Shopping for an Engagement Ring Online: Sizing Tips, Style Advice and Retailers to Consider

Summer remains a popular season for weddings, but ceremonies now happen throughout the year, and engagements follow the same pattern. The Hollywood Reporter notes that the best moment to propose is simply when it feels right, pointing to Travis Kelce proposing to Taylor Swift in summer and Tom Holland and Zendaya getting engaged in winter. Waiting for Valentine's Day is no longer the rule.

Because an engagement ring is often the biggest jewelry investment a person makes, choosing one can be daunting. Visiting a store is still a good option, but many reputable retailers now sell rings online. The guide offers advice on doing so, drawing on Kylie Bee, Merchandise Lead of Fine Jewelry at Quince.

On sizing, Bee suggests buying an inexpensive ring sizer or printing a ring size chart to wrap around the finger. For anyone who needs to keep the purchase secret, Bee recommends borrowing a ring the person already wears, ideally on the left or right ring finger or the middle finger, since each finger differs in size. Place it on paper, trace the inside with a pencil and measure the diameter of the circle. Bee adds that people using this method should pick a style that can easily be sized up or down by a full or half size, and a retailer representative can confirm whether a given ring allows that.

For style, Bee advises consulting trusted friends and family, who may know the recipient's taste or have access to an inspiration board. The key clues involve preferred diamond shape, carat weight and metal color, as well as whether the person favors natural or lab-grown stones. That information helps balance personal taste against budget. Bee also urges buyers to read the return policy and warranty closely before spending on something so meaningful.

The guide's picks start with Blue Nile, which it names the best value for the money. Blue Nile says its diamonds are ethically sourced, ships rings in a presentation box with an appraisal certificate and grading report, and offers financing, free engraving and a lifetime warranty. The guide says it has the widest online selection, with metals including rose gold, yellow gold and platinum.

Other retailers fill different niches. Kinn is praised for chunkier gold styles such as cigar bands and thick bezel settings, even though its selection is small. Angara specializes in made-to-order natural and lab-grown gemstone rings, including sapphire, emerald and ruby, with prices from a few hundred dollars to more than $100,000. Jean Dousset's Claire Collection features very thin prongs meant to make the center stone appear to float, and the guide notes that Dousset is the great-great-grandson of Louis Cartier.

Several options focus on lab-grown diamonds. Plum Diamonds, a women-owned business, makes rings in 15 to 17 business days and offers free resizing and polishing for life. Quince sells lab-grown rings from $900 to $5,000 through a factory-direct model, with 60-day returns or exchanges and a limited lifetime warranty. Vrai says its stones are grown in an American foundry using zero-emission river energy, while MiaDonna offers financing, a lifetime warranty, 60-day returns and 90 days of free resizing.

Mejuri makes pieces from solid gold, sterling silver and diamonds, with customization limited to metal color and engraving, and engraved items are not eligible for returns. Catbird's debut engagement line, The Swans, is set and finished by in-house jewelers at its Williamsburg, Brooklyn studio in recycled 14k gold or platinum, with two-day delivery, 10-day returns or exchanges, and virtual or in-person appointments.

The Hollywood Reporter disclosed that it may earn an affiliate commission if readers buy products through links in the guide.