What Kind of Diamond Engagement Ring Can You Get for $12,000?

Having a budget for a diamond engagement ring for $12,000 puts you in the luxury category, where you can enjoy browsing a large variety of stunning diamond rings. Whether you’re prioritising size, cut, designer setting, or all three, it’s a very strong budget in today’s diamond market. 

In this guide, we’ll take a look at real product examples, including rings and loose stones, including those from our stunning Brian Gavin Diamonds collection. If you have any questions, we welcome you to contact our diamond specialists for a chat.

What Influences the Price of a $12,000 Engagement Ring?

As with any diamond, diamond engagement rings costing around $12,000 are affected in price by the 4 C’s - cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. 

These four factors are the key to determining a diamond’s overall quality and are used throughout the industry. Understanding them will help you know what you’re buying, which is important because you may have different priorities from someone else.  

The diamond center stone makes up 70-90% of the cost, determined by these factors:

Cut 

Diamond cut refers to how well the diamond interacts with light, its proportions, and overall finish. It’s often the most important factor in diamond engagement rings as it influences sparkle more than any other. 

In many cases, a smaller and cheaper diamond with a high cut quality can appear more attractive than a more expensive diamond with a lower cut quality. 

In the $12,000 range, ideal and excellent cuts (the two highest cut grades) are available, offering a stunning sparkle. 

Color

Color refers to the lack of color in a diamond, as ideally, you’ll want a perfectly colorless diamond that is crystal clear. 

In the $12,000 bracket, you can expect to find near-colorless diamonds. However, the reality is that even a diamond which is slightly warmer in color, such as an L-M color diamond, will look great in some settings because super ideal cut diamonds tend to face up brighter and whiter than diamonds that are not cut to ideal proportions.

For example, it’s similar to if you viewed a single yellow pixel on a black screen - it would be very visible. But on a white screen, a yellow pixel would be hard to identify. Diamonds work similarly. 

It can be extremely difficult to judge the color of smaller diamonds, like the melee diamonds used in Brian Gavin Signature Settings, and they will tend to pick up some of the color of the center stone, which will help them all blend together.

Clarity

Clarity is all about how many inclusions (aka internal imperfections) are in the diamond. High clarity (VS1 and up) will increase your prices. In this price range, it’s rare you’ll find a diamond with a flawless or internally flawless clarity, unless the carat size is small (under 1ct) or you choose a less desirable shape.

However, remember that ‘eye-clean’ is more perfect for most people. We’d assume your partner is unlikely to be pulling out a magnifying glass to inspect for inclusions. 

Carat 

The carat is the diamond’s physical weight measured in carats metric. It’s probably the most objective of the 4 C’s. 

When shopping for a diamond engagement ring for $12,000, you can expect to find natural diamonds with around 1.3 to 1.5 carats for lab-grown diamonds. 

However, fancy shapes (such as ovals, pears, and cushions) can result in a slightly lower price per carat, whereas the classic round brilliant is the most expensive (and most popular) per carat. 

Setting

Outside of the 4 C’s, you can also expect your ring of choice to be affected by the setting, which includes the metal, craftsmanship, and design complexity. 

Platinum is always the most expensive, as it is hypoallergenic, durable, and heavy. It can add as much as $1,000 to a ring price. Gold is cheaper; 18k gold leads the way, with 14k gold preferred for balancing the budget, and white gold is a popular platinum alternative (but it may end up re-plating in the future). 

Style and complexity will also affect the cost, with: 

• Solitaire: Classic, clean, and the most affordable. They usually are $300–$1,200.

• Halo: Small diamonds surround the center stone, making it appear larger. They can add as much as $800–$2,500 to your cost.

• Pavé / Micropavé: Shank is covered in tiny diamonds. It adds sparkle, but at a higher cost.

• Three-Stone: Adds two side diamonds or gems. These designs typically add $1,500–$4,000, depending on quality.

• Custom: Ornate or intricate designs can increase cost significantly.
  
  

Designer vs. Non-Designer

Finally, big brand names will charge a premium for the name alone. There’s no need to go for this huge markup if you’re using a reputable jeweler with graded diamonds, such as Brian Gavin Diamonds. 

Examples of Diamond Engagement Rings for $12,000

Kallista

Taking its name from the Greek word for ‘beautiful’, the Kallista is not your average Stone Ring. At just under $12,000, the stone seats are forged from platinum wire and handmade prongs. No casting can replicate this finish’s timeless approach. 

The Stephanie

The beautiful ‘Stephanie’ setting is a full eternity style engagement ring for just over $12,000. There are 15 meticulously set 0.25 ct F/G VS signature melee diamonds, carefully crafted around the band, with a charming heart-shaped gallery. 

The Stephanie is available in platinum, 18k white gold, or 18k rose gold and is an ideal offering for a romantic and modern aesthetic. 

Elaine's Reverie Platinum

Elanie Reverie’s three-stone engagement ring is under $12,000 and offers timeless sophistication. That’s thanks to its two bezel-set marquise side diamonds on each end. With a milgrain-accented shank, it also has a delicate vintage charm, which highlights the clean and refined lines of design. 

Loose Diamonds: You Create a Custom Engagement Ring With

These diamonds are some of the best in Brian Gavin Diamond’s virtual selection. You can create a custom ring with this diamond through BGD by selecting a metal for the ring setting that expresses the style and taste of your relationship. These diamonds can be paired with any setting for a personalized final price. 

1.120 D VVS1 Virtual Selection Round Diamond

Sitting in the $9-10,000 price range, this 1.120-carat round diamond from Brian Gavin Diamonds features a D color and VVS1 clarity, making it a stunning, colorless and internally flawless engagement ring. 

This is an ideal option for those longing for top-tier grading with maximum brilliance. 

1.260 E VVS1 Virtual Selection Round Diamond

With an E color grade and priced at around $10,000, this 1.260-carat round offers exceptional quality with VVS1 clarity. So, it’s nearly flawless to the naked eye and will sparkle from any angle. 

1.59 H VVS1 Brian Gavin Signature Round

If you’re open to stretching your $12,000 budget to $15,000, this frankly unbelievable 1.59-carat round diamond stone is one to blow away your partner. Offering near-colorless appearance (H grade) and VVS1 clarity, it is near flawless to the naked eye. It’s extremely well-proportioned, 7.53 × 7.52 mm, and offers a symmetrical shape. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is $12,000 a good budget for a diamond engagement ring?

Yes. $12,000 is considered the upper-midrange budget for diamond rings. You’ll get very high-quality diamonds, around 1.3 to 1.5 carats, with an excellent sparkle.

Should I buy a round or fancy-shaped stone in this price range?

Of course, it’s all personal preference. But at around $12,000, you’ll get the chance to get a maximum sparkle but at most cost per carat, so a smaller size. Fancy shapes may provide you with a bigger diamond, but with less sparkle. 

How do I maximize value when spending $12,000? 

Almost every engagement ring recipient will be thinking about sparkle. That will come from an ideal or excellent cut, a G-H (near-colorless) color, and eye-clean clarity (VS2-SI1).

Should I Buy a Complete Ring or a Custom One?

Buying a complete ring can give you a sense of confidence and ease in your purchase, but there’s no downside to creating a customized ring, especially as this allows you to pair a stone and metal that speaks to you and your partner's love. With Brian Gavin Diamonds, you can take either option. 

Buy a Diamond Engagement Ring for $12,000 Today

Trusted by educated buyers. Chosen by perfectionists.

With a budget of around $12,000, the possibilities for a truly stunning engagement ring open up. Whether you’re considering custom, ready-made, or hybrid, you have the selection of pieces that are guaranteed to send emotion to the heart of your partner. 

We welcome you to speak with our expert team if you have any questions.