Bigger Isn't Always Better: 33 Small Engagement Rings That Are Perfectly Understated (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to get a bigger or smaller engagement ring? ›

Consider exploring our ring collection for various sizes and styles. While both oversized and undersized rings have their drawbacks, if you must choose, it's generally safer to opt for a slightly larger ring. A ring that's a bit too big can be more easily adjusted to fit snugly than a ring that's too small.

The wedding band traditionally goes on the left-hand ring finger first, nearest the heart, with the engagement ring stacking on top. Again, this practice is not law, and the rings can be arranged in any way that is most comfortable and aesthetically pleasing to you, including wearing the rings on separate fingers.

The 1.0 carat center stone used to be the most desired size chosen for engagement rings, however, more recently we are seeing this shift towards a slightly larger stone, with couples choosing diamonds averaging 1.25 to 1.50 carats.

The Benefits of Dainty Engagement Rings

Dainty engagement rings are guaranteed to look fabulous without the worry on how to style them or whether you should wear any other rings to complement them. So even when you're wearing the most casual of outfits, a small diamond ring wouldn't look out of place.

An average finger size is 6 for women and 8 or 8½ for men. Finally, if your partner is above average height or build, their weight will be naturally distributed across their whole body, so it might be a good idea to start at around a ring size 7 for a woman and a size 10 for men.

Poor craftsmanship can devalue your ring. But if you take it to a reputable jeweller, there should be no worry or harm in resizing it to fit you. In some cases, the value can increase, especially if the new size is more common. Much like common shoe size or paint colour on a car can be a great resale quality.

One of the most infamous wedding etiquette rules revolves around how many months' salary one should spend on the engagement ring. It's known as the "three months' salary" rule, and it implies that a buyer should put three months of their salary toward a sparkler for their future spouse.

$10,000 is often cited as a substantial amount to allocate for an engagement ring, but it's essential to consider the average and median amounts spent by other couples to put things into perspective.

Millennials spend about $3,000 on engagement rings rather than the average amount of $5,000. High-class individual spends $20,000 or more on their engagement ring, and this often drives the average engagement ring cost upward.

On average, the retail price for one carat diamonds can be anywhere between $2,000 to $16,000, and between $8,000 to $72,000 for two carat diamonds . And of course, the retail price and the resale value of a diamond are very different things.

What is the average carat of an engagement ring in the US? ›

The short answer to this question is yes, there is an average size diamond for an engagement ring. But the longer answer gets more complicated. The average size diamond for the US as a whole is 1 carat. The bigger picture starts to break down just how we get to that “average” size.

The Traditional Rule: 2-3 Month's Salary

There has long been a rule that states one should spend 2-3 months' salary on the ring. This rule has been around for decades. It's ingrained in many people's minds as the standard for purchasing an engagement ring.

As with the ring, there is nothing wrong with going for something simple if that's all you can afford or if it's what you know they want. Likewise, using a proposal ring, and going to buy the real one together later is totally fine.

It Stops at the Knuckle

A classic sign that your engagement ring is too small is that you can't get it over your knuckle or have to put in a whole lot of effort to get it on in the first place.

It's a sign of self-respect and self-worth. And a man who truly loves and respects a woman will want to give her the best of everything. While a cheap ring may not be the end of the world, it's important to remember that the ring is just a symbol. It's the love and commitment behind the gesture that genuinely matter.

If your engagement ring is correctly sized, we recommend matching your wedding ring size so that both rings are the same finger size. If your engagement ring is slightly too snug, a small increase in half-a-finger size will also work. This will provide a little more room when both rings are in place.

The size of the diamond is subjective to personal taste, the expectations of the bride and, of course, what you are prepared to spend on an engagement ring. The size of the bride's fingers and hands is another important consideration in selecting a diamond size.

An engagement ring should be snug enough that the diamond remains centred on the left ring finger but loose enough to twist with only a little friction. You should need a little force to remove the ring backwards over your knuckle – so it is easier to put on than take off.

Resizing a ring to make it smaller typically involves removing a portion of the band. On average, the cost of having a ring sized down can range from $30 to $60. Resizing a ring to make it larger usually requires adding metal to the band. The average cost for resizing up can range from $40 to $80.