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The 19 Best Places to Buy Engagement Rings Online

Places To Buy Engagement Rings

Brides / Kevin Liang

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An engagement ring is a significant milestone on the journey to "I do." However, there are endless options, and it's a considerable investment, so it's essential to research rings thoroughly before buying. To help, we surveyed Brides editors, interviewed jewelry experts, and spent hours researching the best jewelry brands online. We considered companies that have been around for decades, as well as small businesses and artisans specializing in creating one-of-a-kind pieces.

Shopping for an engagement ring online means you can browse thousands of options. To narrow your search, first decide on your budget. Then, think about which style of engagement ring you're looking for, from timeless to modern to vintage-inspired, and whether you want a natural diamond, a lab-created diamond, or a nontraditional center stone. Once you know what you want, finding a trusted retailer is essential. Choose a jeweler with a reputation for using high-quality stones and precious metals, providing plenty of customization options, and backing up its pieces with certification, a reliable warranty, and long-term care and cleaning services.

Grown Brilliance offers an excellent collection if you're looking for a lab-grown engagement ring. Go for one of the brand's iconic pre-designed styles, or customize your own by selecting the stone, setting, and metal. In general, you can expect to pay less for a lab-grown diamond than for a mined diamond. The good news is that they are chemically the same as natural stones, so you're getting all the same quality.

In addition to engagement rings, Grown Brilliance offers a range of other fine jewelry pieces to mix and match with other pieces in your collection. Loose lab-grown diamonds are available in various carats, sizes, and cuts.

Special Services

With the site's Heroes Rewards program, teachers, medical professionals, first responders, and military service members can receive 10 percent off their purchases. The brand will also match a competitor's price if you feel that another U.S. retailer offers a similar diamond at a better price. If you have questions or need guidance, scheduling a virtual appointment with one of the brand's jewelry experts is easy.

Shipping & Returns Policies

Are you in a rush? Grown Brilliance offers free two-day shipping through FedEx on all orders. Made-to-order styles take about two weeks to create but are shipped with FedEx 2nd Day at no extra charge. Returns are also free through FedEx when sent within 45 days from when they ship. You'll be eligible for a full refund if the ring doesn't show any signs of wear and has not been engraved or resized by another company.

Blue Nile is the largest online retailer of certified diamonds and fine jewelry and has been a pioneer in the online diamond engagement ring business for over 20 years. Bringing high-quality GIA-graded diamonds directly to consumers, Blue Nile carries thousands of independently certified diamonds to choose from and guarantees a great value on every stone purchased by eliminating the middleman. As a result, prices are significantly lower than traditional retail. The brand also stands by a diamond price-match guarantee to ensure that customers are getting the best prices.

Special Services

Blue Nile is about letting customers control the jewelry shopping process, whether you use the Build Your Own Ring feature, shop the Ready-to-Ship ring collection, or buy a loose stone. The brand provides expert guidance with in-depth educational materials and unique online tools so customers can feel confident purchasing. The brand has 24/7 customer service year-round and has introduced virtual appointments for those interested in learning more from their own home. If in-person guidance is more your style, Blue Nile has showrooms in Salem, New Hampshire; Long Island, New York; Portland, Oregon; Fairfax County, Virginia; and Bellevue, Washington.

Shipping & Returns Policies

Every engagement ring from Blue Nile is handcrafted and quadruple-checked by diamond and jewelry experts to ensure the quality of a piece before it is shipped via secure delivery methods. Every order includes a 30-day return policy and lifetime guarantees. Blue Nile also offers a diamond buyback program that allows customers to sell a loose diamond or piece of diamond jewelry for a cash offer based on current market value.

If your dream engagement ring is delicate, has a unique design, looks vintage, or is from an independent jewelry brand, then Catbird is undoubtedly for you. With a stellar assortment of engagement rings and wedding bands (including unisex and men’s styles!), Catbird has a line of spectacular styles, including three signature collections: the Swans, Fairy Lights and Snow Queens, and Classic Band. Catbird also carries beautiful designs from smaller jewelry brands including Jennie Kwon, Kataoka, Polly Wales, Sofia Zakia, Wwake, and more. Catbird's engagement rings and wedding bands are utterly romantic, from classic diamonds to colorful gemstones like emeralds and rubies. Most of the rings Catbird carries are budget-friendly, too, with most designs coming in under $3,500.

Catbird just launched a new collection, the Night at the Ballet collection, inspired by the romance of the ballet. The collection includes a singular ring, set in 100 percent recycled 14k gold with an emerald cut or oval diamond and a constellation of starry round diamonds, in your choice of recycled diamonds or lab-grown. Each ring is hand-finished by Catbird’s expert team of in-house jewelers in Brooklyn, New York

What to Look for When Buying an Engagement Ring Online

  • The Four Cs: Since viewing an engagement ring online is a little different than viewing it in person, it's essential to do your research. Familiarize yourself with the different types of metals and the four Cs of diamonds (cut, color, clarity, and carat) to know what you're getting. 
  • Cost and Value: An engagement ring can cost anywhere from less than a hundred dollars to tens (or even hundreds) of thousands. A ring's value is mainly based on the size, provenance, and quality of the center diamond, other stone embellishments, and the materials used in the setting. 
  • A Trusted Retailer: A reputable brand's website will have an in-depth FAQ page highlighting how and where it sources its stones and other materials and details on certification, shipping, and return policies. When in doubt, contact the brand directly to ask questions or set up a virtual consultation to gain more insight into a particular piece. 
FAQ
  • Is it safe to buy an engagement ring online?

    It is safe to purchase your engagement ring online, but it's important to work with a reputable jeweler. Be sure that the retailer you choose offers a certificate of quality and a warranty and uses secure shipping practices.

  • How much should I pay for an engagement ring?

    You may have heard that your engagement ring budget should be three months of your salary, but the rules have changed. The bottom line is to find something special that you can afford. Luckily, with all the choices available online, there are plenty of options in every price range. Most importantly, look for a ring design your future spouse will adore and enjoy wearing.

  • Can I return an engagement ring that I purchased online?

    Many retailers accept returns or exchanges of engagement rings purchased online. However, since every retailer is different, it's essential to read all shipping and return policies before you purchase your ring. Custom-made engagement rings are usually not eligible for returns or refunds, so be sure it's the perfect pick before you make your final purchase.

Why Trust Brides

Brides contributing writer Laura Lajiness Kaupke covers fashion, accessories, and fine jewelry. Her work can be seen across various outlets, including ELLE, InStyle, Glamour, Refinery 29, The Zoe Report, Popsugar, Well+Good, and Barneys New York, among other titles and brands.

Contributing writer Sophie Moore is a former fashion editor at Brides and is an expert in all things bridal attire, from couture wedding gowns to the perfect "something blue" accessory. She researches and sources the best fashion items for brides, grooms, wedding guests, and parties.

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