Education
Diamond Education
- Diamond 4 C's
- Diamond Buying Guide
- Answers to 1 Carat Diamond Questions
- Your Guide to Buying a Diamond Online
- How to Pick the Right Diamond
- Diamond Buying Mistakes
- Real vs. Fake Diamonds
- Lab Diamond Buying Guide
- 10 Most FAQ - Diamonds
- Off Size Diamonds Guide
- Popular Diamond Cuts
- Price of a 2 Carat Diamond
- Top FAQ - Lab Diamonds
- What Is the Average Diamond Size in Engagement Rings?
- Diamond Carat
- Diamond Clarity
- IF Diamonds
- FL Diamonds
- Diamond Inclusions Guide
- Flawless vs Internally Flawless
- Which Diamond Clarity Is Best?
- VS2 vs VS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VVS2 vs VVS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI2 vs SI1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI1 vs VS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VS1 vs VVS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- Accent Diamond Clarity
- Lab Diamond Clarity
- SI Diamonds
- VS Diamonds
- VVS Diamonds
- Diamond Color
- Diamond Cut
- Diamond Cut Types
- Ideal Cut Diamonds
- Hearts and Arrows Diamonds
- What is Diamond Depth
- Diamond Table
- Lab Diamond Cut
- Antique Cut Diamonds
- Brilliant Cut Diamonds
- Rose Cut Diamonds
- What Is The Most Expensive Diamond Cut?
- What Are Step Cut Diamonds?
- Diamond Bow Ties
- How Are Diamonds Cut
- Diamond Brilliance
- Spread Diamonds
- Diamond Fire
- Crushed Ice Diamonds
- Diamond Shape
- Lab Diamond Shape
- Asscher
- Cushion
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- Marquise
- Oval
- Pear
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- Round
- Which Diamond Cut Is Best?
- Round vs Princess Diamond Cut
- Round vs Cushion Diamond Cut
- Cushion vs Princess Diamonds
- Cushion vs Oval Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Asscher Cut Diamond
- Princess vs Marquis Diamonds
- Princess vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Cushion vs Asscher Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Pear Cut Diamonds
- Pear vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Elongated Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Diamond Certification
- Diamond Fluorescence
- How Diamonds Are Formed
- Diamond Pricing
- Diamond Size Chart Carat & MM
- Diamond Symmetry
- Diamond Polish
- Diamond Girdle
- Diamond Culet
- Engraved Rings
- Fancy Colored Diamonds
- Loose Diamonds
- History Of Lab Grown Diamonds
- Natural vs Synthetic Diamonds
- Diamond Sourcing
- NY Diamond District
Engagement Ring Education
- How To Buy Engagement Rings
- Affordable Engagement Rings
- Cost of a One Carat Diamond
- How To Buy A Lab Diamond Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring In a Time Crunch
- How to Choose An Engagement Ring
- How to Pick Your Engagement Ring Budget
- Engagement Rings For Second Marriage
- Best Time to Buy An Engagement Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring As a Couple
- Everything You Need to Know About Dainty Engagement Rings
- Future Mother In Law's Guide to Engagement Ring Shopping
- Engagement Ring Financing
- Why You Need an Engagement Ring Appraisal
- Best Round Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Square Cut Engagement Ring
- Top Teardrop Engagement Rings
- Best Asscher Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Oval Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Radiant Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Marquise Cut Engagement Rings
- Twisting Rings
- Best Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Dainty Engagement Rings
- Best Unique Engagement Rings
- Best Traditional Diamond Engagement Rings
- Best Split Shank Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Square Halo Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Unusual Engagement Rings
- Black Diamond Engagement Rings
- Edwardian Engagement Rings
- Antique Style Engagement Rings
- Nature Inspired Engagement Ring
- Filigree Rings
- Art Deco Rings
- Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Infinity Engagement Rings
- Best Two Tone Diamond Engagement Rings
- Victorian Style Engagement Rings
- Minimalistic Engagement Rings
- Big Style Engagement Rings
- Cute Style Engagement Rings
- Modern Style Engagement Rings
- Past Present and Future Rings
- Thin Engagement Rings
- Pretty Style Engagement Rings
- Double Band Engagement Rings
- 1 Carat Diamond Ring
- Top Princess Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Women's Rose Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Round Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top East West Engagement Rings
- Top Pave Engagement Rings
- Top Split Shank Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Unique Halo Engagement Rings
- Rose Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Marquise Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Bypass Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Floating Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Princess Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Simple Engagement Rings
- Vintage Style Engagement Rings
- Types of Accent Diamonds
- Everything You Need to Know Before Setting Diamonds
- Engagement Ring Prong Guide
- All About Ring Resizing
- Identifying Your Ring After A Repair
- Everything You Need to Know About Milgrain
- Everything You Need to Know About Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Eternity Rings vs Infinity Rings
- When To Propose
- What Are Baguette Diamond Engagement Rings
- What to Say When You Propose
- What Are the Groom's Parents Responsible For?
Gemstone Education
Jewelry Education
- Jewelry Buying Guide
- How To Buy Jewelry Online
- Diamond: 10th Anniversary Gifts
- Ruby: 40th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Sapphire: 5th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Top 10 Sapphire Earrings
- Emerald: 20th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Top 10 Push Presents
- How To Shop For Christmas Jewelry Gifts
- How To Buy An Anniversary Band
Metal Education


Here's the Easiest Way to Pick Your Engagement Ring Budget
It used to be that people had to set aside at least two month’s salary for an engagement ring budget. The problem? That’s a lot of money for some of us, even for an engagement ring. And besides: That “advice” was actually a clever marketing ploy created by an advertising agency in the 1940s.
In reality, an engagement ring budget isn’t a set number or even proportion of your income, but instead what you can comfortably afford based on your personal financial situation. But, it’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole with engagement ring and loose diamond research. So, where do you go from here? We have some advice on setting a realistic budget for you.
How to set an engagement ring budget
We totally understand that you’re love and are willing to spend whatever it takes to make your future spouse happy. However, you don’t want an engagement ring to put you behind on other bills (or set you back on saving for your dream wedding).
To avoid this, you should create a budget for your household based on your individual income, responsibilities (rent, mortgage, utilities, student loan payments, etc.) and savings. Whatever you have left over after all of that is what you can set aside weekly, biweekly or monthly for an engagement ring. For example, let’s say you have $500 per month after all of your bills are paid.
Once you have that magic number, set a timeline for how long you’d like to save for a ring — two months, three months, six months and so on, keeping in mind that the longer you save, the more ring you can likely afford. With our example, you’ll have $1,000 to spend if you want to propose in two months, or $3,000 if you want to propose in six.

Maximizing your engagement ring budget
You have an engagement ring budget set. What’s next? It’s time to shop.
Jewelry stores typically fall into two categories: Online and traditional bricks-and-mortar stores. Traditional jewelry stores typically limit you on how many rings you can pick from because they can only afford to keep so many in inventory. You’ll probably pay more if you shop in a regular store, too.
Shopping at an online jewelry store (like With Clarity) is different. You have access to many more diamond sizes and styles, thanks to relationships with wholesalers around the world. You can also maximize your engagement ring budget because an online jeweler doesn’t have the same overhead as a physical store.
Once you’ve decided where to shop, it’s time to evaluate rings. First thing’s first: You want to pick out a ring that fits with her personal style within your budget. Is she someone who loves big center stones, or does she like delicate and elegant pieces? Carat size — one of the 4 Cs of diamonds — will have the biggest impact on ring cost, so you can expect to pay considerably more if she has her heart set on a large piece of bling.
Luckily, there are also ways to create the illusion of a larger diamond without a larger diamond price. Halo diamond settings create the appearance of a larger stone, thanks to smaller accent diamonds that surround the center stone, making it appear bigger.
For example, compare the Sleek Cathedral Solitaire Engagement Ring and the Princess Three Row Halo Diamond Engagement Ring. Both rings can have the same carat size for the center stone, but the Princess Three Row Halo Diamond Engagement Ring will always appear bigger, thanks to the added stones that surround the center diamond.
Browse Engagement RingsYou don't have to spend your entire engagement ring budget
Having a set amount that you can spend on an engagement ring is ideal, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend every last penny on a ring. At With Clarity, you can find a number of rings that are priced under $5,000 — some settings are as low as $200.
With Clarity also has expert gemologists on staff who can help you maximize your engagement ring budget by suggesting certain diamond characteristics or settings to get the most ring for the best price. Then you’re free to take the money you save and put it toward your dream wedding — or maybe that tropical honeymoon you want.