A pear-shaped diamond engagement ring with a pavé band in yellow gold on green velvet

Education 6 min read Updated

How Much Does an Engagement Ring Cost in 2026?

By Yareli, Founder and Designer

Real Prices From Our Rings

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What an engagement ring costs depends on the center diamond, its size and whether it is lab-grown or natural, and on the setting: its design and metal. Here are the real price ranges of our 66 engagement rings in October 2026, with the setting and the center diamond priced separately, and how to set a budget you are comfortable with.

The experts you can trust: Mine & Grown guides are written with jewelry experts and reviewed for accuracy. Questions about a specific piece? Our team is happy to help.

Celestia oval engagement ring worn on the hand

What Goes Into the Price

An engagement ring's price is the center diamond plus the setting: the design, the metal and any small diamonds on the band. The biggest choice is the center diamond: its carat weight, and whether it is lab-grown or natural. With a natural diamond, the diamond is usually most of the price; with a lab-grown one, the setting usually is.

The setting's price follows how much metal the design uses. Our settings use about 2 to 11 grams of 14k gold, 2.5 to 13 grams of 18k gold or 3.5 to 16.5 grams of platinum, from Lyra, our lightest design, to Sierra, our heaviest. That is why two rings with the same 1 carat lab-grown diamond in 14k yellow gold cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500.

Every Mine & Grown engagement ring is made to order in our Chicago studio in about 4 to 6 weeks, with an IGI or GIA grading report for the center diamond. On each ring the price updates as you choose the metal, the diamond and the carat weight, so the ranges below are rounded to round numbers, wide enough to hold every one of our own prices across all 66 rings in October 2026. A few natural diamonds of 3.5 and 4.5 carats are priced on request. A ring's price is its setting plus its center diamond, and the tables show the whole ring, then each part.

Engagement Ring Price Ranges by Carat, October 2026

Center diamondLab-grown centerNatural center
1 carat$1,000–$3,500$3,500–$8,000
1.5 carat$1,000–$3,500$8,500–$20,000
2 carat$1,250–$4,000$15,000–$35,000
2.5 carat$1,500–$4,000$25,000–$50,000
3 carat$1,500–$4,750$40,000–$85,000
3.5 carat$1,750–$4,750$55,000–$110,000
4 carat$1,750–$5,500$65,000–$150,000
4.5 carat$2,000–$5,500$100,000–$180,000

Setting Prices by Metal, October 2026

MetalMetal in the settingSetting priceOn the same ring
14k yellow or white gold2–11 grams$800–$2,250Starting point
14k rose gold2.5–11 grams$850–$2,250+$10–$50
Platinum3.5–16.5 grams$900–$2,500+$80–$400
18k yellow or rose gold2.5–13 grams$1,000–$3,250+$200–$1,000

Center Diamond Prices by Carat and Grade, October 2026

Center diamondGradeLab-grownNatural
1 caratGood$200–$300$2,750–$4,500
1 caratExcellent$200–$300$3,000–$6,000
1.5 caratGood$300–$400$7,500–$15,000
1.5 caratExcellent$300–$550$8,000–$17,500
2 caratGood$450–$950$12,500–$27,500
2 caratExcellent$500–$950$17,500–$32,500
2.5 caratGood$500–$950$22,500–$35,000
2.5 caratExcellent$600–$950$27,500–$47,500
3 caratGood$700–$1,250$40,000–$60,000
3 caratExcellent$900–$2,000$50,000–$80,000
3.5 caratGood$900–$1,500$50,000–$70,000
3.5 caratExcellent$1,000–$2,000$65,000–$110,000
4 caratGood$950–$1,500$65,000–$110,000
4 caratExcellent$1,250–$4,000$90,000–$140,000
4.5 caratGood$1,000–$2,500$100,000–$130,000
4.5 caratExcellent$1,250–$4,000$110,000–$180,000
Estelle oval engagement ring in yellow gold on green velvet

Lab-Grown vs Natural: The Biggest Difference

The gap between lab-grown and natural widens quickly with size. In our rings a 1 carat lab-grown ring costs $1,000 to $3,500 and a natural one $3,500 to $8,000; at 2 carats it is $1,250 to $4,000 against $15,000 to $35,000, and at 3 carats $1,500 to $4,750 against $40,000 to $85,000. Almost all of the gap is the center diamond: at 1 carat ours are $200 to $300 lab-grown and $2,750 to $6,000 natural. On the same ring, going from 1 to 2 carats adds $200 to $700 with a lab-grown diamond and $10,000 to $27,500 with a natural one.

Both are real diamonds, and both come with a grading report that states the origin. Read Natural vs Lab-Grown Diamonds for how they compare beyond price.

Frida oval engagement ring in yellow gold on green velvet

Metal: 14k Gold, 18k Gold or Platinum

With a 1 carat lab-grown center, our rings cost $1,000 to $2,500 in 14k gold, $1,000 to $2,750 in platinum and $1,250 to $3,500 in 18k gold. On the same ring, platinum adds $80 to $400 over 14k yellow gold and 18k gold adds $200 to $1,000, so platinum always costs more than 14k gold and less than 18k gold, even though a platinum setting uses the most metal. 14k white gold costs about the same as yellow, and 14k rose gold adds $10 to $50. We make our rings in 14k yellow, white or rose gold, 18k yellow or rose gold, and platinum.

Our guide 14K vs 18K vs Platinum compares how each metal looks and wears.

Seraphina oval engagement ring worn on the hand

Diamond Grade: Good or Excellent

Each of our rings comes with a choice of a Good or an Excellent center diamond. Excellent means D, E or F color and VVS1 or VVS2 clarity; Good means E, F or G color and VS1 or VS2 clarity. Our guide The 4 C’s of Buying Diamonds explains color and clarity.

For lab-grown diamonds the step up is small: on the same ring, Excellent adds up to $30 at 1 carat, up to $250 at 2 carats and $90 to $900 at 3 carats. For natural diamonds the step is larger: up to $1,750 at 1 carat, $2,500 to $9,000 at 2 carats and $7,000 to $25,000 at 3 carats.

Eclipse oval engagement ring in yellow gold on green velvet

The Months-of-Salary Rule

The idea that a ring should cost a set number of months' salary began as diamond advertising, not as financial advice. There is no right amount. The right budget is the one you are comfortable with, and with lab-grown diamonds it buys far more than it used to.

Our guide Engagement Ring Budgeting 101 walks through how to decide.

Luna marquise solitaire engagement ring in yellow gold on green velvet

How to Set Your Budget

  1. Decide the total you are comfortable with, including the wedding band if you are buying both.
  2. Choose lab-grown or natural first. It changes the budget more than any other choice.
  3. Pick the carat weight that fits, then the metal.
  4. Consider paying over time. We offer Shop Pay and Affirm at checkout; see Financing.
  5. Ask us. Yareli, our founder and designer, can plan a ring around your budget by video or phone.
Isadora round engagement ring worn on the hand

How to Get More for Your Budget

  • Choose lab-grown for the most diamond for the money.
  • Go just under a popular weight. In our diamond search, stones just under 2 carats cost noticeably less than those at 2.00 and look almost the same; see Lab Grown Diamond Prices.
  • Consider an elongated shape. Ovals, pears and marquises look larger face-up than a round of the same weight.
  • Choose 14k gold, which is durable and costs less than 18k.

Engagement Ring Cost FAQ

Find a topic

How much is a 1 carat engagement ring?

Our rings with a 1 carat lab-grown center cost $1,000 to $3,500, and with a 1 carat natural center $3,500 to $8,000, depending on the design, the metal and the diamond grade.

How much is a 2 carat engagement ring?

Our rings with a 2 carat lab-grown center cost $1,250 to $4,000, and with a 2 carat natural center $15,000 to $35,000, depending on the design, the metal and the diamond grade.

How much of an engagement ring’s price is the diamond?

It depends on the origin. In our 1 carat rings the lab-grown center diamond is $200 to $300 of the price, and the setting, $800 to $3,250 depending on the design and metal, is the rest. A 1 carat natural center diamond is $2,750 to $6,000.

How much should I spend on an engagement ring?

There is no rule. Spend what you are comfortable with; the months-of-salary idea came from diamond advertising.

Is platinum more expensive than gold?

On our rings, platinum costs more than 14k gold and less than 18k gold. On the same ring, platinum adds $80 to $400 over 14k yellow gold, and 18k gold adds $200 to $1,000.

Does the weight of gold change the price of a ring?

Yes. A setting’s price follows how much metal the design uses: ours use about 2 to 11 grams of 14k gold and cost $800 to $2,250 in 14k gold, before the center diamond. The same designs use more metal in 18k gold and in platinum.

Does ring size change the price?

No. On our engagement rings, every ring size costs the same.

Can I pay for an engagement ring over time?

Yes. We offer Shop Pay and Affirm at checkout; see our Financing page for details.

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