The Best Engagement Rings

Tuesday, March 28th

2023 Engagement Ring Reviews

James Allen

• Every engagement ring is customized by you
• Over 20 years in business
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• Excellent reputation for customer service and jewelry quality
• Free worldwide shipping, no order minimum
• Free returns for up to two months
• Lifetime warranty with complimentary maintenance and repairs

James Allen got its start in 2006 and is part of the Signet Jewelers brand family (along with three other stores in our evaluation). This jewelry store offers an engagement ring buying experience that is like no other - because literally everyone is customized by the buyer!

320,000+ hand-selected diamonds await you

It's obvious that James Allen focuses on diamonds, and that's a huge plus for you. Why? Your love will know that the diamond in her ring was hand-selected by the jeweler and personally chosen by you! They're all viewable in highly-magnified 360° HD right on the James Allen website. You can start designing your ring by finding the perfect diamond and then choosing a setting to match, or vice-versa. If you need just a little bit more direction, consider using one of the brands in James Allen's Designer Collection, like the eco-friendly designs of Danhov or the classic elegance of Jeff Cooper.

What will it cost?

As you'd expect, the price tag on your engagement ring completely depends on what you design. There are over 600 settings for those 320,000+ diamonds, so you do the math on how many possible combinations that might be! To give you a ballpark, though, settings start at $180 and go all the way up to $7,400. And the diamonds? What's available can vary from one day to the next, but during our visit we found stones for as low as $240 and as much as...well...over $2 million. (*gulp*) But hey, at least some of the most expensive diamonds come with a free setting!

Free shipping worldwide

All orders here come with free worldwide shipping and resizing for a year, too. You can also schedule a real-time diamond inspection, where a licensed gemologist will walk you through all of the facets (pun intended) of the diamond you're considering. When you're ready to commit to your purchase, James Allen has several options for financing, including PayPal, Splitit, and their own special revolving line of credit.

Easy returns

During our most recent visit, James Allen offered a return timeframe of up to two months for a full refund exchange. That might be a limited-time offer or it could be their permanent policy. No matter what time of year it is, your returns won't cost anything to send in, because this retailer provides prepaid FedEx labels to ship the engagement ring back.

Lifetime warranty is excellent

James Allen promises to "repair and maintain your jewelry for a lifetime" . Your engagement ring will receive, at no charge, prong tightening, rhodium plating, repolishing and other cleaning services. You can send your ring to James Allen's offices or bring it in person to a Jared service center (despite being a rival brand, Jared is in the Signet family, hence the relationship). You can also get a quote on a Jewelers Mutual insurance policy to purchase extra coverage in the event of theft, damage, loss or other non-covered issues with your ring.

Sets the bar high for attention to customer satisfaction

If you only looked into the other jewelers in the Signet family, you might be worried about James Allen, since two of them have really negative customer feedback and wound up low in our rankings. This jewelry store is practically the polar opposite. How about an "A+" and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, plus almost 3,000 five-star reviews from shoppers? It's rare to find a retailer whose products are frequently described as "better than advertised" , but customers here are almost shocked by how fantastic their engagement rings turn out. And that's not all! James Allen employs customer support reps who offer thoughtful expertise and go the extra mile to help if a problem arises.

Your fairytale proposal starts here

No matter how hard we looked, we couldn't find anything that disappointed us with James Allen. Who wouldn't want to get a gorgeous piece of jewelry that was designed from start to finish by someone they love? Whether you're the hopeful giver or the fortunate receiver, you'll be thrilled by your experience with this jeweler. What are you waiting for? Go build your dream engagement ring at James Allen today!

Blue Nile

• Over 700 engagement rings to choose from
• In business for over 20 years
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• Free shipping on all orders in the US, including complimentary overnight on orders over $1,000
• 30-day returns, no charge for return shipping
• Lifetime manufacturer warranty
• Complimentary cleaning and inspection on diamond rings

Blue Nile stands out as one of the original jewelry stores with no retail store presence, just an online storefront. Since 1999, more than two million people have shopped here! Because Blue Nile has much less overhead than a traditional jewelry store, they can pass along major savings to you - while still offering gorgeous engagement rings in a wide range of styles.

Respectable selection

While you won't find engagement rings here that are quite as extravagant as their non-bridal styles (check out the Extraordinary Collection Pear Shaped Ruby and Diamond Ring in White Gold if you want to see what we mean), you've still got styles ranging from a simple solitaire for $250 up to a Gallery Collection Emerald-Cut Three-Stone Halo in Platinum for just under $15,000. There are about 750 engagement rings to choose from with Blue Nile, unless you go the custom route and design your own.

Take advantage of alllllll the details

There's zero chance that Blue Nile will miss an important detail on the engagement ring you want. They've got some of the most thorough product descriptions we've ever seen! These details tell you exactly when you can expect your jewelry to arrive, give you every possible customization (like side stone shape or metal), and multiple views of how the ring looks by itself and on someone's hand. The only part that was tricky to find was financing, and all we could tell is that shoppers can get a Blue Nile Credit Card. This store doesn't seem to offer much beyond that.

Free shipping and 30-day returns

Blue Nile has one of the most generous shipping policies: not only is it free on all orders in the US, but if your order is over $1,000 you'll get complimentary overnight delivery. Of course, that only applies for items that are ready-to-ship; many of the higher-end rings here have longer production and shipment timeframes that won't get it to you that fast. You've also got 30 days to return your jewelry for a refund, and Blue Nile will pay for your mailing costs back to them.

Great coverage post-sale

Blue Nile hopes you'll be happy with your engagement ring for a lifetime, and yours will come with forever coverage of any manufacturing defects. They'll also clean and inspect your ring at no charge: you're on the hook for the shipping there, and they've got you covered for the return delivery. While Blue Nile doesn't offer its own extended warranty protection for damage or normal wear and tear, they've partnered with Jewelers Mutual and can help you connect with them to get a quote on a policy if you wish.

So close to first place

Blue Nile almost took the prize among retailers of engagement rings, and the Better Business Bureau gives them a vote of confidence with an "A+" rating and accreditation. However, we weren't 100% thrilled with the customer comments we saw recently: they're still mostly positive, but there were just enough complaints about jewelry quality and customer service to keep Blue Nile from getting our highest rating.

Highly recommended for engagement rings

You've got many reasons to choose Blue Nile for your engagement ring, from selection to shipping and then some. And, if you love the idea of an online-only jewelry store - especially if you don't have brick-and-mortar options nearby - this is definitely the way to go. It would only take a slight increase in customer satisfaction to move Blue Nile into a tie for our highest-recommended retailer of engagement rings.

Reeds Jewelers

• More than 750 engagement rings to choose from
• Over 75 years in business
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• Free shipping in the continental US
• 30-day return policy

When shopping for an important piece of jewelry - like an engagement ring! - it can be reassuring to work with a family-owned company that has plenty of expertise. That's REEDS in a nutshell. Since 1946, this jeweler has provided a stellar experience to loyal customers throughout more than a dozen states on the East Coast and in the South. Fortunately, anyone can access their selection and service through REEDS online jewelry store as well.

Very easy to shop

Starting from REEDS' main engagement ring page, use the filters on the left side to get a results list matching what you've got in your mind: stone shape? Carat range? Metal type? You can use all of those and then some. Even better: for many rings sold here, you can use your mobile device or an uploaded photo of the intended ring-wearer's hand to see how they would look. Just find a style that has the "try on" icon. And, if you're using the tool to find something you'd love to see at the end of a "will you marry me" from your significant other, there's another feature that can help: "drop a hint" lets you send all of your favorite engagement rings right to their inbox (...or social media, if you're that open about it!).

You'll $pend $ome ca$h at REED$

You're not going to find anything "cheap" here - either in price or construction. The most affordable engagement ring is a simple gold setting with a round black diamond, set in several different color choices, for $599.99. (Definitely no cubic zirconia at REEDS!) If you prefer a traditional white diamond, those start at $699.99. On the opposite end of the scale, you'll see about a dozen rings for $10,000 to $20,000, usually in the collections of Forevermark, REEDS Econic, or Kleinfeld.

Financing available

If financing is important to you, look for those options on the description page for the ring you hope to buy. Most engagement rings can be financed through Affirm, and some come with a "special financing" designation that means you can purchase it by opening a REEDS Jewelers credit card. As an added plus, all orders within the lower 48 states ship for free.

Protection plans are affordable

We're not over-the-moon with REEDS return policy: just the usual 30 days, no more and no less. We recommend you look into their Care Plans, which are typically priced around 10% or less of the engagement ring's purchase price for lifetime coverage, and about 5% for a three-year plan. With this protection, you're covered in the event of any cracks, chips or scratches to the diamonds, regular wear and tear, loss of any gemstones, and so on. It also gives you unlimited ring resizing. These plans are displayed in a dropdown box on each ring's page.

Unparalleled reputation for customer satisfaction

Even though REEDS doesn't have as much in their engagement ring inventory as some jewelers' or any over-the-top perks, their track record for attention to the client is unmatched. As expected, the Better Business Bureau gives the retailer accreditation and an "A+" rating, and no more than a dozen complaints were filed with the BBB in the three years preceding this review. What surprised us - in the best possible way - were the nearly 8,000 five-star ratings from customers. Time and again, shoppers say that REEDS' jewelry is a fantastic value for the money, the delivery is impressively fast and almost never late, and that the customer service team consistently goes above and beyond to keep people happy.

Best of both worlds

Buying your engagement ring from REEDS is a smart choice: you get the selection of a big jewelry retailer with the attention of a hometown store. Unless you're looking to purchase a ring that's extremely low- or high-end, you've got every reason to expect that REEDS will have what you're hoping for.

Zales

• Over 8,000 engagement rings to choose from
• In business for almost 100 years
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• 30-day return policy, 60-day exchange policy; extended during the holidays
• Free shipping for a limited time

When Zales first opened in Wichita Falls, Texas, back in 1924, you could get a lot of shopping done in one trip - buy a wedding ring and a stove while you're at it! Now Zales is known for just jewelry, especially diamonds, and can be found in more than 700 brick-and-mortar locations throughout North America and Puerto Rico. Zales is one of four jewelry stores in our review that are owned by Signet Jewelers.

So much to choose from, whatever your budget

Zales has an impressive range of engagement rings. Looking at prices alone, you've got hundreds, if not thousands, of options in each bracket - whether that's under $250, $1,000 to $1,999, or even over $5,000. It's a good representation of this jeweler's commitment to having the right ring for every customer. You'll have no problem using the filters to narrow down the selection by metal type or color, available discounts or sales, ring style, or customer rating, among other criteria. The only limitation is financing: all we could find here is Zales' credit card, with no options for loans through Affirm or any of the other services often offered by rival jewelers.

Need a little more?

We're also a big fan of all of the "extras" Zales brings to the ring-shopping experience. What if you're not sure about your beloved's jewelry style? Take a quiz on the Zales site to find out! Want to create a one-of-a-kind engagement ring that's suitable for passing down as a family heirloom? Just go to the Create Your Own section of the online store to get started.

Just the facts, ma'am

Everything you could possibly need to know about an engagement ring is found on the individual page for each item. Most rings come in a huge range of sizes, and every ring we looked at included an option to special order a size if needed. Zales is a popular retailer, and their most frequently-purchased engagement rings often have customer reviews you can consider as you decide which ones you like most. You'll also see at a glance when your order is likely to be delivered: many rings were available for delivery within a week, but some of the highest-priced ones had an expected delivery date of almost a month, and even that was with expedited shipping.

Free shipping - sometimes

Speaking of shipping, Zales typically doesn't offer free delivery unless you have your ring shipped to a store near you for in-person pick-up. That's a little less friendly than most of the jewelers we rated, who often give shoppers free delivery with a minimum order amount that encompasses all engagement rings. However, at the time of this evaluation, Zales had a "limited time offer" of free shipping on all orders - with the exception of PO boxes, which always incur a delivery fee.

Solid return/exchange policy

If you want to return your engagement ring (...so sorry....) you'll have 30 days to send it back or take it to a Zales nearby. On the other hand, if she just wants something a little different (...whew!...), you'll have 60 days to make an exchange. Knowing that the holidays can be hectic, Zales helps out by extending their return policy on purchases made between October 15th and December 24th, giving you until January 24th to return the jewelry for a refund.

Read the details on extended care plans

If you're a long-term Zales customer who always gets the extra warranty plan, you'll want to read up on their coverage: it was updated in late 2021 and might be a little different from what you've had previously. All diamonds of $200+ come with free lifetime coverage, but an in-store inspection is required every six months to keep the warranty valid. That only covers the stone itself; you'll need to add Zales' paid protection coverage to get fixes on broken prongs or have your ring resized, and those options are found on each ring's description page.

Oops!

During our latest shopping trip to the Zales' website, we were a little mystified why we spotted a promo... for a holiday that was almost six months away! But, glitches like that happen and we were happy to see that Zales' customer reps were immediately available by live chat to respond to our question. (They didn't have an answer either, but they were grateful for the heads-up!)

Big businesses often get big complaints

We aren't surprised to see that Zales gets its fair share of complaints: when you've got a company with hundreds of retail locations, it's common to see customers take issue with a particular employee or store, and that doesn't necessarily reflect on the business as a whole. The Better Business Bureau agrees: despite nearly 250 complaints registered against Zales in the 12 months prior to this review, the BBB still gives the jeweler a perfect "A+" grade and accreditation. Most customers have an excellent shopping experience at Zales, and you probably will too.

Zales makes the grade

As one of our top four engagement ring stores, Zales is absolutely worth a look. With thousands and thousands of rings to choose from, you're sure to see something she'll treasure. This jewelry store has a good reputation for quality and customer service, earning Zales a positive recommendation from us.

JTV

• Over 800 engagement rings to choose from
• In business for almost 30 years
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• 30-day return policy, extended at the holidays
• 90% of packages delivered within two days
• 14-day price matching

Yes, JTV stands for "Jewelry Television" , a home shopping TV program that got its start in 1993 and is still going strong. (Don't believe it? Just click on the "live" button and watch in real time for yourself!) It might not be the first retailer that comes to mind when you think of where to buy an engagement ring, but especially for budget-minded shoppers it's a fantastic option.

Decent inventory of affordable, high-quality engagement rings

You'll see just over 800 engagement rings on offer at JTV - though, as you'd expect from a home shopping-type site, inventory varies on a daily basis. During our most recent shopping visit there, we took a look at the high-end and low-end options and were pleasantly surprised. The most luxe engagement ring sold here was the White Lab-Grown 14K White Gold 3-Stone style with a total carat weight of 2.10 and priced at $6,321.59 (which seems like an odd amount, until you factor in the discount bringing it down from a retail price of $7,901.99).

Good number of inexpensive engagement rings

There were about two dozen rings in the $2,000+ range, with options in various gold colors, some with moissanite and/or sapphires, and several styled as eternity bands rather than a traditional solitaire or other engagement setting. Not surprisingly, you'll find far more choices on the lower end of the spectrum at JTV, starting with dozens of cubic zirconia rings. Let's face it: not everyone wants to wear something that costs thousands of dollars - or the financing that such expensive rings often require - so why shouldn't there be beautiful jewelry with plenty of sparkle for them too?

Financing available

But, there's nothing wrong with not having the cash to pay for such an important purchase all at once. JTV partners with PayPal to offer plans with 2-4 interest-free payments on qualifying orders. Look for those details on the product page of the ring you're considering. That's also where we noticed that some of the higher-end engagement rings can be appraised for an extra fee.

Jewel Safe is a good idea

Like most jewelry stores, JTV offers a protection plan to cover your engagement ring in the event of any damage due to normal wear and tear. Not every ring is eligible, and the warranty only lasts for two years. On the positive side, it's fully transferable: as they put it, the plan follows the ring and not the purchaser. If Jewel Safe is available for the ring you're buying, you'll see the option right under the sizing choices; pricing is usually under 10% of your purchase price.

Shipping is free...most of the time

When you read JTV's shipping policies, they go into a lot of detail about how your delivery fees will depend on what you buy: the package weight, the jewelry's value, and so on. Fortunately, every time we've visited the JTV site, all of the engagement rings were designated as "free shipping" . You'll also want to pay attention to all of the details on the ring's page: while the beginning of the listing may say that it will be delivered in a few days, the more in-depth description may let you know that it will take longer for various reasons.

Solid return policy

JTV maintains the industry average with a 30-day return policy on all engagement rings in "as shipped" condition: not worn, all tags attached, etc. But, this store goes above and beyond by extending the return period during the holidays (returns on rings purchased between the end of September and Christmas can be exchanged or returned through the end of January), and by allowing returns for up to 90 days with a 25% restocking fee.

Getting better and better

JTV keeps making strides towards being a name to know for jewelry, including engagement rings. They've maintained their "A+" rating and accreditation with the BBB, and the five-star reviews from loyal customers show no signs of stopping. Just read a few of them and you'll see that JTV has numerous repeat shoppers who can't say enough about the quality of the jewelry sold here - for nearly three decades! It also makes us happy to see how professionally and pleasantly JTV's representatives responded when any issues occurred. (That's actually where we saw it mentioned that JTV has a 14-day price-matching policy; it's not explained in detail anywhere we could find on the site, but keep it in mind if you order an engagement ring that drops in price shortly after purchase.)

Best choice for beauty on a budget

Frankly speaking, your lucky lady probably isn't going to be bragging that you got her engagement ring at JTV. Who cares, as long as it looks amazing and stays that way? JTV is one of our favorite stores for engagement rings that won't require monthly payments for years on end, and for fantastic customer service. Give them a try!

Ross-Simons

• Just over 350 engagement rings to choose from, priced from $49 to $35,000
• Almost 70 years in business
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• 30-day return policy, extended during the holidays
• Free standard shipping on all orders

Starting out in Rhode Island and now conducting business primarily through catalog sales and online store, Ross-Simons has been a family-owned company since 1952.

Beautiful rings for every budget

You'll find a selection of around 350 engagement rings here, ranging from cubic zirconia for under $50 to several "oh my" options in the Majestic Collection for $30,000+. That's a pretty wide spread: what Ross-Simons is missing in quantity - many of their competitors have thousands of rings, not just hundreds - they make up for in variety. After all, not everyone cares whether it's a real diamond or an equally-sparkly (and much less scary to risk losing) CZ stone; at the same time, even someone looking for a truly exceptional engagement ring can find something here if cost is not a factor. For a higher-end piece, be sure to check out the accident protection plans; you'll find them on the individual ring's pages.

Call the concierge

One feature to consider is Ross-Simons concierge service. Maybe you've pored over the rings in their inventory and can't find exactly what you've envisioned as "the one" for your proposal. This service gets you in touch with their experts who will search high and low to find the ring of your dreams - anywhere in the world! And, if that search comes up empty, Ross-Simons' ring designers can make it for you.

Some ups, some downs with customer policies

This jewelry store has some of the fastest delivery times for engagement rings: not only will your item ship for free, but it will arrive within 5-7 business days. You can always upgrade (for a fee) if you need the ring in hand sooner than that. Ross-Simons' 30-day return window is fairly average, and we appreciate that they extend it during the holiday season - anything purchased after October 1st can be returned all the way up until January 31st of the following year. The downside to this retailer's return policy probably won't apply to engagement ring purchases, but it's a downer nonetheless: jewelry sent as a gift will only be eligible for store credit if the recipient returns it. In other words, if your intended doesn't accept your proposal, make sure you are the one sending it back!

Love it or hate it?

We're honestly a little puzzled by Ross-Simons' reputation. They've earned an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, and we found many compliments from loyal customers who would never dream of using any other jewelry store. In fact, almost all of the reviews solicited by Ross-Simons come back as extremely satisfied with all aspects of the shopping experience. That stands in huge contrast to the complaints we read that described rings that tarnished just outside of the 30-day return window or stones that fell out or cracked - all with no response or repair offered by Ross-Simons.

Good, but other stores are better

Although these concerns were enough to keep Ross-Simons out of the four-stars-and-up bracket in our reviews, this jeweler is still a solid option overall for buying an engagement ring. We'd love to see some modifications to their return policy and better attention to shoppers when a piece of jewelry doesn't live up to regular wear. You may want to keep Ross-Simons as a backup option if you aren't able to find a ring you like from one of our higher-rated retailers.

Helzberg Diamonds

• About 500 engagement rings to choose from - or create your own
• In business for more than 100 years
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• Free standard domestic shipping on orders over $99
• 30-day return policy

Want to get your engagement ring from the diamond experts? Helzberg Diamonds could compete for that title, having been in business since 1915 and with over 200 brick-and-mortar stores throughout the United States.

Small-ish selection, easy to navigate online store

We were a little surprised by the somewhat meager selection of just under 500 engagement rings on Helzberg's online store, priced from $400 to $23,000. But, your options go through the roof if you consider that this jeweler also offers a Create-Your-Own service where you can start with a specific diamond (or other gemstone!) or a setting that you like. Either way, you'll have no troubles finding engagement rings that catch your eye. Use the filters on the side to narrow down the possibilities by price, metal, stone shape or any other feature you have in mind. And, if you see a ring that's "close but not quite" , click on the "Shop similar styles" icon to see what Helzberg has that might better fit the bill.

Lots of financing choices

Speaking of bills, Helzberg Diamonds offers many more financing options than we've seen with most of their rivals. While you may only see the Helzberg credit card offered on individual engagement ring product pages, you can click on the link towards the bottom of the site to see all of the choices. These include a revolving line of credit through Genesis, lease-to-own through Progressive Leasing, up to 24 months of financing through Affirm, or even a four-payment, no-interest plan through PayPal. Your specific options may vary based on the amount of your purchase and your credit history.

Here's a hint

Looking at the pages for specific engagement rings, you'll find ample information about the jewelry itself, from dimensions to carats. Some of the pieces have customer reviews, but you're not going to find comments from hundreds of people on any particular ring. A couple of features we really like are Helzberg's "Drop a Hint" (you'll find that under the dropdown for choosing a ring size) and the estimated delivery box that lets you know how quickly your engagement ring could be delivered. Standard ground shipping is free on all orders over $99 (which includes everything in the engagement ring collection), expedited options are available for an extra fee, and you can always choose to have your jewelry shipped to a local Helzberg Diamonds location near you.

Are you opposed to pre-owned?

If you're looking for an engagement ring or bridal set at a significant discount, be sure to check out the Sale and Clearance section on the Helzberg online store. This is the only jeweler we reviewed that offered pre-owned pieces, and there were about two dozen rings on offer at the time of this evaluation. (And no one has to know that you weren't the first person to buy it...)

Could be more customer-centric with their shipping and returns

While at first glance Helzberg Diamonds doesn't have the most generous shipping policy, with a minimum spend of $99 to get free delivery, that really doesn't apply when buying an engagement ring (since they're all well over that amount). However, paired with the fact that this store used to have a 60-day return policy and they've downgraded it to just the standard 30 days, we're not sure we like how this is trending.

One-year warranty covers manufacturer defects

And yet, this jewelry store guarantees the workmanship and materials of your engagement ring for up to a year after you buy it. It's not going to cover accidental damage or wear and tear, but Helzberg will make it right if any problems result from manufacturer defects.

Customer feedback is a little sparse

Reputation is certainly no concern with Helzberg Diamonds. They've easily earned an "A+" and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, with almost no complaints filed there. Always a great sign! We'd like to see a little more feedback from shoppers though, given that most of the engagement rings on Helzberg's site have no ratings at all.

Good enough to trust

There's no reason not to buy an engagement ring from Helzberg Diamonds if you find something you like at the right price. Their online inventory is much bigger than what you'll find in their stores, and they've got a long, storied history spanning more than a century. Helzberg doesn't have as many rings to choose from as our higher-rated jewelry stores, and we don't love that they shortened their return period, but overall it's a trustworthy place to get a ring.

Super Jeweler

• Almost 3,300 engagement rings to choose from
• Conflict-free diamonds
• Custom orders available
• Unconditional lifetime guarantee on all jewelry
• Free shipping on all orders - worldwide
• 60-day return policy

For over 20 years, Super Jeweler has brought a unique array of jewelry options to online shoppers. The company has offices both in the US and worldwide, and the company president puts more than 25 years as a gemstone buyer to good use when sourcing conflict-free diamonds for Super Jeweler's selection of over 3,000 engagement rings.

Design could be better

Not gonna lie: the design of the Super Jeweler site is somewhat off-putting. The images and design give off an impression that's a little on the cheap side and not a high-end, reputable jeweler. We even had to disable our ad blocker on several occasions, just to see the current promotion.

Site is still easy to shop

And yet, we didn't have any trouble finding lots of engagement ring possibilities here. On the main page for the category, you can click on diamond shape or size if you've got something in mind, or maybe you want to see what Super Jeweler says are the most popular styles. (Budget-minded customers can also click on "Cheap Engagement Rings" ; we promise we won't tell.) Other filters you can use on the left side of the page include diamond color and clarity, diamond weight, metal, and a price slider. One useful filter we don't usually see elsewhere is "ship days" ; most engagement rings sold here ship out in 5 days or less, but over 50 would take at least 30 days to arrive. Keep that in mind if time is of the essence.

The blingiest bling

If you've got a budget of right around $60,000, Super Jeweler has a 3-carat emerald cut solitaire in your choice of 14k rose, yellow, or white gold - just don't forget the coupon code shown on the ring's listing, or you'll pay the full retail price of $80,000! SJ has financing that can bring your monthly payments to just $2,500/month if you'd rather not pay for it in a lump sum.

Affordable sparkle too

More realistically-speaking, Super Jeweler has more wallet-friendly engagement rings as well - including several designs for both rings and bridal sets that come in under $500. We were also happy to see many more size options here than we saw with some other jewelry stores. For example, on a 1/3 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring priced at $399.99, available sizes ranged from 4-10 (but no half-sizes).

Perks you may not see anywhere else

Are you buying an engagement ring that needs to be delivered overseas? (Interesting scenario, but it could happen!) Super Jeweler provides complimentary shipping anywhere in the world, no matter what you purchase. They also double the return period offered by most jewelers: you've got 60 days to request a refund, as long as the engagement ring is in new, unused condition with any labels or tags still in place. Finally, everything Super Jeweler sells has an unconditional lifetime warranty: no "care plans" or "extended protection" needed. When you're spending top dollar to buy an engagement ring, it's nice to get some things at no extra cost!

Less-than-perfect reputation

Unfortunately, Super Jeweler doesn't always live up to their promises. They've only earned a "B" rating from the Better Business Bureau, with three dozen complaints filed there in the year leading up to this evaluation - though all of them seemed to have been responded to promptly and appropriately by SJ representatives. (And, as an aside, we noticed that it still shows up as an "A+" on the Super Jeweler site; the rep we talked to on live chat referred us to a manager when we brought it up. All righty, then!) Customer comments are also a mixed bag: more than 100 gave this retailer the lowest possible rating, while nearly 500 assigned it 4 or 5 stars. You may love the engagement ring you get from Super Jeweler... or you may not.

Benefits may or may not outweigh complaints

You're going to want to love Super Jeweler. Who wouldn't be excited about free shipping, lifetime warranty protection, and a 60-day return policy? But, you shouldn't overlook shopper feedback when making your decision, especially when there are some stores whose customers are almost universally pleased with their ring-buying experience. Super Jeweler is not the best or the worst for engagement rings, so we'll leave it up to you.

Kay

• Just over 3,000 engagement rings to choose from
• In business for over a century
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• 30-day return policy, 60 days for exchanges; extended during the holidays
• Free shipping on orders of $50+ within the continental US

Kay Jewelers was founded in 1916 and emphasizes that there's a perfect piece of jewelry for every love story. With more than a thousand retail locations and an online storefront with over 3,000 engagement rings to choose from, it's easy to see why this is one of the first names that comes to mind. In recent years, this retailer and several others (including three additional stores in our review) were acquired by Signet Jewelers, but each brand retains its unique identity.

Good selection, easy to shop

There are just over 3,000 engagement rings in Kay's online inventory, and it's pretty smooth finding the ones that match what you have in mind. You can click on one of the styles listed in the bubbles at the top of the page, like vintage, three-stone or solitaire. The filters can also help you narrow down the ring options by price, stone type or shape, carat range, metal type or color, and so on. When you finally have a results list, you can organize it by customer rating, price, best match, or even new arrivals if you like being on the cutting edge of what's trending.

DIY for engagement rings

If nothing pre-made puts the sparkle in your eye, try Kay's Ring Customizer. You can play around with metals, mounting styles and stone shapes, and the tool will show you real-time renderings as you go. For more glamour, you can create a Neil Lane engagement ring, or take your sketch to a store location and get help from an expert jewelry designer.

What will it cost?

With respect to price, you'll find a few options under $250, but those are usually in the promise ring category and not full-fledged engagement rings. The bulk of Kay's rings fall between $1,000 to $2,500, but for customers who want something more high-end Kay sells nearly 100 rings over $10,000. Need financing? Look right below the ring's price to see your options: usually, you'll be choosing between a Kay Jewelers Credit Card and financing through Affirm.

Get protected

With a once-in-lifetime purchase like an engagement ring, it's always wise to consider a protection plan. Kay's diamonds all come with a lifetime guarantee at no extra cost, but be aware that you have to bring the ring in for an inspection every six months to keep the warranty valid. That complimentary coverage only covers the stone replacement and the cleaning/inspection; you'll need to add the Forever Cherished plan for other issues like ring sizing, stone resetting, and prong tightening. That coverage depends on the cost of the ring itself, but expect the fee to be somewhere between 5-15% of your purchase price.

Order online for home or in-store delivery

Kay offers free shipping within the continental US, but only to street addresses (and not PO Boxes), and all engagement rings meet their minimum order threshold of $50 to qualify. Another option is to have the ring sent to your local Kay store: it's the best way to make sure it arrives safely and can even help you keep it a surprise until the big reveal day. Don't forget to ask for complimentary gift wrap too!

Return within 30 days of your order

If you decide to return the engagement ring, you'll only have 30 days from the date you placed the order, not from the day it arrives. Kay extends that to 60 days if you choose to exchange it for something else instead of getting a refund. And, over the holidays, you'll get an extended window (usually for purchases made from mid-October to Christmas Eve, with returns allowed up until mid-to-late January). In-person returns are always accepted at local Kay stores if you'd rather not put the engagement ring in the mail.

Customers are often unhappy

It all sounds pretty encouraging, until you start looking at what Kay's customers say. Despite an "A+" from the Better Business Bureau for both Kay and parent company Signet, this store's reputation is far from stellar. Some reviews describe receiving jewelry and other items that had clearly been used previously! Other complaints mention significant problems with getting warranty repairs approved and finished, poor responses from Kay representatives, and overall poor quality. It's not a good thing when the adjectives used to describe a business are "nightmare" and "scam" , and we saw that more than once in the feedback from Kay shoppers.

Other stores pay more attention to customer satisfaction

Whether or not diamonds are a girl's best friend is up for debate, but it seems that Kay is no friend of, well, anybody. All of the selection and customization in the world doesn't make up for letting people down after the sale, and hundreds of customer comments paint that picture. Unless Kay shows a major uptick in reputation, they'll remain towards the bottom of our rankings among retailers who offer engagement rings.

Jared

• Over 3,700 engagement rings to choose from
• In business for almost a century
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• Returns or exchanges accepted within 30 days of purchase date
• Free second-day shipping on non-personalized, in-stock items

Jared is one of the four brands in our evaluation that are owned by Signet Jewelers, each with their own approach to jewelry. Jared's focus is "accessible luxury jewelry" that helps people express their love for one another: perfect for engagement-ring shopping, right? This jewelry store has more than 200 retail locations nationwide, making it easy to shop online to take advantage of Jared's full selection and then pick up your ring at a store near you (if you prefer not to have it shipped).

Plenty of engagement ring options

There are about 3,700 engagement rings offered by Jared, priced anywhere from $500 to $30,000. You'll find quite a few items under $500, but they all tend to be classified as promise rings or just the ring settings without a diamond. The vast majority (over 2,500 rings) fall in the $1,000-$5,000 range. And, if you don't see something you love, Jared has three options for customizing your engagement ring: start with a preferred style (like Double Princess or Round 3-Stone with Halo), a stone shape (like radiant or oval), or a sketch of your dream design.

No problem finding what you like

Once you're on the main Engagement Rings part of the Jared store, the filters make it a breeze to see rings that match what you have in mind. Narrow down their inventory by metal type or color, stone type or shape, or click on "More Refinements" to get really granular and see rings by carat range or stone color (among other criteria).

Detailed descriptions, many sizes, multiple financing options

In each ring's description, you'll see all of the pertinent details about total carat weight, ring dimensions, and so on. We were pleased to see lots of sizing options on most rings we checked out, and there's an option in the size dropdown for "special order a size" as well. If you need financing, look right below the price. Most often, you'll have two routes to choose between: a Jared Gold Credit Card issued by Comenity Bank or traditional financing through Affirm.

Some coverage is free, some costs extra

What about protection against loss or damage? Fortunately, most diamond purchases include Jared's complimentary Lifetime Diamond & Gemstone Guarantee. You have to complete an in-store inspection every six months to stay covered, and you'll need to add the Forever Cherished Protection Plan to cover things like ring sizing, prong tightening, and repairing damaged mounting. The fees are based on the original purchase price of your engagement ring - usually about 9%, from what we could see on several different pieces.

Return policy isn't impressive

Jared doesn't offer anything exceptional with their return policy, and they're actually a little less generous. You'll have 30 days from your order date, not the day your engagement ring is delivered, to make a return for a refund. If you want an exchange, the only choice is to visit an in-store location.

Free 2nd-day shipping on in-stock engagement rings

But, Jared one-ups many of their rivals - even the jewelry stores owned by the same parent company! - by giving you free UPS 2nd-day shipping on any engagement ring that's in stock (and that means "not customized" , obviously). Or, if you want a more secure delivery option, Jared always offers complimentary ship-to-store - and they'll gift wrap your ring there upon request.

Terrible reputation with customers

When looking into Jared's reputation with the Better Business Bureau, there was no meaningful way to separate it from that of their parent company, Signet, which has an "A+" and accreditation there. That's a far cry from all of the negative buzz we found about Jared itself. Hundreds of people have given this store the lowest available rating, with some even saying they wished for a way to issue a negative-star review! Shoppers are often hugely disappointed with the quality of the engagement rings they buy at Jared, the indifferent (or even hostile) responses from customer service representatives, and time-sensitive deliveries that are late or don't arrive at all.

Too disappointing to recommend

We wish we could love Jared. With so many retail locations, this jeweler offers a level of convenience available to most shoppers. If only they had a better track record for making customers happy! You might wind up with an engagement ring you adore, but you could also end up with a piece of jewelry that tarnishes within a few months (but outside of the return window). Even other stores in the Signet family are a better choice than Jared, and we recommend you buy your ring somewhere else.

Diamonds USA

• 500+ engagement rings in stock
• Prices from $250 to $5,000
• Specializes in diamond jewelry
• Can custom-design an engagement ring
• 30-day return policy
• No complaints at the BBB

Our first place "winner" for "most underwhelming online jeweler for buying engagement rings" goes to Diamonds USA. They proudly advertise that they've been offering "safe and secure online shopping since 1997" - and their outdated-looking, somewhat odd website feels like it hasn't changed much since then.

Business is legit, website is lame

Be assured that Diamonds USA is an actual business: there's no scam involved, and the owner and founder of the company, David Braverman, brings a lifetime of experience as a diamond cutter to the table. However, this wealth of expertise doesn't necessarily make for an intuitive shopping process with his online store.

Disappointing shopping experience

The selection of engagement rings is fairly basic, with around 500 to choose from. You can also use Diamonds USA's design-your-own service to come up with a piece that is uniquely yours (or hers!). Prices go from $250 to $5,000 on ready-made rings; custom items will vary, of course. Finding the right ring, however, can be an ordeal.

Shopping is not easy

You can start by choosing a category - maybe avoid the "Cheap Engagement Rings" section unless budget is a limiting factor? - but even then there's no easy way to sort through the possibilities. And even if you already have an idea of what to search for, Diamonds USA has a lot of spelling mistakes that would stop you from finding it (like "wheet motif" instead of "wheat" and "bayby" instead of "baby" ).

Engagement ring buying that feels amateurish

Have you ever been to a rummage sale, where the assortment of items is haphazard at best and the price tags are all over the place? That's how we felt when shopping here. Compared with rival jewelers, Diamonds USA is disorganized and even a little puzzling. The prices feel like they were converted to dollars from another currency: there's no $599.99 or $1,000.49 like you'd see elsewhere, but odd amounts like $1,116 or $704.

30-day returns

If we were pressed to point out something positive about Diamonds USA, we'd highlight their 30-day return policy. You can get a full refund on any non-custom items as long as you let them know within 30 days from when you received your engagement ring. It's also a good sign that there were no complaints registered against Diamonds USA on their BBB listing - there's not much feedback about this store anywhere, really.

Don't shop here until there's an upgrade

At the end of the day, though, it's hard to find a reason why anyone would choose to get an engagement ring from Diamonds USA when there are so many easy-to-shop retailers out there. If this store were to make some significant upgrades to their online storefront to be more in line with the competition - helpful filters, no typos, quicker to find what you're looking for - it would probably wind up with a much higher ranking. In the meanwhile, we recommend that you shop for your engagement ring with an online jeweler with a stronger presence.

Szul

• Almost 800 engagement rings to choose from
• 60-day return policy
• Free ground shipping in the US

Founded in 1999, Szul is an online-only jewelry store with offices in Manhattan's Diamond District. Your first visit to the site may even come with a spin-to-win discount from 5-10% or a free gift with your purchase. Is it enough to get you to buy an engagement ring from Szul? Read on and decide for yourself.

Decent selection and easy shopping experience

Szul has a good-but-not-amazing selection of engagement rings, with just under 800 in their inventory. It's a good idea to use the filters to narrow down the options by metal, stone shape, setting or price range; that's the first hint you'll get that Szul doesn't have as much to choose from as their rivals, though. For example, the only metals available are white, yellow, and rose gold (no platinum or other non-gold metals), and there aren't any loose stones to design your own piece. But, there's lots of detail on each engagement ring Szul has, and some items have customer ratings you can consult to guide your decision. Unfortunately, most rings have only a few ratings - and they're often several years old.

Engagement rings for every budget

If you're looking for something affordable, Szul has more than two dozen solitaires for under $300. There are almost as many engagement rings in the $3,000-$4,000 range, including several AGS-certified styles. You won't find anything extremely extravagant here, but the selection is reasonable. Szul offers financing through Affirm; at the time of this review, their interest rates were around 15%. You'll also save money with free ground shipping in the USA, and Szul's 60-day return policy is double what most jewelers offer.

Caveat emptor

It all sounds pretty good so far, right? Unfortunately, that's where the positive aspects of buying an engagement ring from Szul stop. This jeweler has a "C+" from the Better Business Bureau, and for good reason. While some shoppers love what they buy here, even enough to shop this store more than once, too many customers have big complaints about the experience. We're really disturbed by the number of reviews that specifically reference diamonds falling out of their settings.

Disappointing customer service

Some shoppers say that what they saw on the Szul website was a far cry from the ring they actually received. Worst of all, Szul's customer service team gets described as "disappointing" or "impossible to reach" by people who've tried to get problems resolved. Szul's single redeeming factor is that they don't filter the shopper reviews left on their site, letting you see exactly what downward trend the company is currently on.

Better choices elsewhere

We wish we could recommend Szul. They offer, in theory anyway, a much longer return window than most retailers selling engagement rings, and their selection is full of pieces that sparkle. However, the reality as reported by their disappointed customers is that Szul doesn't deliver on their promises. Please entrust this important purchase to a company that has earned a good reputation instead.