What a $1,500, $3,000 or $5,000 engagement ring gets you

The short answer: In our current collection, a $3,000 engagement ring covers the median price at every diamond size we offer, up to 5 carats, in 14K or 18K gold. A $1,500 ring gets you a 1 to 1.5 carat ring in 14K with plenty of choice. A $5,000 ring opens nearly every design, including large 18K rings with detailed settings.

How we built this guide

Budget guides often quote averages with no source. We prefer to show you our own numbers. We looked at every variant of our 398 engagement rings: each diamond carat option, in 14K and in 18K gold. All prices here are our prices at the time of writing (October 2026).

Two things stay the same at every budget. Every Raul center diamond is Excellent or Ideal cut, E–F color and VVS1–VVS2 clarity, with an independent IGI grading report. And every ring is made to order, crafted in 2–3 weeks, with free insured shipping in the US. Your budget changes the size of the diamond, the karat of the gold and the detail of the setting. It never lowers the quality floor.

A few numbers frame the collection. Our lowest starting price is $750. The median starting price is $1,640. Of our 398 engagement rings, 150 start under $1,500, 380 start under $3,000, and 397 start under $5,000.

What each budget gets you, at a glance

Here are the price points behind that table, by diamond carat.

The $1,500 engagement ring

A $1,500 engagement ring buys more than most people expect. In 14K gold, the median 1 ct ring is $1,253 and the median 1.5 ct ring is $1,408. That means most of our 1 to 1.5 carat designs fit, from clean solitaires to hidden halos and three-stone rings.

You can go larger if you keep the setting simple. In 14K, 2 ct rings start at $1,058 and 3 ct rings start at $1,392. For reference, a round 2 ct diamond measures about 8.1 mm across, and a 3 ct about 9.3 mm. The median 2 ct ring in 14K sits just above this budget, at $1,556.

In 18K gold, $1,500 covers simpler designs from 1 ct ($944) up to 2.5 ct ($1,488). If deep yellow gold matters to you, this is the trade: 18K at a slightly smaller size, or 14K with more choice.

Fourteen of our engagement rings start under $1,000, including our 1 carat solitaire in every shape, from $750.

The $3,000 engagement ring

A $3,000 engagement ring is where choice opens up across the whole collection. The median ring at every carat size we offer, from 1 ct to 5 ct, falls under $3,000 in 14K gold. The same is true in 18K, where the median 5 ct ring is $2,983.

In practice, $3,000 lets you decide by design rather than by price. You can choose a 2 to 3 carat center in 18K gold in most of our designs. You can choose a three-stone ring, often said to symbolize past, present and future. You can also choose a bridal set: our matched engagement ring and wedding band sets start from $2,087.

380 of our 398 engagement rings start under $3,000. If your budget is here, you are shopping almost the entire collection.

The $5,000 engagement ring

At $5,000, you are above the price of most of our rings at every size. 397 of our 398 engagement rings start under $5,000. In 14K gold, nearly every option fits. The exceptions sit at the very top of our range, where our highest 14K prices are $5,720 at 2 ct and $5,167 at 5 ct.

In 18K gold, every 1 ct and 1.5 ct design fits, with the highest prices at $4,407 and $3,933. Some larger 18K designs go beyond $5,000. Our highest 18K price is $8,459, at 2 ct.

A $5,000 engagement ring budget is also the natural place to think about the whole set. Many couples use the room to add a matching diamond band, or to design something entirely their own. Custom design starts from $800, with a 3D render within 48 hours of your consultation and unlimited revisions.

Our picks at each budget

• 1 Carat Round Brilliant Solitaire Ring: the purest way to spend under $1,500. From $750 at the time of writing.
• Round Brilliant Three Stone Trilogy Ring: three diamonds and a classic story, still under $1,500 to start. From $1,419 at the time of writing.
• Radiant Cut Three Stone Ring, 3.40 CTW: a bold, larger look comfortably inside a $3,000 budget. From $2,244 at the time of writing.
• Round Lab-Grown Diamond Bridal Set: ring and band designed together, under $3,000. From $2,468 at the time of writing.
• Emerald Cut Solitaire Engagement Ring: a clean step-cut statement for a $5,000-and-above budget. From $5,720 at the time of writing.

Questions

Have a number in mind but not a ring? Book a free 30-minute consultation. Tell us your budget, and we will show you the best options inside it, with no pressure to stretch.