An engagement ring doesn’t have to cost a fortune to be beautiful. There are so many engagement rings that are absolutely stunning, while also being budget friendly. And if you’re on the hunt for one of these gorgeous, yet affordable engagement rings, we’re here to help. Below, we’re featuring the five best affordable engagement ring styles and highlighting our top picks within each category. Throughout this post, we’ll also be sharing some helpful tips on how certain ring design features can help you get a more glam look for less.

1. Solitaire Engagement Rings

Solitaire settings are utterly classic and endlessly elegant. They’re also inherently more budget friendly than any other engagement ring style, since there are no diamonds or gemstones on a solitaire band. So, if you’re on the hunt for an affordable engagement ring, scoping out solitaire styles is a great place to start.

Our Top Pick: Art Inspired Diamond Solitaire Ring

One of our favorite affordable solitaire settings is this lovely, delicately detailed Art Inspired solitaire engagement ring. When viewed from above, this ring has all the makings of a traditional solitaire ring, with its slim band and classic 4-prong center stone setting. When viewed from the side, however, you’ll see that this piece has romantic detailing underneath its floating prong setting, giving this classic style a special touch.

2. Engagement Rings With Elongated Center Stones

Did you know that some diamond shapes look larger per carat than others? Certain diamond shapes have more of their surface area on their table (their top). Since diamonds are viewed from above when set in jewelry, diamonds that have elongated tables will look larger per carat than diamonds that don’t. This gives elongated shapes like oval shaped, emerald cut, marquise cut, and pear shaped diamonds a size advantage that can help you stretch your budget. On top of that, fancy shaped diamonds are more affordable than round brilliant cut diamonds. So, choosing an elongated fancy diamond shape for your center stone shape can make any engagement ring much more affordable.

Our Top Pick: Halo Pear Shaped Diamond Engagement Ring

Our current favorite elongated center stone style is this absolutely stunning halo pear shaped diamond ring. There’s so much to love about this ring’s striking, highly glamorous design, such as its unique diamond shape. There’s also the fact that this ring has several other design features that make it look as sizable and glam as possible. This shiny 14k white gold ring has a halo setting that adds impact, a super slim band that makes the ring’s centerpiece look larger by comparison, and diamonds on its band that make the ring look larger overall. All these elements combine to create an engagement ring with an incredible wow factor.

3. Pavé Diamond Engagement Rings

Pavé diamond accents are an affordable way to add serious shimmer to your engagement ring. Since the human eye perceives more brilliance as being bigger, pavé diamonds can also make your engagement ring look larger overall, so pavé band rings are a wonderful option if you want an inexpensive engagement ring that’s still eye-catching.

Our Top Pick: Delicate Micro Pavé Engagement Ring

Our top pick in the pavé band category is this chic, dazzling micro pavé engagement ring. This style looks classic, but also has detailing that gives it an extra icy, upscale look. The upper shank of this ring’s 18k white gold band is covered in micro-pavé-set diamonds, which add extra sparkle along the top and sides of the band. When the ring is worn, these pavé accents create the illusion that the ring's entire band is made of diamonds.

4. Halo Engagement Rings

If you’re looking for glamour on a budget, the halo style is the perfect engagement ring style for you. Halo styles feature a ring of smaller diamonds that add shimmer around your ring’s center diamond. And a diamond halo adds more than just brilliance-- it also adds visual impact. A diamond halo setting can make your center diamond look quite a bit larger than it actually is, and all for a mere fraction of the price you’d pay if you actually went up in carat weight.

Our Top Pick: Cathedral Open Bridge Halo Cushion Engagement Ring

Our pick in this category is a halo cushion cut style, which is as romantic as it is glamorous. Cushion cut halo rings have a softer look than many other halo styles, thanks to the cushion cut diamond’s curved edges and vintage style. We love this particular halo cushion cut diamond engagement ring because it has a soft and feminine look, while still being unmistakeably glamorous. This ring’s glam-factor is enhanced by its brilliant diamond band and its elevated cathedral setting, which highlights the ring’s dazzling centerpiece by raising it closer to the viewer’s eye.

5. Colored Gemstone Engagement Rings

Colorful gemstone engagement rings are unique and gorgeous. And, typically, they’re also much more affordable than diamond engagement rings, making them a stunning yet budget-friendly option.

Our Top Pick: Le Vian Strawberry Gold and Pistachio Diopside Ring

Our pick for the colored gemstone category is this absolutely stunning gemstone ring by Le Vian. This mesmerizing design features a diamond set rose gold band in the brand’s signature 14k Strawberry Gold. The warmth of this band, which features diamond accents and a beautiful interlocking pattern, looks nothing short of incredible as a backdrop for the ring’s center stone: a lush green, oval cut Pistachio Diopside.

Looking for even more high quality, beautiful, affordable engagement rings? Browse our varied selection of gorgeous engagement ring styles, which includes classic solitaire diamond engagement rings, halo styles that create maximum impact, breathtaking gemstone engagement rings, vintage engagement rings featuring milgrain, romantic rose gold and morganite rings, and much more. If you’re searching for a stunning wedding band to complete your bridal set, view the Frank Jewelers wedding ring collection, which features classic yellow gold wedding bands, vintage-inspired engraved bands, elegant pavé diamond bands, striking black diamond rings, alternative metal wedding bands, and more.