Ready to Take the Hint? Shop Affordable, Ethical Engagement Rings at Blue Nile
Our editors independently select the products we recommend. We may earn a commission on items bought through our links.
Spy.com may receive financial compensation from affiliate and advertising partnerships on this page and/or when you make a purchase after clicking through partnership links.
Today's Top Deals
If your girlfriend’s hints have progressed from subtle to borderline hostile, and your targeted ads on Instagram are starting to suspiciously resemble the header image above, it’s time to make a move. After establishing that your serious partner is the one, the next step is finding where to spend that beefy withdrawal from the savings account. We’re here to suggest Blue Nile.
Sure, a local jeweler could do a beautiful job with a premium price tag to match. A big ring chain would have plenty of options, but the hawkish salespeople can make the experience tantamount to wrangling a discount at a car dealership.
Blue Nile — the premium online destination for diamonds, engagement rings, and wedding bands — marries a low price guarantee with endless customization and selection, making them SPY’s pick for low-hassle, online ring shopping. Right now, they’re also offering up to 30% off select styles as part of their Express Yourself promotion, just in time for cuffing season, now until October 7th.
Browse Blue Nile’s Jewelry Deals
Rings Without Buyer’s Remorse
Large purchases come with emotional baggage. Once you’re in the thousands, and even tens of thousands — anxiety, excitement, regret, euphoria, and plenty of nerves may result. Blue Nile eases the concerns about getting ripped off with their price match guarantee, and their website makes it easy to customize the ring’s design so every last detail is exactly what you (or she) wants.
They offer a selection of both natural and lab-grown diamonds, all of their diamonds are ethically sourced, and since they’re primarily an online retailer all of the money saved on showrooms and pushy salespeople is given back to the customers. This means you get the high-quality diamond for a lower price point, and without the persistent nudging from an employee hungry for a commission.
How to Shop for Engagement Rings With Blue Nile
Blue Nile gives you the option to shop based on setting, lab-grown diamond, natural diamond, diamond shape, ring styles, or to scope through one of their designer ring collections. They also have live counts throughout the website of how many rings and diamonds are available in each category, so you know you’re not getting something mass-manufactured.
Whether your partner has given you strict criteria to work with or you’re flying by the seat of your pants and hoping you get it right, Blue Nile’s expansive library is likely to include something you’ll be proud to hold up down on one knee, and their team of world-class diamond experts is there to answer any questions along the way.
A Few SPY Picks…
Engagement ring styles and trends shuffle often, but there are a few styles du jour SPY editors love. The exact ring you should buy should be largely informed by your partner’s style and preferences. Keep scrolling to get you a sense of Blue Nile’s library, and a bit of inspiration.
Note: all prices below are just for the settings, diamonds are sold separately.
Studio Oval Cut Heiress Halo Engagement Ring
Buy Now
Oval diamonds have become one of the most popular and in-demand shapes, and Blue Nile has an entire selection of settings designed to fit both shorter and more elongated ovals. This platinum setting is one of their more premium options and features a French pavé-set diamond halo that surrounds the central oval diamond. It fits diamonds up to eight carats in size, and an appraisal is included in your purchase.
Three-Stone Tapered Baguette Platinum Engagement Ring
Buy Now
This tapered baguette setting can fit both a round and emerald cut diamond and is a timeless style SPY editors hope never fades. It’s an Art-Deco pop of elegance with the twin baguettes that frame the central diamond and the platinum setting is available in rose and yellow gold as well.
Two Stone Engagement Ring With Pear Shaped Diamond
Buy Now
Two-stone rings are also a major trend in rings at the moment, and while they definitely demand a higher budget they’re a uniquely gorgeous style that’s unlike many rings on the market. Most rings consist of sisters, not twins, and this particular setting includes a round and pearl-shaped diamond. Blue Nile has ring styles for pretty much every combination of stone, in settings from 14-carat white gold all the way up to platinum.
Blue Nile also offers lab-grown diamond offerings for most of their ring styles, including the picks above, so a smaller budget can stretch further and more options are within reach for cost-conscious. A carat, weight, and clarity that’ll impress no longer costs an arm and a leg and the latest trends can be customized to fit what you and your partner are comfortable with.
More Top Deals from SPY
Best of SPY
