Finding the perfect engagement ring is no easy task—especially when you’re on a tight budget. According to The Knot’s 2024 Jewelry & Engagement study, the average cost of an engagement ring is $5,200 in the United States. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a beautiful ring for less. Retailers like Blue Nile, Brilliant Earth and Verlas have plenty of affordable engagement ring options. And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there are some good sales starting to crop up.
We've rounded up the best places to buy affordable engagement rings online—as well as some specific ... [+]
For the purpose of this list, we’re considering any ring under that $5,200 average cost to be on the affordable end of the spectrum. Below, we’ve listed eight of the best places to shop for affordable engagement rings right now, as well as some specific designs our editors recommend checking out.
Affordable Engagement Ring Retailers At A Glance
- Blue Nile: Our fashion editor named Blue Nile best place to buy engagement rings overall. Right now, it’s offering up to 50% off for Valentine’s Day.
- Brilliant Earth: Shop settings starting at $520 and diamonds starting at $310 on Brilliant Earth’s site. You can sort by price to find an option that’s within your budget.
- Verlas: Take 25% off orders of $1,500 or more with code VAL25.
- James Allen: Take 25% off almost everything on James Allen’s site, including engagement ring settings.
- Ritani: Save 15% on lab-grown diamonds and up to 30% on wedding rings.
- Zales: Get up to 50% off select styles and up to 30% off clearance pieces.
- Aurate: Use code FROST to save 25% on diamonds this week. Just keep in mind that the discount doesn’t apply to made-to-order options.
- Helzberg Diamonds: Take 15% off engagement rings, including custom designs.
- Etsy: Score up to 58% off unique designs from a variety of marketplace sellers.
- Clean Origin: Save up to 20%, depending on how much you spend, on Clean Origin’s already affordable designs.
Where To Find Affordable Engagement Rings
Blue Nile
Blue Nile is our fashion team’s pick for the best place to buy engagement rings overall. It offers a vast selection of styles, including customizable designs, and helpful assistance from virtual advisors. The brand’s overall accessibility and customer service make it an easy favorite. Right now, you can shop its Valentine’s Day event to save up to 50% on your ring.
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth specializes in customizable engagement rings, with setting options starting at $520 and diamonds starting at $310. If you’d prefer a ready-to-ship design, there are options starting at $1,890. The retailer carries both lab-grown and natural diamonds, but its most affordable styles feature lab-grown stones.
Verlas
Verlas is known for its sustainability—all of its jewelry features lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the brand is offering 25% off orders of $1,500 or more with code VAL25. You can use its Try-At-Home program to try on replicas of three designs that you like in the comfort of your own home.
James Allen
Shoppers seeking a more traditional ring should check out James Allen. While the designer offers an impressive selection of styles—including modern minimalist pieces—it specializes in timeless, vintage-inspired designs that can suit just about any budget. With its current sale, you can save up to 25% sitewide.
Zales
For sheer variety, our fashion editors recommend Zales. The brand is a household name and carries thousands of styles, many of which are fully customizable. For Valentine’s Day, save up to 50% on select designs or peruse its clearance selection to save up to 30% (plus an extra 20% off at checkout).
Aurate
Aurate is a newer jeweler on the scene, but it has developed a good reputation for its sleek and understated gold pieces. Its rings lean more modern than traditional, and the brand strives to create a transparent, ethical and sustainable design process. If you’re open to some less traditional options, you can save 25% on select diamond designs with code FROST.
Helzberg Diamonds
Helzberg Diamonds has been making rings since 1915, so you know its styles are quality. Plus, it adheres to the Kimberley Process, American Gem Society and World Diamond Council standards—all ethical standards for sourcing diamonds and metals. The store is offering 15% off bridal selections at the moment, but you can find even steeper discounts on select styles, like the three-gem piece below.
Etsy
For the uninitiated, Etsy is an online marketplace that hosts individual sellers. If you want a wide array of unique styles—including some vintage options—it’s an excellent place to start your search. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to do a little more legwork than at a curated jeweler and it may be more difficult to verify the source of your diamond.
Clean Origin
Our editors named Clean Origin the best affordable engagement ring retailer, thanks to its sustainably minded and budget-friendly designs. The retailer also offers a generous 100-day return window, over 60 days longer than the average 30-day window. This week, you can save up to 20% on its designs, depending on how much you spend.
