The Best Places To Buy Engagement Rings, According To Gem Experts

Price range: $250 to $40,000 | Custom options: Yes | Virtual advisors: Yes | At-home try-on: No | Return policy and warranty: 30-day returns and lifelong warranty | Financing: Yes

Pros:

• Thousands of diamonds available
• User-friendly shopping experience
• Wide range of prices

Cons:

• No at-home try-on

Blue Nile was one of the first fine jewelry retailers to embrace online shopping. It, too, offers many ways to shop for engagement rings, including a custom option. Between those, its own collection, and collaborations with designers (such as Zac Posen), the site offers a huge range of engagement rings. The brand focuses on ethically-sourced diamonds and also offers a price-match guarantee as well as a diamond upgrade program—great for those who plan on investing in the ring’s quality over time.

What the reviews say: “The process was super simple and easy, the selections were definitely in abundance and the customer service representatives were spectacular,” says one Blue Nile customer. “Any question at any time of the day, they were there and eager to answer.”

Price range: From $1,000 to $12,000 | Custom options: Yes | Virtual advisors: Yes | At-home try-on: No | Return policy and warranty: 30-day returns and lifetime warranty | Financing: Yes

Pros:

• Sustainable lab-grown diamonds
• Wide variety of styles and custom options
• Appointments available online or at showrooms

Cons:

• No at-home try-on

Vrai exclusively uses lab-grown diamonds from its own foundry, meaning there’s truly no middleman between the stone’s source and its setting. The diamonds are grown sustainably in America with an entirely hydro-powered production process, which eliminates carbon emissions, and certified by gemologists for quality. Vrai also offers a wide range of styles, from timeless solitaire rings to three-stone rings with pavé bands.

What the reviews say: “My expectations were exceeded and my fiancée is ecstatic,” says a Vrai customer who purchased the Knife-Edge Round Engagement Ring. “I was concerned about the comfort of her pinky and middle finger because of the knife edge, but she said it’s not an issue.”

Price range: $250 to $29,000 | Custom options: Yes | Virtual advisors: Yes | At-home try-on: No | Return policy and warranty: 30-day returns and lifetime warranty | Financing: Yes

Pros:

• Wide range of styles to pick from
• Several price points for a variety of budgets
• Interactive preview lets you view ring from any angle

Cons:

• No at-home try-on

James Allen’s extensive range of engagement rings is ideal for those who aren’t quite sure which style they’d like to commit to yet—you’ll find minimalist, contemporary designs alongside ornate, vintage-inspired pieces. You also have the option to customize your ring, which includes selecting either a lab-grown or natural diamond. The James Allen website is equipped with an interactive 360-degree preview feature, so you can get a glimpse of each ring from any angle. 

What the reviews say: “James Allen was great—it simplified the process and made it far easier than I had anticipated,” says one customer. “The ring itself was better than expected. My fiancé (who said yes!) absolutely adores it.”

Price range: $410 to $5,000 | Custom options: Yes | Virtual advisors: Yes | At-home try-on: Yes | Return policy and warranty: 30-day returns and lifetime warranty | Financing: Yes

Pros:

• Multiple custom options
• Wide range of prices
• At-home try-on

Cons:

• Limited preset design options

This top-rated online retailer offers a few ways to shop for engagement rings. First, there’s a collection of preset styles that can be ordered immediately. Second, use the custom ring tool with dozens of ways to customize the setting, diamond (including natural or lab-grown), shape, metal and so on. But what really sets it apart is the try-at-home program, where you can choose two preset 3D-printed replica rings to slip on, for free. This gives you an idea of what styles you like before creating your own order.

What the reviews say: “The process into creating the ring was smooth and they had a nice selection of diamonds to choose from,” says one With Clarity shopper. “The price beat any chain jewelry store I went to and I was able to get a bigger and nicer stone for the fraction of the price.”

Price range: $550 to $18,750 | Custom options: Yes | Virtual advisors: Yes | At-home try-on: No | Return policy and warranty: 100-day returns and lifetime warranty with Forever Service Plan | Financing: Yes

Pros:

• Ethically created lab-grown diamonds
• Easy return process
• Assortment of unique and classic styles

Cons:

• Lifetime warranty costs an extra fee
• No at-home try-on

With plenty of setting options starting at less than $1,000, Clean Origin is a good choice for those on a tighter budget. You’ll find both traditional and unconventional engagement rings in a range of shapes, cuts and colors, and the option to customize styles as well. Clean Origin’s lab-grown diamonds are ethically creating using High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).

What the reviews say: “I can’t say enough, first off, how perfect the ring came out as described,” says a Clean Origin customer. “The diamond was exactly as advertised and my fiancé couldn’t be happier. The service was tremendous, as I had to reroute the delivery and the team was incredibly responsive and helpful through it all.”

Price range: $130 to $750 | Custom options: No | Virtual advisors: No | At-home try-on: No | Return policy and warranty: 365-day returns, no warranty | Financing: Yes

Pros:

• Affordable
• Great quality
• Sophisticated designs

Cons:

• Limited selection
• No additional online services

While Quince is not a traditional jewelry retailer, the brand offers high-quality products at fair prices—which translates to its rings. Its selection is limited but sophisticated, with most options around or under the $500 price tag. As with other (and more expensive) jewelers, the rings usually come in 14k gold, and the diamonds are ethically produced. It’s a great option for those who have a limited budget and don’t want to confront endless choices when looking for the right ring.

What our editors say: “Quince has become extremely popular in the last year or so for its extremely well priced and high-quality items, including jewelry,” says Molvar. “The price can’t be beat on this ring, and you can choose from two different total carat weights (0.25 or 0.50). Plus, the one-year return policy is so generous that there’s very little risk to trying out anything that catches your eye.”

Price range: $225 to $3,700 | Custom options: No | Virtual advisors: Yes | At-home try-on: No | Return policy and warranty: 30-day returns and two-year warranty | Financing: Yes

Pros:

• Affordable
• Modern and original designs
• Virtual styling available

Cons:

• Limited selection
• No try-on
• No custom options

Direct-to-consumer fine jewelry brand Mejuri manages to make engagement rings that are both affordable and interesting, featuring clusters of gemstones and diamonds in artful settings that feel utterly contemporary. Forget about the classic solitaire: These rings have a modern sensibility, and while mostly minimal, they all feature a design twist that will allure the most fashionable brides-to-be.

What the reviews say: “This ring is absolutely gorgeous and Mejuri was wonderful to work with,” says a Mejuri shopper. “The engraving came out close but not quite right the first time, and Mejruri replaced it with correct ring quickly and easily. A wonderful experience!”

Price range: $1,125 to $23,730 | Custom options: Yes | Virtual advisors: Yes | At-home try-on: No | Return policy and warranty: 45-day returns and lifetime warranty | Financing: Yes

Pros:

• Many options for customization
• Sustainably sourced materials
• Excellent customer service

Cons:

• No at-home try-on

Grown Brilliance is best known for its Truly Custom program: Send in inspiration photos and sketches and the jeweler creates a highly personalized piece. There’s also a wide variety of pre-designed engagement rings, including a collection from couture fashion designer Badgley Mischka. Grown Brilliance is also