Engagement ring
buying guide

We’ve met a lot of couples in our 100+ years — each with their own unique love story. Think of this page as your short-cut to our best information and advice to help you find the perfect engagement ring. And, of course, you can schedule an online or in-store appointment with one of our jewelry experts whenever you’d like. 

Consider your budget

step 1

Consider your budget

There’s no rule about how much an engagement ring should cost — really. (That 3 month’s salary thing is old news.) You know your life, your priorities and your dreams, and that’s what really matters. Whatever budget you land on, there’s a ring that’s right for you — and we’ll help you find it.

Learn the basics about diamonds.

step 2

Learn the basics about diamonds

As you begin looking at diamond engagement rings, a working knowledge of the 4C’s will help you choose a stone and setting that’s right for you. You’ll get to decide between a lab grown or natural diamond. Or maybe you’re inspired by the way a gemstone fits your style or story. Find out what matters when selecting gems for your forever ring.

step 3

Choose the shape of your diamond

Besides the classic round brilliant cut diamond — the one people think of when they picture a proposal — you can choose from lots of fancy shapes. And yes, that’s what we call oval, princess, cushion, emerald, marquise, pear and other diamonds. See them all, and find out the difference between shape and cut.

An image showcasing different bands and diamond shapes

step 4

Fall in love with a ring style

An engagement ring’s design reflects the wearer’s personal style and affects how comfortable it will be to wear. Learn about the difference between styles and settings, why metals matter and how to get the right-sized ring for your partner.

An image of multiple different engagement rings stacked on top of each other. Shop engagement. Design your own ring.

Step 5

Go shopping with confidence

Now comes the fun part. Use what you’ve learned to browse different stones and styles online or play around with your own custom designs. 

Frequently asked questions

Diamonds can vary in cut, color, clarity and carat weight. Each one of these factors plays a key role in determining the look and style of a gem. These days, you can also choose from natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds that have the same chemical, optical and physical properties as their natural counterparts.

Create Your Own Helzberg Diamond Ring™ allows you to create a ring that's as unique as her. Our Custom Gemstone Jewelry lets you design a personalized piece of jewelry that includes a favorite gem, special birthstone or whatever you choose.

While diamonds are still the most popular options for engagement rings, some people prefer alternative engagement ring designs that showcase other types of rare gems. From precious rubies, sapphires and emeralds, to elegant aquamarine and blue topaz, there are a number of stunning stone choices for non-diamond engagement rings. Lab-created moissanite is also a beautiful diamond alternative for engagement rings. This magnificent gemstone delivers unsurpassed fire and brilliance and is second to only diamonds in hardness and scratch resistance, making it perfect for everyday wear.

Every graded diamond is inscribed with a unique grading number, assigned by the grading laboratory. This unique number links to a copy of the associated report held by the lab, which is often available online.

Many of our diamonds have been graded by some of the most trusted third-party labs in the industry, such as GIA® and GCAL. For every graded diamond we sell, we provide our customers with a grading report, which assesses a gem's quality based on several key factors.

Yes. Helzberg Diamonds offers a great selection of beautiful jewelry that can be engraved, including engagement rings. When buying an engagement ring online, you will have an option to add a personalized engraving on the product page. You can also visit your nearest Helzberg Diamonds store to shop for engraved rings.

Talk to a jewelry expert.

WE’RE HERE TO LISTEN

Talk to a jewelry expert

Bring your partner or start your own fact-finding mission. You can ask questions, see a selection of your favorite designs or examine diamonds up close with our powerful microscopes. Our experts are here to answer all your engagement ring questions.