Celebrity couples are easy to admire. From the lavish red carpet appearances to sappy social media displays of affection, Hollywood’s in love. And typically speaking, the bigger the star, the higher the price tag.
According to a trend report from 2017, the average cost of a celebrity engagement ring is a whopping $1.3 million. Mariah Carey and her $10 million engagement ring from ex James Parker likely swayed the average in an upward motion, coming in as the highest price ever recorded for an engagement ring.
For those of us who don’t qualify as Hollywood A-listers, the engagement ring budget is probably much lower than a celebrity’s. In 2020, the average cost of an engagement ring in the US was roughly $6,000. So, how do we create an engagement ring with celebrity style on an everyday budget? Let’s find a few ways to keep your budget in line, and your bride to be excited by some shine.
Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds are a great way to get more brilliance for your budget. Typically lab grown diamonds are 1/3 to 1/4 of the price of natural diamonds, making them a great affordable alternative.
Diamonds made in a lab are not simulated or “fake” diamonds. They are made up of the same chemical composition as natural diamonds, and they can only look different from a natural at the microscopic level.
According to GIA Spokesman Stephen Morisseau, “Lab-grown diamonds have all the same physical and chemical properties of a mined diamond.”
The use of lab grown diamonds in an engagement ring can keep your costs reasonable while allowing you to get a larger diamond at a fraction of the costs of a natural. The Diamond Reserve has Colorado’s largest in-store collection of loose certified lab grown diamonds, enabling us to help you create a brilliant custom engagement ring while staying within budget, (or under!).
Heirloom Diamonds and Stones
Creating an heirloom ring isn’t something everyone has the ability to do, but if a gemstone or diamond can be passed down in your family, an heirloom piece is a great way to save your budget and up the sentimental value. An heirloom ring is a perfect way to carry on tradition, but with the ability to customize and make the ring one of a kind for a bride-to-be.
An heirloom ring can be created using a center diamond from another piece of jewelry. Another common design with heirloom rings is the use of heirloom diamonds to stones as sidetones on an engagement ring. Many heirloom rings, like Megan Markel’s three stone piece, are custom made with diamonds repurposed from another piece of jewelry or ring. This can keep your costs down by only having to source a center stone, side stones, or even just a new setting or resize.
Celebrity Style Engagement Ring on Your Budget
If you’re ready to put a ring on it and you’ve seen inspo saved to your partner’s Pinterest board that looks like a celebrity style ring, don’t worry too much about breaking your budget. Come see us at The Diamond Reserve for all your engagement ring needs. We can help you create a brilliant engagement ring without breaking the bank, book your appointment today!