Ring Budgeting and Diamond Pricing Guide – Part Two

This is part two (of two) of our Ring Budgeting and Diamond Pricing Guide article. Read Part One here.

$4000-$6000 – Intricate Settings

According to The Knot survey this is the “average” price range for an engagement ring.

Rings with intricate settings, such as Infinity Bands, split shanks, twisted bands and diamond-encrusted braids are popular engagement ring styles. In this price category they are easily affordable with quality matching diamonds.

For example, the twisted band halo from James Allen [below], with a matching high quality 0.9 carat Round Cut Diamond can be purchased for under $6000. Read more about Intricate Settings Engagement Rings.

Twisted Band Halo Engagement Ring

Twisted Pave Shank Contemporary Solitaire

And the sparkly pave twisted band [above] with an excellent quality 1.0 carat Princess Cut Diamond for under $6000.

$6000-$8000 – Designer Rings

At this price range there are any number of beautiful settings with quality diamonds available. Including rings by top designers such as Verragio, Ritani, Vatche and Mark Schneider.

For example, [below] is a classic “Tiffany style” diamond solitaire engagement ring by the designer Vatche. When paired with a matching 0.9 carat super ideal round cut diamond, the ring can be purchased for around $8000. Read more here and here.

Vatche Six Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring

Ritani Split Shank Princess Cut Engagement Ring

Or a beautiful split shank princess cut engagement ring [above] by the designer Ritani, with a matching a super ideal 0.8 carat Round Cut diamond for about $8000.

Vatche specializes in platinum rings, so the premium to purchase a platinum setting is much less than other designers, often as little as $100 over 18k white gold.

Luxury Engagement Rings, $8000 and beyond…

According to The Knot survey about 12% of couples spend more than $8000 on their engagement ring.

These “luxury” engagement rings often feature expensive settings from designers such as Verragio along with very high quality cuts of diamonds, such as the Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal diamond line. These diamonds offer the maximum in sparkle and brilliance. Read more here and here.

Verragio Split Shank Cushion Style Halo Engagement Ring

Verragio 3 Stone Princess Cut Engagement Ring

Learn About Diamonds

Typically the most expensive part of an engagement ring is the center diamond. So it is a good idea to learn about diamonds before you purchase one in order to get the best quality diamond for the price.

You can read our engagement ring and diamond guides to give you a good overview on how to buy an engagement ring and what to look for when purchasing a diamond:

How to Buy an Engagement Ring
Tips and advice to make your engagement ring buying quest easier.
Diamond Shapes
There are 10 popular diamond shapes for use in engagement rings…
Diamond Pricing and the Four C’s
The Four C’s are: Color, Cut, Clarity and Carats. They greatly influence the quality and price of the diamond.
Diamond Anatomy and Pricing
All about Polish, Symmetry and Fluorescence and how they impact a diamond’s quality and price.
Diamond Certification
A GIA certificate guarantees that the diamond is independently and accurately rated.
Buying a Diamond? Buyer Beware!
Ten pitfalls to avoid!