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12 Gorgeous and Cheap Engagement Rings Under $1,000
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Saying “I do,” shouldn’t have to mean saying I do… to debt. Weddings are expensive for sure, starting with the purchase that sets it all in motion – the engagement ring. Some may think the bigger the bling, the better – and that may make for an impactful proposal, but a devastating impact on your wallet.
According to The Knot, the average cost of an engagement ring in the U.S. in 2018 was $5,680, and the average cost of getting married in the U.S. was $38,700, according to WeddingWire’s 2019 Newlywed report. (Check out our guide to the best wedding freebies and deals of the year).
We rounded up 12 of the best engagement rings you can get right now for under a thousand – yes a thousand – bucks. From single solitaires to princess cuts, vintage styles and even a superhero-inspired ring, you’ll earn cool points and it won’t be because of the number of carats.
An engagement ring is going to be something that gets worn every day and has special meaning to its wearer, so you want to get it right. But you can still have a big impact with a smaller stone (such as one that’s cleverly disguised with other less expensive stones or a halo setting with smaller diamonds surrounding it) or a ring that skips the diamond altogether.
How to Save on Engagement Ring Stones
- Affordable doesn’t have to mean fake. Get creative and opt for a clear quartz stone like a Herkimer diamond, which is real and sourced from the Earth – but much, much cheaper than a real diamond.
- Opt for another real gemstone that has special meaning and really stands out- like a sapphire, or even your beloved’s birthstone. Having the stone surrounded by small diamonds or diamond chips makes it more affordable, but still “traditional.”
- If your heart is set on a diamond, don’t get too caught up in the cut, clarity and rating scales. If it’s “clean” and clear to the naked eye, it doesn’t matter as much what it shows when it’s under a microscope.
How to Save on Engagement Ring Settings
- Gold is a popular choice, but when budgets shrink, so does quality. 18K is best, but 14K and 10K are also suitable options at lower price points, they just may require a bit more maintenance. Beware when it comes to shopping for anyone with metal sensitivities, as they may require the higher gold content of an 18K.
- A “halo” setting is a popular choice for getting more bang for your buck. This means your diamond or whatever stone you choose, is surrounded by many very tiny and inexpensive diamonds or diamond chips, so it sparkles like crazy when it catches the light, and often looks more expensive than it is.
- Pick something simple. The less ornate it is, the easier it’ll be on your wallet.
You can also check online jewelry outlets or even wholesale clubs and stores, to scour for the best deal. Shopping around is key to scoring the best deal and we’re making it easy to find the ring that’s right for you.
Another good tip to keep in mind when shopping is the return policy. It can be hard to choose jewelry for someone else. What happens if your partner doesn’t like it, it doesn’t fit and can’t be sized? Even worse, what if they say no? Some jewelry stores have strict no return policies when it comes to engagement rings, especially if it’s a custom job. Online retailers or chain stores will be more likely to allow returns within 30 to 90 days of purchase. This is also important to keep in mind if you shop for your ring now, but plan to propose at a later date (such as an anniversary or a holiday).
Now that you’ve got all the info you’ll need, it’s time to start scrolling for some gorgeous yet wallet-friendly styles.
Best Traditional Engagement Ring
Diamond Round ½ Carat Solitaire Ring
This beautiful diamond solitaire ring features a 0.50 carat center round brilliant diamond in a 14 karat white gold setting with heart-shape prongs. It’s a simple yet tasteful style that’ll stand the test of time.
Why We Love It: A gold band with a single solitaire diamond is a classic because the simplicity lets the symbol of your love take center stage, and 14K is quality that’ll last. Getting that, plus an authentic diamond at this price point, is a steal.
Things to Consider: When it comes to diamonds, the stones are rated on clarity and color (yes, even diamonds can have some color!) At this price point, you may end up with some slight cloudiness in clarity and in color. This one’s an H on a scale of D-Z, with D being colorless and Z being yellow or even brown.
$999 at RogersandHollands.com
Best Diamond Engagement Ring
Homespun Solitaire Ring
NYC jeweler Catbird offers affordable engagement rings with metals that are ethically sourced and diamonds that are conflict free. We love this traditional antique-inspired solitaire with its shining diamond, expertly set on a softly textured gold band that looks like it’s been worked and kneaded by the hands of fairies.
Why We Love It: It’s simplistic but still special, with its handmade feel and understated elegance. It’s a winning combo of high-quality gold and a quality diamond, with a price tag we love even more.
Things to Consider: At this price, the diamond is fairly small so if it’s a multi-carat stunner you seek, it’s best to look elsewhere.
$816 for .01 carat weight in 18K gold at Catbirdnyc.com
Best Modern Engagement Ring
Three-Stone Engagement Ring
The three-stone ring emerged in the early 2000’s, when DeBeers introduced it as a clever way to sell more diamonds. The stones signify past, present and future, and have since become a popular choice for proposals. This one is three-fourths carats worth of diamonds, set in 14K gold. It’s customizable in the color of your choice.
Why We Love It: It’s simple, yet makes a statement with its three-stones-are-better-than-one approach. Plus, this ring was originally priced at over $2,000, making it a steal to swoon for!
Things to Consider: The “color rating” on these diamonds puts them at an “I,” which is somewhere in the middle of the scale (D being best/colorless, Z being worst). The gold is 14K which is good but not the best (18K is better).
$699 at Macys.com
Best Yellow Gold Engagement Ring
Lagos Caviar Gold Diamond Heart Ring
This Lagos beauty showcases its diamonds surrounded by a heart finished on an 18K yellow gold band of Caviar beading. The diamonds are the highest quality natural stones.
Why We Love It: Sweet, pretty and dainty, this bright gold ring shows her she has your heart. Three small diamond chips are nestled within the design, housed in the highest quality 18K gold.
Things to Consider: This is another non-traditional option so if you think your sweetheart won’t appreciate wearing a heart on her left hand, opt for something else.
$1,000 at Lagos.com
Best Rose Gold Engagement Ring
Morganite and Diamond Ring with Milgrain Halo in 10K Rose Gold
This stunning 10K rose gold morganite and diamond ring with milgrain halo features a single round morganite gemstone and 26 round diamond accents.
Why We Love It: The dozens of diamond accents make this ring sparkle and shine, without the shocking price tag. It’s pretty and romantic with its soft pink hues and is sure to please the eye of your beholder.
Things to Consider: The center stone is morganite, not a diamond, so you’re not getting the real deal. You’re also getting a 10K rose gold, which isn’t valued as much as its weightier counterparts (14K and 18K).
$689 at Helzberg.com
Best White Gold Engagement Ring
“Brando” in White Gold
Round diamond accents orbit a contemporary princess-cut (square-ish) diamond. Two ribbons of stones grace each side of the 14K white gold band for a chic, modern look your beloved will adore.
Why We Love It: It’s super fashionable, almost cocktail-ish, at a price we can toast to. It offers lots of bling for your buck. The 14K gold is also a durable choice for anyone with an active lifestyle, as opposed to a more malleable 18K gold.
Things to Consider: While 14K gold is considered to be better than 10K, it’s not as good as 18K when it comes to quality. White gold is also a popular choice, but requires a bit more maintenance than its pricier look-a-like, platinum.
$946 at Brillianteers.com
Best Unique Engagement Ring
Lagos North Star Ring
Diamonds and 18K gold in a star designer motif form this stunning ring by Lagos.
Why We Love It: This ring is super fun and unique! She’s a star in your eyes so why not show her? Plus, the quality of the gold is great, and she’s getting real diamonds too, at an amazing price point.
Things to Consider: This is definitely not traditional and could be misconstrued as something other than an engagement ring… it also might be tough to place a wedding band on the same finger.
$650 at Lagos.com
Best Themed Engagement Ring
Wonder Woman Ring
This subtle superhero themed ring will have her flying high! It’s handmade, which makes it special, and affordable in sterling silver and moissanite instead of a diamond, or, custom made to your specifications.
Why We Love It: It’s unique and special, and what woman doesn’t want to feel like Wonder Woman? With just a nod to the superhero in the detailing around the base of the stone, the ring itself still resembles a classic style making it a great choice for an engagement ring under $1,000.
Things to Consider: Silver might not be as desirable for an everyday ring, so if you’re looking for an investment piece or something with little-to-no maintenance, this is probably not it.
$450 at Etsy.com
Best Gemstone Engagement Ring
Sapphire 3-stone Halo Ring in 10K White Gold
The three-stone setting showcases fancy cut sapphires, a cut ideal for optimizing the size of each gemstone. Pavé diamond halos underscore the beauty of an accessory full of fiery flashes of color in 10K white gold.
Why We Love It: This ring boasts three brilliant gemstones, versus one diamond in that weight which would likely break the bank. Plus, sapphires have great meaning and history, making them a powerful choice for an engagement. Sapphires have long been favored by royalty – you probably recall the center stone in Kate Middleton’s and Princess Diana’s ring. Universal meanings for sapphire include wisdom, nobility, truth, sincerity and faithfulness–a meaningful combination for an engagement ring under $1,000.
Things to Consider: Like many of the others, it’s an untraditional choice so be sure that’s what she’s looking for. Also, 10K gold is not the best choice in terms of quality, and could tarnish over time.
$999 at Helzberg.com
Best Non-Gold Engagement Ring
“Anna” Tension Set Titanium Diamond Ring
Sleek, simple and clean, this Titanium ring catches attention everywhere you go, but features no prongs or bezels. Only the pressure holds the one-fourth-weight diamond securely in place. The diamond is an “eco-friendly” Above Earth diamond, ethically sourced and not mined.
Why We Love It: Titanium is considered to be one of the world’s strongest metals, as strong as high-grade steel. Rings made with titanium are hypoallergenic, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and have the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any crystalline metal. It also won’t tarnish. Plus, no prongs to fail means less fear of a lost diamond.
Things to Consider: Titanium is not considered to be valuable when it comes to jewelry so even with all the aforementioned qualities, it’s not worth as much as gold or platinum. It also has more of a matte finish, so won’t be as shiny as some other metals.
$439 at LarsonJewelers.com
Best Non-Traditional Engagement Ring
Herkimer Diamond Ring
Somewhere deep within the earth of upstate New York, 500 million years ago, a beautiful clear quartz was discovered that has come to be known as the Herkimer Diamond. It quickly became a favorite as a “raw” and somewhat more earth-friendly alternative to a regular diamond.
Why We Love It: This one in particular resembles a traditional-style engagement ring but you can have a J-Lo style carat count, without the Hollywood price tag. This one comes with a 6-carat stone, for $165. And like many other crystals, some believe these stones have healing powers.
Things to Consider: Be careful getting it wet – salt-based stones can often get damaged when exposed to water.
$165 at Etsy.com
Best Vintage/Antique Style Engagement Ring
1 Carat Halo Ring 10K
This antique style engagement ring features a lovely round center diamond surrounded by round diamonds prong set in 10k white gold.
Why We Love It: A halo style ring is a great way to get a lot of bling for your buck. Because the setting contains multiple diamond chips all around the diamond and on the band, it sparkles so much, she’ll hardly notice the smaller diamond in the center. The total carat weight on this beauty is almost a full carat.
Things to Consider: With the setting itself, while 10K gold is indeed durable, it has the lowest gold content (less than 50%) out of the three options (10K, 14K and 18K), which makes it economical but not the best choice in terms of quality. It could also potentially tarnish over time (green fingers are not a good look).
$799 at JewelryExchange.com
The post 12 Gorgeous and Cheap Engagement Rings Under $1,000 appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
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