Cheap Engagement Rings: Why, How, and a Complete List of Handpicked Items

If you're hoping to get engaged soon but don't have the money for a diamond ring, you aren't alone! The good news is that you can get a unique and high-quality ring for much less than the cost of a diamond. With a little ingenuity, you can find cheap engagement rings you and your partner will love!

Why Buy Cheap Engagement Rings?

Money isn't the only reason to look into more affordable engagement rings. Here are a few reasons to avoid setting aside thousands of dollars to get a diamond ring:

• Mined diamonds come with ethical concerns (fueling armed conflicts, contributing to worker exploitation, and causing environmental harm).
• A ring doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful.
• Some research even indicates that couples who spend more on engagement rings are more likely to get divorced!
• "Cheap engagement rings" don't have to mean "low-quality engagement rings."
• You'll have the opportunity to choose a ring that's unique and personalized.

How to Buy Affordable Engagement Rings?

If you're looking for cheap engagement rings, but aren't sure where to start, here are a few tips to help you find your perfect ring. The truth is that you don’t need to break a bank to purchase a dream ring, as well as it’s quite possible to access additional financing when buying an engagement ring with bad credit. So read further to learn more about your options.

1. Choose Diamond Alternatives

If you like the look of white or colorless stones, but don't think you can budget for a diamond, there are plenty of diamond alternatives to choose from.

Moissanite, white sapphire, and white topaz are three of the best. These stones are beautiful in their own right, and some (like moissanite) even have more fire than diamonds.

2. Select Colored Gemstones

One way to save money while breaking free from the diamond trend is to use colored gemstones instead of a diamond. That way, you aren't trying to mimic the look of a diamond—you're doing something different altogether!

Emerald, sapphire, fire opal, and lapis lazuli are great choices, but there's a whole world of stones to choose from.

3. Go With Lab-Created Diamonds

Lab-created diamonds aren't technically diamond alternatives, as they are actual diamonds! They're identical to mined diamonds (the only exception is that mined diamonds include small amounts of nitrogen), but they are grown in labs with special conditions.

Lab diamonds aren't quite as expensive as natural diamonds. As a bonus, they also don't have the same ethical concerns that come with purchasing mined diamonds.

4. Choose Salt and Pepper Diamonds

Salt and pepper diamonds are diamonds with several inclusions that give them the appearance of being swirled with gray and white. They are often less expensive than so-called "flawless" diamonds, but they'll bring a smoky and unique beauty to your engagement ring.

One of the coolest-looking salt and pepper diamonds is what's called a "galaxy diamond." This diamond is primarily dark, so it looks like a gray or black galaxy with white stars.

5. Use Your Birthstones

A personalized engagement ring can be a beautiful symbol of love and connection. And one of the best ways to personalize your ring is to include both of your birthstones.

The birthstones for most months are less expensive than diamonds (although a diamond is a birthstone for April!).

6. Select More Affordable Metals 

This doesn't mean you need to resort to nickel or stainless steel! Sterling silver and gold filled are good choices, as is palladium (a cheap metal that looks virtually identical to platinum).

Low-karat gold is also a smart choice. Most people think 24-karat or 18-karat gold is ideal, as it's purer (24-karat gold is pure gold, and 18-karat gold is 75% pure).

But the truth is that gold is a relatively soft metal, so rings that are closer to being pure gold are more likely to suffer scratches and other damage.

Lower-karat options like 14-karat gold have more of an alloy metal (or more than one) mixed in. That makes them considerably stronger. If you or your partner want an engagement ring that's built to last, lower-karat gold may be the better choice regardless.

7. Prioritize Cut Grade Over Clarity and Color

If you or your partner are really set on getting a white diamond, you can still find a quality stone on a budget. The trick is to know what to pay attention to.

The most important thing is cut. The better a diamond is cut, the sparkler (and better) it looks in the light. Go with the best cut grade you can afford, and the other grades won't matter as much.

Don't worry about getting a completely colorless or flawless diamond. Unless the diamond is actually a shade of yellow, you likely won't be able to tell that it's not completely colorless.

Similarly, most diamonds with inclusions really just have a tiny speck or two. Once the stone is in the setting, that speck will be difficult or impossible to see.

Affordable Engagement Rings That Are Worth a Look

Thinking of going with affordable engagement rings? Check out this list of 12 cheap engagement rings.

1. Princess Diana Sapphire Replica Ring

Rosery Poetry Princess Diana Sapphire Ring Replica $59, SHOP NOW.

Princess Diana's sapphire engagement ring caught the eye of the jewelry world: it was a massive 12-carat sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds.

This ring gives you the same beauty in a more affordable package. At the center is a deep blue, lab-created oval sapphire. It's ringed with sparkling cubic zirconia stones.

You can choose your favorite metal finish, too. The ring itself is 925 sterling silver, but it can be plated with yellow, rose, or white gold. If you wish, you can also purchase it in 10-karat or 14-karat gold.

2. Toi et Moi Ring (You and Me Ring)

Rosery Poetry toi et moi ring with moissanite stones from $129 to $399, available in silver, 10K and 14K gold, SHOP NOW.

Toi et moi rings (you and me rings) are considered to be one of the jewelry world's most romantic designs. Two stones of this romantic ring style are meant to symbolize the closeness of two souls.

Celebrities like Megan Fox, Kylie Jenner, Ariana Grande, Emily Ratajkowski have all chosen this design to mark their engagement.

This toi et moi ring features a pear-cut and a princess-cut moissanite stone. Moissanite is a great choice if you are looking for cheap engagement rings. It has a higher brilliance than diamond and has a "rainbow" sparkling effect in the light, so it's a beautiful alternative to diamonds.

The band is 925 sterling silver that can be plated with white gold, rose gold, or yellow gold. It also comes in 10K, 14K, and 18K gold.

3. Meghan Markle Engagement Ring Replica 

Rosery Poetry moissanite engagement ring starting from $79, SHOP NOW.

If you were inspired by Meghan Markle's classic three-stone engagement ring, you can get cheap engagement rings of the same look at a fraction of the price. This ring uses three moissanite stones: an emerald-cut center stone flanked by two heart-shaped stones.

Even though moissanite is about a tenth of the price of diamonds, it has almost the same hardness as diamonds. That means that you can wear this ring daily without worrying about damage.

You can customize your band with a few different types of white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and sterling silver.

4. Three-Carat Moissanite Ring

3 carat moissanite ring oval cut in 10K gold $485, SHOP NOW.

Looking for an engagement ring with a classic appeal? This ring is ideal. It features a large, three-carat moissanite stone in an attractive oval cut.

The simple band adds timeless appeal. You can choose rose gold, yellow gold, or white gold, and we can custom-engrave the band if you wish.

5. Minimalist Solitaire Ring

2 carat moissanite solitaire ring round cut $59, SHOP NOW.

The diamond solitaire is probably the most iconic choice when it comes to engagement rings.

This moissanite version gives you that same classic look at just a small fraction of the price. Its two-carat size is large enough to make a statement, but not so large that it becomes gaudy.

You select a band made of 925 sterling silver, 10K gold, 14K gold, or 18K gold. We can also customize your ring if you wish.

6. Oval Cut Moissanite Pave Ring

Oval moissanite ring 1 carat $69, SHOP NOW.

If you want to combine moissanite's sparkle with a little vintage style, this is a great ring to choose from.

The central stone has an eye-catching oval cut, and it's surrounded with even more brilliance: the oval is ringed with smaller stones, and those small stones extend around the band like an eternity ring.

7. Emerald Cut Engagement Ring

Emerald cut moissanite engagement ring 4-carat $189, SHOP NOW.

One of the benefits of moissanite is that you can get a larger stone for the same price as a much smaller diamond.

This large and striking moissanite stone has a bold emerald cut. Combined with the simple gold (or sterling silver) band, it has an elegant and refined look.

8. Marquise Cut Blue Stone Ring

Blue moissanite ring marquise cut 3 carat $139, SHOP NOW.

Looking for uniquely beautiful yet cheap engagement rings that you definitely don't see every day? This ring features a stunning blue moissanite stone. It's essentially moissanite's answer to the elusive blue diamond.

The stone itself isn't the only thing that makes this ring unique. The marquise cut is a somewhat uncommon choice, but it's a glamorous way to stand out. The cool-hued stone pairs beautifully with silver or white metals, so you can choose a band in 925 sterling silver, 10K white gold, or 14K white gold.

9. Black Gemstone Ring

Black rutilated quartz ring oval cut $49, SHOP NOW.

If you love black gems, black rutilated quartz is a must-see. Rutilated quartz has needle-shaped black inclusions that give it a unique, almost fractured appearance. This ring features an oval-cut center gem with white cubic zirconia on either side.

The deep black of this stone looks especially beautiful against the soft glow of rose gold. You can choose a band of solid rose gold or sterling silver plated with rose gold.

10. Curved Engagement Ring

Rosery Poetry Curved moissanite wedding band $85, SHOP NOW.

Curved and V-shaped rings have a beautifully dynamic look, and they're great for stacking with other rings. This one's sharp point is beautifully balanced out by the soft curve of the oval moissanite stone.

Like the diamond, moissanite goes well with just about any shade of metal. You can choose this ring in rose, yellow, or white gold. Or for an extra budget-friendly choice, go with a gold-plated sterling silver ring.

11. Eternity Band

Rosery Poetry Moissanite eternity band starting from $79, SHOP NOW.

An eternity band is a beautiful way to express lasting love, and this moissanite eternity band will help you do so affordably. A line of small moissanite stones extends halfway around the band.

This is a great way to stay comfortable, as the stones won't dig into your hand as they can with full eternity bands.

12. Birthstone Ring

Natural moonstone ring $47, SHOP NOW.

For those looking for cheap engagement rings with a white stone that's not a diamond, a moonstone is an excellent choice.

This natural, milky white stone has a gentle glow that looks especially nice when set in rose gold. However, thanks to the inclusion of cubic zirconia accent stones, this striking ring still offers plenty of sparkle!

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