There is no amount you are supposed to spend. Couples who married in 2025 spent an average of $4,600 on the engagement ring, according to The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study: about $4,300 for a lab-grown center stone and $7,000 for a natural one. Our lab-grown diamond engagement rings are listed from $899.99 to $3,309.99.
How much should an engagement ring cost?
As much as you can pay comfortably, without debt you will resent. National averages are useful for context, not as a target. The Knot surveyed couples married in 2025 (The Knot Real Weddings Study 2026) and reported:
- "$4,600 Average spent on engagement ring"
- Lab-grown center stone: $4,300 on average, 2.0 carats; natural stone: $7,000, 1.6 carats
- "Lab-grown center stones now account for 61% of all engagement ring purchases"
The gap between those two averages is the biggest budget lever there is: a lab-grown center stone of the same look typically costs far less, which is why the average carat weight has gone up while average spending has gone down.
Is there a rule of thumb for an engagement ring budget?
Not one that anyone official sets. Rules built on months of salary are popular online, but they are conventions, not standards. A better starting point is GIA's own buying checklist: "Consider your budget: Set your parameters before your start." (GIA, How to Buy a Diamond) Pick a ceiling first, then decide how to spend it.
What do our lab-grown diamond engagement rings cost?
| Ring | Center stone | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.60ct Lab-Grown Diamond Ring | 1.60 ct | 14k gold | $899.99 |
| 1.70ct Under-Halo Lab-Grown Diamond Ring | 1.70 ct | Hidden halo, 14k gold | $1,499.99 |
| 2.55ct Lab-Grown Diamond Ring | 2.55 ct | 14k gold | $1,699.99 |
| 3.77ct Lab-Grown Diamond Ring | 3.77 ct | 14k gold | $1,949.99 |
| 4.05ct Lab-Grown Diamond Ring | 4.05 ct | 14k gold | $1,999.99 |
| 3.00ct Radiant & Trapezoid Lab-Grown Diamond Ring | 3.00 ct radiant | Trapezoid side stones, 14k gold | $2,099.99 |
| 3.02ct Lab-Grown Diamond Ring | 3.02 ct | 14k gold | $2,149.99 |
| 3.00ct Lab-Grown Diamond Ring | 3.00 ct | 14k gold | $2,349.99 |
| 4.08ct Lab-Grown Diamond Ring | 4.08 ct | 14k gold | $3,309.99 |
Prices as listed on our site on October 21, 2026. Price does not rise in a straight line with carat weight: the 3.77 ct and 4.05 ct rings cost less than the 3.02 ct and 3.00 ct rings, because shape, setting and the stone itself all matter. That is the best reason to compare in person.
What drives the price of a ring?
- Natural or lab-grown. The largest single factor, as the averages above show.
- Carat weight. A carat is a unit of weight: "A carat is a standard unit of weight for a diamond and is equivalent to 200 milligrams (1/5 gram)." (16 CFR 23.18) On a ring with many stones, the number is the total weight (TW), not the size of the center stone.
- Shape. GIA: "Not all cuts and shapes are priced equally, so knowing your preferred cut and shape will help your jeweler select the best styles for your budget."
- Setting and metal. A halo, side stones or a pavé band add stones and labor; a plain solitaire spends the most on the center stone.
How do you choose the right engagement ring?
Couples in The Knot's 2026 study ranked "cut/shape (#1), style/setting (#2) and metal (#3)" as the most important features, and most choose together: "79% of ring recipients participating in the process." Work through it in that order.
Shape
"The most popular shape is round (26%), followed by oval (25%). Other top ring shapes include emerald (8%), princess (8%), pear/teardrop (8%) and marquise (8%)." Our diamond shape guide explains how each one looks on the hand.
Setting
Solitaire, hidden halo, three-stone or side stones: the setting changes how large and how bright the center stone looks. See the engagement ring settings guide.
Metal
"Yellow gold (39%) continues to rise in popularity," per The Knot. Our engagement rings are made in 14k gold; ask in the showroom which colors each style comes in.
Ring size
GIA's checklist puts it plainly: "Ring size: Get your partner’s ring size." If you are planning a surprise, our ring sizing guide covers ways to find it, and we size rings after the proposal through our resizing service.
Not sure yet? Start with the stone
GIA notes: "Sometimes people prefer to buy an unset diamond, choosing to have a setting made later with their partner’s input." If you would rather design the ring together after the proposal, talk to us about our custom design service.
How do you get the most ring for your budget?
- Decide the ceiling before you shop, and say it out loud to the jeweler.
- Choose the shape first; it narrows the field fastest.
- Compare a solitaire and a hidden halo at the same price.
- Check that every multi-stone weight says TW, and that every lab-grown stone is named "lab-grown" right before "diamond," as federal guidance requires (16 CFR 23.25).
- Read our list of engagement ring buying mistakes before you commit.
See the rings in Paramus
Browse all lab-grown diamond rings, or book an appointment to compare styles at every price on your own hand.
Prestige Diamonds NJ
327 E State Route 4, Paramus, NJ 07652 (inside The Jewelry Center)
(201) 488-4280
