Engagement Rings Under $15,000: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Are you looking for an engagement ring for $15,000 or less? This price point will give you lots of options when it comes to diamond size and quality. Keep reading to learn more on how to maximize your engagement ring budget of under $15,000.

What does a $15,000 engagement ring look like?

​The appearance of a $15,000 engagement ring can vary greatly. For example, you could spend $15,000 on a 1-carat diamond engagement ring or get a 5-carat lab-grown diamond engagement ring for $15,000. The look of a $15,000 engagement ring will vary depending on factors like diamond quality, diamond origin, the type of metal used to craft the setting, and more. Regardless, with this above-average budget, you’ll definitely be able to get an above-average diamond. You’ll be able to get a high-quality diamond and a more ornate setting (if that’s what you desire!).  

Tips to Buy an Engagement Ring for $15,000 or Less  

Consider Lab-Grown Diamonds 

​To maximize your budget, consider purchasing a lab-grown diamond instead of a mined diamond. Lab-created diamonds are completely identical physically, optically, and chemically to mined diamonds, and will test as a real diamond when a diamond tester is used. We recommend lab-grown diamonds because you can get a much larger stone at a lower price point. Below is a comparison between two diamonds below $15,000: a lab-grown and an earth-grown diamond that has the same 4 Cs (Ideal cut, I color, VS1 clarity, 1.50 carats).  

As you can see, you can save immensely by choosing a lab-grown diamond instead. Lab-grown diamonds can allow you to get an even larger, higher-quality diamond for your budget.  

Browse Our Lab-Grown Diamond Inventory 

Understand the 4 Cs  

The 4 Cs are crucial to learn in order to choose the right diamond. The 4 Cs are the standardized way of determining the quality and value of a diamond. Here are our tips on what color, clarity, cut, and carat weight you should choose. 

Color 

Color is the measure of how much (or how little) color a diamond reflects. Most diamonds naturally have a faint yellow tint; however, this yellowness is usually not visible to the naked eye. The diamond color scale goes from D to Z, but at Ritani, we only sell diamonds from D to L.  

Did you know that purchasing a colorless diamond isn’t necessary? While you can certainly afford one with a $15,000 budget, colorless diamonds are rarer and therefore come at higher price points. By choosing a near-colorless stone instead, you can purchase a larger diamond, or put more of that money towards a nicer setting. Near-colorless diamonds will still face up as white. 

If you want to be completely certain your near-colorless diamond looks white, choose a minimum color of H.  

Clarity 

A diamond’s clarity grade will tell us how many (or how few) inclusions a stone has. Inclusions are imperfections inside of the diamond that form naturally while the diamond is being formed. Too many inclusions can impact the beauty of the stone.  

To get a beautiful diamond for less, choose a minimum clarity grade of VS2 or better. Diamonds with this clarity grade will still be eye-clean, meaning you won’t be able to see imperfections with the naked eye. Diamonds with a Flawless or Internally Flawless clarity grade are incredibly rare, and therefore are very expensive. By choosing a Very Very Sightly Included or Very Slightly Included stone, you can save money and put this extra money towards a larger diamond or a more expensive setting.  

Cut 

Cut is arguably the most important of the 4 Cs. This determines how well the diamond was cut. A poorly cut diamond won’t sparkle as much. A diamond that is cut poorly can also look smaller!  

To get a beautiful, sparkling diamond, choose an Ideal cut for round-cut diamonds. Fancy shapes don’t receive cut grades from grading agencies, so most jewelers assign a cut grade to these stones. At Ritani, a Very Good cut grade is the best grade a fancy shape can receive, so choose this cut grade if you are interested in an oval, cushion, radiant, or other fancy-shaped stone. Make sure to also choose a diamond with excellent polish and symmetry grades. 

Carat

Carat is a diamond’s weight. It doesn’t directly correlate with visual size as different diamond shapes can appear larger than other stones of the same carat weight. As mentioned earlier, cut quality can also impact a diamond’s visual size.  

With a $15,000 budget, you typically can get a high-quality earth-grown diamond in the 1.5 to 2 carat range, but again, this will vary depending on the other 3 Cs. In some cases, you could get a 2.5-carat or 3-carat natural diamond, but at this size you would have to make major sacrifices on cut, color, and clarity. We don’t recommend buying a larger diamond if it means sacrificing on cut or the overall beauty of the stone. 

With lab-grown diamonds, you’ll be able to afford a much larger stone. With a $15,000 budget, you can get up to a 4 or 5-carat lab diamond. Just note that the size will vary depending on the shape and quality of the stone.  

The Best Diamond Shapes for Your $15,000 Budget  

For a diamond that appears larger, choose one of these diamond shapes:  

• Oval
  
• Emerald
• Pear
• Marquise
• Radiant

​These diamond shapes are also more affordable than the round-cut, which is the most popular shape. ​

The Best Places to Buy an Engagement Ring for $15,000 or Less 

To get the most out of your $15,000 budget, shop for your engagement ring online. It’s estimated that you can save up to 40% by shopping for a diamond ring online! Online jewelers have less overhead and can keep less inventory on hand, allowing for lower prices. 

Shopping online will also give you more options. Our inventory contains over 100,000 natural and lab-grown diamonds to choose from!  

Browse Ritani's Diamond Inventory Today 

Preview Your Ring for Free 

We get it – shopping online for an engagement ring can feel intimidating. We want you to feel 100% comfortable with your purchase. At Ritani, we offer Free In-Store Preview, which allows you to view your ring for free at a jeweler, WeWork, or Regus location near you. With Free In-Store Preview, we show you the exact diamond you want set in your desired setting. There's no obligation to make a purchase – you can simply walk away if you don’t love the ring. If you do love the ring, you can take it home with you that same day. 

Learn More About Free In-Store Preview  

Get Inspired: Engagement Rings for $15,000 or Less  

Take a look at these stunning engagement rings to narrow down your dream ring. 

Masterwork Halo Diamond Band Engagement Ring

Halo engagement rings feature tiny diamonds surrounding your center stone. This provides extra sparkle to your ring and creates the illusion of a larger diamond. The Masterwork Halo Diamond Band Engagement Ring (starting at $3,896 in 14kt white gold) screams luxury with larger diamonds lining the center stone and the band, creating a dazzling look. This setting features a 0.75 minimum CTW.  

Shop All Halo Engagement Rings 

6-Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring

Solitaire engagement rings feature a single diamond and are perfect for someone who wants a ring that is simple yet timeless. In this setting, six prongs secure the diamond and raise it high off the band, making it stand out. The polished, rounded band provides a comfortable fit. This popular setting starts at $462 in 18kt yellow gold.  

Shop All Solitaire Engagement Rings 

Tapered Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring

This glamorous three-stone ring features two elegant baguette diamonds on each side of your center stone. Three-stone rings are a romantic choice and are said to represent your past, present, and future. This setting starts at $4,473 in platinum. 

Shop All Three-Stone Rings 

Timeless French-Set Diamond Band Engagement Ring

Sidestone engagement rings feature tiny diamonds lining the band for a sophisticated look. The sidestone engagement ring shown above (starting at $1,450 in 18kt rose gold) will draw the eyes in towards your center diamond.  

Shop All Sidestone Engagement Rings 

Masterwork Cushion Halo Vaulted Milgrain Diamond Engagement Ring with Surprise Diamonds

Vintage-inspired rings incorporate unique, stunning artistry. The vintage-inspired ring shown above features delicate metal beads surrounding its borders and graceful pavé diamonds on all three sides of the ring for a standout jewelry piece. This setting starts at $4,179 in 14kt white gold. 

Shop All Vintage-Inspired Rings 

​Custom Engagement Rings  ​

Create a truly unique representation of your love by designing a custom engagement ring. At Ritani, creating a custom ring is easy, and there are no extra or hidden fees to create your dream ring. Tell us what you are looking for and one of our CAD designers will provide a rendering of your custom ring. Once the design is nailed down, we will craft your custom ring.  

Create a Custom Engagement Ring 

Final Thoughts 

Where you buy your engagement ring truly matters. At Ritani, we offer:  

• Free engraving
  
• A lifetime manufacturing warranty on your ring  
• Free In-Store Preview 
• The best diamond prices online 
• Transparent diamond pricing
• ​Free returns and exchanges
• Custom design services
• ​1:1 appointments with non-commissioned gemolgoists

Learn more about the services we provide here. 

Be sure to check out our Ring Recommender below. Our Ring Recommender allows you to enter your budget, diamond preferences, and setting preferences. With this information, we will choose a diamond and setting to create the perfect ring for you!