An engagement ring is a piece of jewelry you (or your partner) will hopefully wear for the rest of your life. So it must be an item you absolutely love and want to look at all the time.
Unfortunately, for many of us it isn’t an option to spend thousands of dollars on an engagement ring. Especially if there’s also a wedding to plan, a dream house to save up for, and future children to raise.
An engagement ring that costs under $1,000 is considered fairly cheap compared to the average $3,756 people have spent on enagagement rings in 2020. However, if you have set different priorites, and want to spend your money wisely, you can easily find enegagement rings for under $1,000 and even under $250!
Your affordable engagement ring options regarding the design are abundant, however, in terms of the quality of the diamond you might have to make some compromises…
For under $1,000 you should expect a 0.20 carat diamond at the very maximum with a lower clarity and color rating than pricier diamond engagement rings. Or, you could also opt for a bigger, but less expensive main gemstone (e.g. a sapphire) and a few smaller accent diamonds.
There’s also a lesser-known, hidden benefit of these lower-grade diamonds!
Since lower-grade diamonds are less rare, they aren’t only less expensive, it is also much easier to make sure they are conflict-free and come from ethical sources.
So should you buy an engagement ring under $1,000?
It’s up to your personal preferences! There’s no shame in buying a cheaper engagement ring, and use the money for something else.
I, personally, am perfectly happy with my ~$400 engagement ring which fits my personality more than the huge diamonds anyway. And it is still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever owned!
Here are some of the best jewelry brands worth checking out for affordable and ethical engagement rings from minimalist to bohemian and vintage-inspired, along with my top 3 picks from each!
Mejuri
Mejuri makes fine jewelry for every day. The band is the favorite destination for affordable ethical jewelry enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking for a new addition to your extensive jewelry collection, or that single, very special piece you’ll treasure forever, Mejuri’s fairly-priced yet high-end, minimalist pieces got you covered.
Mejuri jewelry is handcrafted ethically using 70% recycled gold, and ethical, conflict-free, sustainably sourced diamonds.
Shipping to these countries with taxes and duties included in price (no additional change upon delivery): United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany
Editor’s Picks
1 – Mejuri Linear Cluster Ring 
2 – Mejuri Solo Baguette Diamond Ring 
3 – Mejuri Diamonds Band
1 – Mejuri Linear Cluster Ring
- Price: $800
- Material: 14k yellow gold / 14k white gold
- Gemstone: total weight: 1.42 carat peach morganite + total weight: 0.085 carat, SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamonds
- Engraving: up to 25 characters
2 – Mejuri Solo Baguette Diamond Ring
- Price: $425
- Material: 14k yellow gold
- Gemstone: 0.11 carat, SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamond
- Price: $335
- Material: 14k yellow gold
- Gemstone: 0.07 carat, SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamonds
- Engraving: up to 25 characters
AUrate
AUrate jewelry is designed to be worthy of those who wear it. Nobody could say no to these timeless and elegant rings.
The pieces are handcrafted ethically using 100% recycled gold, and ethical, conflict-free, sustainably sourced diamonds.
Shipping from the United States. You might be expected to pay taxes and duties on international orders.
Editor’s Picks
1 – AUrate Medium Diamond Solitaire Ring 
2 – AUrate Black Diamond Ring 
3 – AUrate Midi Stackable Twist Diamond Ring
1 – AUrate Medium Diamond Solitaire Ring
- Price: from $500
- Material: 14k yellow gold (recycled) / 18k yellow gold (recycled) / 14k rose gold (recycled) / 18k rose gold (recycled) / 14k white gold (recycled) / 18k white gold (recycled)
- Gemstone: 0.11 carat, SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamond
- Price: from $380
- Material: 14k yellow gold (recycled) / 18k yellow gold (recycled) / 14k rose gold (recycled) / 18k rose gold (recycled) / 14k white gold (recycled) / 18k white gold (recycled)
- Gemstone: 0.11 carat, SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced black diamond
3 – AUrate Midi Stackable Twist Diamond Ring
- Price: from $230
- Material: 14k yellow gold (recycled) / 18k yellow gold (recycled) / 14k rose gold (recycled) / 18k rose gold (recycled) / 14k white gold (recycled) / 18k white gold (recycled)
- Gemstone: 0.07 carat, SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamond
Lucy’s Fine Jewelry (Etsy)
Lucy’s Fine Jewelry creates delicate, on-trend, and affordable engagement rings. They are handcrafted ethically using ethical, conflict-free, sustainably sourced diamonds.
Shipping from the United Kingdom. You might be expected to pay taxes and duties on international orders.
Editor’s Picks
1 – Lucy’s Fine Jewelry Diamond Solitaire Vine Ring 
2 – Lucy’s Fine Jewelry Diamond Baguette Band Ring 
3 – Lucy’s Fine Jewelry Diamond Half Eternity Solitaire Ring
1 – Lucy’s Fine Jewelry Diamond Solitaire Vine Ring
- Price: $389
- Material: 14k yellow gold / 14k rose gold / 14k white gold
- Gemstone: 0.15 carat, G color SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamond
2 – Lucy’s Fine Jewelry Diamond Baguette Band Ring
- Price: $289
- Material: 14k yellow gold / 14k rose gold / 14k white gold
- Gemstone: 0.15 carat, G color SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamonds
3 – Lucy’s Fine Jewelry Diamond Half Eternity Solitaire Ring
- Price: $289
- Material: 14k yellow gold / 14k rose gold / 14k white gold
- Gemstone: 0.13 carat, G color SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamonds
Envero Jewelry (Etsy)
Envero Jewelry is an Etsy store selling gorgeous, vintage-inspired engagement rings made with recycled gold and ethical, conflict-free, sustainably sourced diamonds and other gemstones.
Shipping from the United States. You might be expected to pay taxes and duties on international orders.
Editor’s Picks
1 – Envero Jewelry Celestial Theme Rose Cut Diamond Ring 
2 – Envero Jewelry Teal Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring 
3 – Envero Jewelry Hexagon Ring with Natural Ceylon Blue Sapphire
1 – Envero Jewelry Celestial Theme Rose Cut Diamond Ring
- Price: from $860
- Material: 14k yellow gold (recycled) / 14k rose gold (recycled) / 14k white gold (recycled)
- Gemstone: 0.16 carat / 0.3 carat, VS clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamond
- Accent stones: 0.06 carat, G color SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamonds
2 – Envero Jewelry Teal Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring
- Price: $880
- Material: 14k yellow gold (recycled) / 14k rose gold (recycled) / 14k white gold (recycled)
- Gemstone: 0.45mm ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced Parti teal ocean blue Sapphire
- Accent stones: 0.03 carat, G color SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamonds
3 – Envero Jewelry Hexagon Ring with Natural Ceylon Blue Sapphire
- Price: $710
- Material: 14k yellow gold (recycled) / 14k rose gold (recycled) / 14k white gold (recycled)
- Gemstone: 4.5mm ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced Ceylon blue sapphire
- Accent stones: 0.02 carat, G color SI clarity, ethical, conflict-free, sustainably-sourced diamonds
Roo Ring Co (Etsy)
Roo Ring makes beautiful, bohemian engagement rings using 100% recycled gold, handcrafted ethically.
Shipping from Austalia. You might be expected to pay taxes and duties on international orders.
Editor’s Picks
1 – Roo Ring Co Vintage Round Shaped Orange Sapphire Engagement Ring Set 
2 – Roo Ring Co Vintage Topaz Engagement Ring 
3 – Roo Ring Co Oval Cut Aquamarine Engagement Ring
1 – Roo Ring Co Vintage Round Shaped Orange Sapphire Engagement Ring Set
- Price: from $683
- Material: 14k yellow gold (recycled) / 18k yellow gold (recycled) / 14k rose gold (recycled) / 18k rose gold (recycled) / 14k white gold (recycled) / 18k white gold (recycled)
- Gemstone: 3.5mm natural orange sapphire
- Wedding band: 0.17 carat round cut aquamarine
2 – Roo Ring Co Vintage Topaz Engagement Ring
- Price: from $372.50
- Material: 14k yellow gold (recycled) / 18k yellow gold (recycled) / 14k rose gold (recycled) / 18k rose gold (recycled) / 14k white gold (recycled) / 18k white gold (recycled)
- Gemstone: 4mm princess cut topaz
- Accent stones: 0.1 carat, G-H color SI-VS clarity round cut diamonds / moissanite
3 – Roo Ring Co Oval Cut Aquamarine Engagement Ring
- Price: from $407
- Material: 14k yellow gold (recycled) / 18k yellow gold (recycled) / 14k rose gold (recycled) / 18k rose gold (recycled) / 14k white gold (recycled) / 18k white gold (recycled)
- Gemstone: 5mm*7mm oval cut natural aquamarine
- Accent stones: 0.09 carat, G-H color SI-VS clarity round cut diamonds / moissanite
Second-Hand Engagement Rings
Buying an engagement ring second-hand could be another sustainable and budget-friendly option.
Second-hand engagement rings can sell for as low as the third of the estimated retail price. A pre-loved diamond ring under $1,000 might include a 0.5 carat diamond at best which is 2.5 times the carat weight of a new engagement ring for the same price.
For professionally authenticated second-hand engagement rings check out Vestiaire Collective (International) and The RealReal (United States).
