for engagement rings, celebrated for their unparalleled brilliance, durability, and timeless appeal. When selecting a diamond, understanding the 4 C’s — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight — can help ensure the stone fits your quality and budgetary needs.
A diamond's cut determines how well it reflects light; color grades range from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow); clarity measures the presence of internal and external flaws; and carat refers to the stone's weight. Each of these factors contributes to the diamond's overall beauty and value, making it crucial to prioritize what matters most to you.
For those seeking something different, gemstones provide a vibrant and distinctive alternative to traditional diamonds. Options like sapphires, known for their deep blue hues and durability, or morganite, cherished for its soft pink tones, bring unique character to the ring. Moissanite is another excellent option, offering exceptional brilliance and fire at a fraction of the cost of diamonds. Emeralds, with their rich green tones, are perfect for those who love bold and elegant designs.
Natural or Lab
When choosing between natural and lab-grown gemstones, it’s important to understand their differences. Natural gemstones are formed within the Earth, giving them a sense of rarity and history. Natural gemstones come with higher price tags than lab gemstones due to the effort involved in mining them.
Lab-grown gemstones, on the other hand, are created in controlled laboratory settings using advanced technology that replicates the natural gem-forming process. These stones possess identical physical, chemical, and optical properties to their natural counterparts, making them an ethical and cost-effective choice. For those prioritizing sustainability and value, lab-grown stones offer a compelling alternative without compromising on beauty or quality.
4. Complete the Purchasing Process
Our seamless digital and in-person experiences make the purchase process quick and easy. Our specialists are available to help complete the process and ensure that everything is accurate and up to date. We also offer financing options, a warranty, and can help coordinate insurance for complete peace of mind.
Financing Options
Affirm
With Affirm Financing you can choose from multiple monthly repayment plans with starting rates as low as 0% APR for qualified buyers. Special financing payment plans for up to 36 months are available. It’s quick and easy: Just fill out a few pieces of basic information for a real-time decision on the amount of financing you are approved for. Know up front what you'll owe, with no hidden costs.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo allows 12 months of payment installments with approved credit. Simply apply for financing at checkout for a real-time credit decision or contact us to apply.
Layaway
Layaway is an installment-based payment plan that allows you to pay for jewelry over a period of weeks or months. Instead of paying for your purchase after you receive it, you can make layaway payments before you receive your purchase. Learn More
Warranty and Insurance Options
We stand behind the quality and craftsmanship of our jewelry, so we offer a free lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects on all Brilliant Earth fine jewelry. If you experience issues with your purchase due to manufacturing, we recommend you contact us so we may evaluate your piece. If a warranty issue is found, Brilliant Earth will repair the warrantied damage or replace the item without charge.
While we do not offer insurance directly, we do work closely with Lavalier to provide coverage that goes beyond most homeowner's and renter's insurance policies. Purchasing coverage through Lavalier is simple (you’ll receive a quote in one minute!) and it typically costs only 1-2% of your jewelry’s value.
5. Propose!
The rest is up to you! Whether you choose an intimate moment or a grand gesture, make your proposal meaningful and reflective of your relationship. A well-thought-out proposal, paired with a beautiful ring, will create a moment you’ll both cherish forever.
Tips for Buying an Engagement Ring
Buying an engagement ring is a meaningful decision, and thoughtful preparation can make the process smoother. Here are our top tips:
- Figure Out Ring Size: Use our free ring sizer and tips to determine your partner’s ring size discreetly.
- Schedule an Appointment: Making an appointment gives your jeweler advance notice to ensure they have the designs and center stones you want to explore.
- Timeline Planning: The perfect piece will take time to create — from design conception on your end, to the crafting process, and the shipping time it takes to get to your door. Make sure you leave enough time between purchase and proposal plan — the general suggestion is at least 2 months.
- Custom Designs: Did you know you’re able to completely design your own ring with our expert designers? Our specialists will work with you in real time to ideate, sketch, and bring your dream piece to life.
- Engraving: Most engagement rings can be engraved with a date or inscription to make your design even more meaningful. The only type of designs that generally can’t be engraved are eternity rings and alternative metal rings.
- Ready to Ship Rings: It’s true, love can’t wait — so some engagement rings are preset with center stones so you can propose right away.
- Diamond Certification: Always ensure that the diamond you purchase is certified. Not only do certifications confirm that your gem is the real deal, but they also include important information like the details on the cut, color, and clarity of your unique stone, as well as the certification number inscribed on the girdle.
- Temporary Setting: If you are confident about your diamond choice but would prefer your partner is involved in choosing the setting, we offer a temporary setting option. Within 60 days of your initial purchase, you and your fiancé may return the temporary setting and choose from our extensive catalog of customized mountings.
- Diamond Upgrade: If you and your partner choose to celebrate a milestone down the road by upgrading your engagement ring’s diamond, Brilliant Earth is proud to offer a free lifetime upgrade on our natural and lab grown diamonds.
