Australia · buyer-reported prices in Australian dollars · updated September 2026
Engagement Ring Cost in Australia: 441 Real Prices
Buyers paying in Australian dollars spent a median of A$3,000 on an engagement ring across 441 purchases, and half paid between A$750 and A$5,850. Prices stay in Australian dollars: nothing on this page is converted.
A$3,000median engagement ring, 441 purchases
A$750–A$5,850middle half of prices
A$7,500natural diamond ring (19)
A$4,000lab-grown diamond ring (44)
By center stone
| Center stone | Rings | Median | Middle half | Median carat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural diamond | 19 | A$7,500 | A$4,000 to A$15,000 | 1.5 ct |
| Lab-grown diamond | 44 | A$4,000 | A$1,900 to A$6,000 | 1.5 ct |
| Moissanite | 18 | A$525 | A$120 to A$1,500 | 2 ct DEW |
| Sapphire | 16 | A$3,500 | A$700 to A$5,000 | – |
| Lab-created coloured stone | 5 | A$1,500 | A$600 to A$2,000 | – |
| Other gemstone | 32 | A$775 | A$200 to A$2,000 | – |
| Diamond, lab or natural not said | 16 | A$2,800 | A$1,000 to A$5,000 | 0.96 ct |
Every ring bought in Australian dollars
| Ring | Stone | Carat | Shape | Metal | Year | What the buyer reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A$0 | – | – | – | – | – | Second marriage; ring from a gumball machine, wedding band real but delicate gold at metal cost, ceremony abroad |
| A$2 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought at an the person asking shop |
| A$2 | – | – | – | – | – | A mood ring from a Christmas cracker used as the actual proposal ring |
| A$8 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought online; writer says it was good it was cheap since the ring was later lost |
| A$10 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | 2010 | A novelty $10 eBay ring given at the original proposal, years before the diamond upgrade; year worked back from a 10-year anniversary that fell at the start of COVID |
| A$15 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | A symbolic ring bought in the city where the couple met; the location and memory mattered more than the ring itself, wedding bands similarly cheap |
| A$17 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought at half price; partner dislikes expensive rings |
| A$18 | – | – | – | – | – | Together fifteen years; happy the money was saved for something else |
| A$20 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought a cheap $20 ring from eBay; quickly decided they weren't 'ring wearing people' |
| A$20 | – | – | – | – | – | Used a $20 costume-shop dress ring just to pop the question, then designed the real rings together with a jeweller afterward |
| A$20 | – | – | – | – | – | Cheap gimmick ring bought while travelling for the proposal |
| A$25 | – | – | – | – | – | Used a cheap $25 eBay ring just to propose with, so little was lost if she'd said no |
| A$25 | – | – | – | – | – | Partner had no money at the time; writer still loves the ring and later emigrated to Australia with him |
| A$25 | – | – | – | – | – | A cheap placeholder-style engagement ring; put the savings toward a house deposit and honeymoon instead |
| A$25 | Other gemstone | – | – | other | – | Steel ring set with rose quartz instead of a diamond, used as the engagement ring; still worn 15 years later |
| A$28 | Moissanite | – | – | other | 2026 | Silver moissanite ring worn 2 weeks to test ring size while real ring is sorted; similar to a Tiffany-style setting |
| A$30 | No stone (plain band) | – | – | – | – | A silicone placeholder ring, about 30 AUD, used for the proposal itself at her request |
| A$35 | – | – | – | other | – | Plain silver band worn for manual work |
| A$50 | – | – | – | – | – | Kept ring cost minimal at $50, preferred to spend the rest on a holiday |
| A$50 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought right after quitting a job; plans to upgrade to a lab diamond later |
| A$50 | Other gemstone | – | – | other | – | Cubic zirconia in sterling-silver-plated gold, a look-alike instead of a ring quoted around 3-4k |
| A$50 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Chose a cubic zirconia to put the money toward a house deposit instead |
| A$53 | Moissanite | – | – | other | 2024 | Set in silver |
| A$60 | – | – | – | – | – | She picked the ring out herself; writer downplays the stone's material value |
| A$60 | – | – | – | – | – | Chose a very cheap simple band over a diamond ring, prioritising other financial goals |
| A$60 | No stone (plain band) | – | – | – | – | Reindeer bone and antler ring made at a workshop while travelling, before the real ring |
| A$60 | – | – | – | – | – | Picked out by the wearer herself |
| A$60 | Moissanite | – | princess | other | 2025 | 2 ct princess-cut moissanite in a silver setting from Kuololit's AliExpress store; gold band options cost more |
| A$65 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Blue topaz center stone |
| A$70 | – | – | – | – | – | A cheap ring for the next proposal, after selling the first. |
| A$80 | Other gemstone | – | – | other | – | Large silver ring with knotwork and a piece of amber |
| A$100 | Moissanite | – | – | – | 2026 | 10ct moissanite ring bought on a whim after seeing another sub member's post; sold through an AliExpress storefront |
| A$100 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Purple gemstone ring from Etsy worn on weekends |
| A$100 | – | – | – | – | – | First marriage in the 1990s; rings were pierced onto the body, price includes the piercer's fee |
| A$120 | – | – | – | – | – | Made together at a workshop class while on holiday; engagement rings aren't customary for this couple |
| A$120 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Artificial diamond bought from a pawn shop; still worn today |
| A$120 | Moissanite | – | emerald | gold | 2026 | 2ct emerald cut moissanite, 14k hollow gold band bought on AliExpress, gold verified real at a cash-for-gold shop |
| A$125 | – | – | – | – | – | Still married after three kids and fifteen years |
| A$125 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | First engagement ring, a ruby/diamond dress ring bought on sale, about 100-150 |
| A$125 | – | – | – | other | – | Groom's first ring, a black-and-red tungsten design from an online jeweller, about 100-150 |
| A$129 | – | – | – | – | – | Matching engagement rings for both partners; combined household income about $200k, no regrets |
| A$129 | – | – | – | – | – | Partner's matching ring |
| A$150 | – | – | – | – | – | Kept it cheap; meaning mattered more than cost |
| A$150 | Moissanite | – | radiant | other | 2025 | 3.5 ct radiant-cut moissanite in a silver setting (1.6-1.8mm band) from Kuololit's AliExpress store; first recalled as about 140 AUD, later restated as 150 AUD |
| A$160 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | 2019 | A meaningful amber stone ring |
| A$180 | – | – | – | – | – | Chosen by the fiancee; preferred to put money toward the mortgage |
| A$200 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Borrowed one of her other rings to get the size right, then bought her an engagement ring for that price |
| A$200 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Non-traditional stone found on Etsy |
| A$200 | – | – | – | – | – | Valued practicality over an expensive purchase |
| A$200 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Bought on sale |
| A$200 | – | – | – | – | – | First proposal, which she accepted; the relationship didn't lead to marriage |
| A$200 | – | – | – | – | – | Picked about ten rings she loved and had her partner choose among them |
| A$220 | Natural diamond | – | – | gold | 2004 | Three small diamonds on a 9-carat gold band, bought 21 years before the comment; wife declined a later upgrade |
| A$250 | Sapphire | – | – | white gold | – | Natural sapphire instead of a diamond; writer still felt her husband spent too much |
| A$250 | Other gemstone | – | – | gold | – | Thin gold ring with an opal; valued experiences over jewellery, later switched to silicone rings for daily wear |
| A$250 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | white gold | – | Secondhand white gold and diamond ring, resized to fit; barely worn |
| A$250 | – | – | – | – | – | Knew she'd mainly wear the wedding band long-term; both within what they could afford |
| A$260 | – | – | – | – | – | Non-traditional proposal used a necklace instead of a ring; this is the writer's partner's own engagement ring, picked together and cost-split |
| A$300 | – | – | – | – | – | Was earning about $80k a year when he bought the ring |
| A$300 | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Picked a moissanite ring online instead of a custom option that would have cost about $2,000; first proposed with a hose clamp |
| A$300 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Vintage blue/purple sapphire ring with small accent diamonds |
| A$300 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought at a market in Dubai while backpacking; carried across borders to propose at the pyramids in Egypt |
| A$300 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Synthetic stone chosen for shared ethics; later lost inside a wall cavity |
| A$300 | – | 1.5 ct | – | – | – | A stunning antique ring bought instead of a new diamond, for ethical and sentimental reasons; would rather spend on travel and the mortgage |
| A$300 | – | – | – | – | – | Cheap ring for the proposal; a couple of years later they bought a wedding set she liked before the wedding, price not given |
| A$300 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | 2024 | Ring type not stated; bought while in India, a few tiny diamonds fell out after 2 years of constant wear; two replaced for about $50 AUD |
| A$330 | – | – | – | rose gold | – | Picked a $330 rose gold ring after realizing partner preferred the band style over larger stones in pricier pieces |
| A$340 | Moissanite | – | round | gold | 2022 | 2ct old-European-cut moissanite in 10k gold from Kuololit |
| A$350 | Natural diamond | – | – | gold | – | Tiny diamond in 18-karat gold from an antique store; earning about $120k at the time |
| A$350 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought from a pawn shop but told his partner it cost 13k; says everyone assumes the higher price |
| A$360 | – | – | – | – | – | Her wedding dress cost the same amount |
| A$380 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer's ring bought for her husband |
| A$400 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | white gold | – | Chose lab diamonds after research, calling a natural-diamond ring costing thousands more foolish and morally questionable |
| A$400 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom-made using a blue gemstone she already owned instead of a diamond; partner had offered up to $4,000 for a diamond ring |
| A$400 | – | – | – | – | 2014 | First ring bought at proposal while unemployed |
| A$400 | – | – | – | – | – | Upgraded once home, to a ring she designed herself |
| A$400 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Australian sapphire instead of diamond; put more money toward the wedding and honeymoon |
| A$400 | – | – | – | – | – | Chose a style suited to working with her hands |
| A$450 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | A cubic zirconia ring bought first |
| A$450 | Other gemstone | – | – | gold | – | Blue gemstone in 18-karat gold worn in the office |
| A$450 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought on sale at half price; many small diamonds rather than one large stone |
| A$450 | – | – | – | – | 2022 | Bought on a half-price sale |
| A$500 | – | – | – | – | – | Budget was $3k but she picked a cheaper ring; after two kids neither the engagement nor wedding ring fit anymore |
| A$500 | Other gemstone | – | – | gold | – | Cheapest ring they saw that day and both liked it; emerald surrounded by small diamonds set in gold; recalled as $400 or $600 |
| A$500 | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Partner earns more but agreed on a smaller budget together |
| A$500 | – | – | – | – | – | Preferred extra money go toward the house |
| A$500 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Amethyst halo ring bought on sale |
| A$500 | Other gemstone | – | – | gold | – | A modest ring with a pearl center and small diamonds on the sides; not durable enough for everyday wear |
| A$500 | – | – | – | – | – | Engagement ring from an Etsy maker who later made a matching wedding band to fit snugly around it |
| A$500 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Her replacement after Michael Hill refused to reset a stone lost 7 or 8 times despite a lifetime warranty; man-made stone, original ring now unused |
| A$550 | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Made-to-order moissanite ring, enjoyed being able to customise and engrave it compared to buying off the shelf |
| A$550 | – | – | – | – | – | From an Australian jewellery maker on Etsy |
| A$600 | Lab-created coloured stone | – | – | – | – | Wife wanted a conflict-free gemstone, often lab-grown and cheaper; ring cost about $600 |
| A$600 | Moissanite | – | – | white gold | – | Custom colour moissanite from an Etsy seller; people can't tell it isn't a diamond and it's less stressful to wear |
| A$600 | Lab-created coloured stone | – | – | – | – | Bought during Black Friday at 50% off (listed around $1,200); lab-created ruby and diamonds |
| A$600 | – | – | – | – | – | Found the identical ring secondhand on Facebook for a fraction of the ~6k retail price, insurance transferred over |
| A$600 | – | – | – | – | – | Second-hand engagement ring bought initially; an upgrade 'decent rock' came about 20 years later with no price given |
| A$650 | Lab-grown diamond | 0.25 ct | – | other | 2023 | 0.25ct lab diamond solitaire in sterling silver, bought online in about 30 minutes; arrived five sizes too small and had to be resized |
| A$699 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer's own matching engagement ring, picked out together with their partner; combined cost of both rings was split between them |
| A$700 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought secondhand on Gumtree, valued around $2k new; picked out together after already agreeing to marry |
| A$700 | – | – | – | – | – | Combined household income $220k; spent $300 on his band and $700 on her ring, kept minimal since it's just a symbol |
| A$700 | Other gemstone | – | – | white gold | 2022 | Aquamarine-and-diamond ring, white gold band; originally $1,200, bought on sale after she'd secretly tried it on with his mum |
| A$700 | Sapphire | – | – | – | 2009 | Chosen in Vietnam the day after the proposal; still worn 15 years later |
| A$700 | – | – | – | – | 2025 | Picked together with her husband to save money toward their mortgage instead of a pricier ring; matching wedding and eternity bands bought too, price not given |
| A$750 | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Partner's budget was $3k but chose a $750 moissanite ring instead of diamond, about a tenth of the diamond price |
| A$750 | Moissanite | – | – | gold | – | Custom-made moissanite ring, much more affordable than an equivalent diamond |
| A$750 | – | – | – | – | – | Vintage-style rings bought on Etsy for 500 to 1000 each; compliments from everyone who sees them |
| A$750 | – | – | – | – | – | Independently valued higher by another jeweller while getting it cleaned |
| A$800 | – | – | – | – | – | Budget was around $5k like others here, but chose a cheaper ring; still loves it |
| A$800 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband spent $800; quality isn't great and needs frequent costly rhodium plating; promised an upgrade later |
| A$800 | – | 0.8 ct | – | – | – | Bought while travelling; came with a locally equivalent certificate and serial checked under microscope |
| A$800 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer's own engagement ring, reciprocal purchase |
| A$800 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Current wife chose a lab-created stone she liked |
| A$850 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | 2005 | Said to be an African ruby; simple and elegant, bought 20 years before the comment |
| A$875 | – | – | – | – | – | Took many hours to find something decent quality and affordable in her style |
| A$900 | – | – | – | – | – | Paid in the 800 to 1000 range; combined engagement and wedding ring in one, partner isn't much for jewellery |
| A$900 | – | – | – | white gold | – | Solitaire diamond on a white gold band, originally priced about 2k but bought during the GFC discount; still looks good 15 years later |
| A$950 | – | – | – | – | – | Broken antique ring bought for $500 plus $450 to repair the band at a jeweller |
| A$990 | – | 0.26 ct | round | gold | 2023 | Art deco vintage style upgrade ring, 18k gold with platinum milgrain bezel, bought 4 years after her original ring, after having a baby and doing better financially |
| A$999 | – | – | – | – | – | Jewellery shop was being sold as owners retired, possibly a good price; liked the diamond quality and design |
| A$1,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | white gold | – | Proposed with a $2 novelty ring first, then picked this one together; valued at 3k, bought on sale for about 1k |
| A$1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Used an Etsy wood Mario ring just to propose, then picked a real ring together; she chose one around $1k with no limit set |
| A$1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Proposed first with a $5 novelty ring from a Laos market, then bought this one afterward |
| A$1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Own wedding band cost $300 separately from the roughly $1k spent on the wife's ring |
| A$1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Partner spent this and it was plenty |
| A$1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Doesn't wear the engagement ring often, wears the wedding band day to day instead |
| A$1,000 | Other gemstone | – | – | other | – | Groom's replacement ring, a design called sanguinius in silver and gold with a ruby and filigree |
| A$1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Says most people they know have tattooed rings instead of buying one |
| A$1,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | gold | – | Writer never wanted a ring and let the store pick the design |
| A$1,100 | – | – | – | white gold | – | Repurposed her father's old white-gold wedding band, melted down and remade into a custom ring |
| A$1,200 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Picked the ring out himself rather than with partner; lab-grown stone; spent $1,200 |
| A$1,200 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Lab-grown diamond solitaire |
| A$1,200 | – | – | – | – | 2015 | Ring valued at 1800, paid 1200 while on Centrelink welfare payments; partner later said she didn't want a nicer one |
| A$1,200 | – | – | – | – | – | Wife's engagement ring |
| A$1,200 | – | – | – | – | – | Was low-income at the time of proposing |
| A$1,250 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought at half price within a $1000-1500 budget the partner set; paid an extra $100 for a ten-year warranty |
| A$1,300 | – | – | – | – | – | Budget was $5k but his wife ended up choosing a cheaper ring |
| A$1,300 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought on sale while young and not well off; partner is non-materialistic |
| A$1,300 | Lab-grown diamond | 0.1 ct | – | gold | – | One ring serves as both wedding and engagement ring; 18-karat gold band |
| A$1,300 | – | – | – | – | – | Chosen together with the partner |
| A$1,300 | Sapphire | – | – | gold | – | Teal-colored Australian sapphire on a wave-style gold band, custom made; still needs resizing |
| A$1,350 | – | – | – | – | – | Chose the smallest diamond she could to keep it modest; picked it with her then-boyfriend |
| A$1,400 | Other gemstone | 2.5 ct | – | gold | 2023 | Fiancé thought the store's simulant-diamond marketing meant a lab diamond; ring was cubic zirconia in a 14k gold solitaire; return in progress. |
| A$1,400 | – | – | – | – | – | Offered up to $4,500 on a credit card, but she found what she wanted for less |
| A$1,400 | – | – | – | – | 2022 | Gave a 2k cap, got it for about 1.4k after a discount; preferred saving the rest for travel or a home |
| A$1,400 | – | – | – | – | – | Widely praised by friends and family after purchase |
| A$1,500 | Other gemstone | – | – | gold | – | Cost about $1,500, under a week's take-home pay; simple gold ring set with a pearl |
| A$1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Capped her budget at $3k; she picked one that was $1.5k |
| A$1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom setting only; centre stone already owned, from writer's mother's mining-company job in the 1980s |
| A$1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Budget was higher but partner ended up wanting the cheaper ring |
| A$1,500 | Lab-created coloured stone | – | – | – | – | Lab-grown sapphire center stone with moissanite accents |
| A$1,500 | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Stone and ring bought together |
| A$1,500 | – | – | – | platinum | – | Platinum band with a small diamond made to the wife's design by a jeweller in Vietnam |
| A$1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Wanted real diamonds regardless of size |
| A$1,500 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Same jeweller who rebuilt the original made a new custom ring with a garnet instead of a diamond after the original was lost |
| A$1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Second proposal, declined over relationship issues rather than the ring itself |
| A$1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Picked it together with her husband, ended up choosing a style she hadn't expected to like |
| A$1,500 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Bought it himself, three large diamonds, says local jewellers don't offer as much value |
| A$1,600 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Chose a white Coober Pedy opal instead of a diamond, finds diamonds too plain on her |
| A$1,700 | – | – | – | – | – | Roughly 1.7k, under 2k; matched the style his partner wanted |
| A$1,800 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought using their shared account; not comfortable wearing jewelry pricier than a nice phone or laptop |
| A$1,800 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Husband picked an antique ring with a non-diamond stone; a lot of money for him at the time |
| A$1,800 | Natural diamond | – | – | platinum | – | Custom black diamond on a platinum band, chosen because his fiancee loves black diamonds |
| A$1,800 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's budget was $5k but she picked a ring that fit perfectly in-store for $1,800 |
| A$1,800 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Second engagement (different partner) was garnet and diamond, a one-of-a-kind antique-store find; $1,800 |
| A$1,800 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought on sale; earns more than the traditional pay-based rule would suggest; partner rarely wears it |
| A$1,800 | – | – | – | – | 1999 | Her very first engagement ring, from an earlier relationship |
| A$1,900 | Lab-grown diamond | 1 ct | – | gold | 2024 | 1 carat lab diamond with an 18k gold band, no-frills design |
| A$2,000 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Antique ruby engagement ring; her separate wedding band paired a ruby with a lab diamond and fooled the insurance appraiser as natural |
| A$2,000 | Lab-created coloured stone | – | – | – | – | Lab-grown emeralds and diamonds, designed to the couple's own taste; household income just over $400k, wanted to avoid mined stones |
| A$2,000 | Natural diamond | 1.25 ct | – | – | – | 1.25ct centre stone plus small accent diamonds, bought from an eBay jeweller based in Israel; called flawless clarity |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | 2014 | Bought via Blue Nile at wholesale-style pricing; certificate valued it at $8k though only $2k was paid; earned $55k that year |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Etsy maker recreated the look of a pricier design; had the metal tested on arrival |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Wishes they had chosen a non-diamond stone instead of going traditional |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought during a covid-era sale |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Secondhand diamond bought online with certificates verified by laser inscription, recast into a new white-gold setting by a jeweller |
| A$2,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 0.2 ct | – | – | 2024 | A single small diamond; no regrets but says he'd buy a rare opal instead if doing it again |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Partner told him he'd have looked foolish spending more |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Suggests shopping around since near-identical looking rings can be found for half the price elsewhere |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Wife strongly ties ring cost to how much she's valued; writer says he'd have been fine spending far less |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | A later ring that doubled as the wedding ring too |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's ring for the writer; unhappy with the price gap, now considering an upgrade |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Given a 7000 budget but partner asked for a smaller 2000 ring instead |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Current husband's ring, simple and matched her style despite not being discussed beforehand |
| A$2,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought when they got engaged young; the couple are now millionaires and she still loves it |
| A$2,200 | – | – | – | – | – | Wedding overall (22 guests at a winery) cost about 7k all up; advises spending more on the wedding or a house than the ring |
| A$2,400 | – | – | – | – | – | Chose the design and stones personally |
| A$2,400 | – | – | – | – | – | A stretch purchase for a new graduate in the late 1990s; chosen together after the proposal |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | 2025 | Bought Oct, proposed May; ring far too big, store capped resizing at two sizes and refused exchange over claimed wear; 10-year warranty; she chose the store |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Felt it was too much even though $2500 isn't a lot, given his wife's inexpensive taste |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Partner spent about $2.5k; writer felt it was more than necessary though loved the ring |
| A$2,500 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Vintage second-hand ring, sapphire centre with two diamonds either side, bought on sale for $2.5k |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent more on ring and band together than on the upcoming backyard wedding |
| A$2,500 | – | 0.25 ct | – | rose gold | 2023 | Three-stone rose gold ring with 0.25ct stones (unclear if figure is per stone or total); bought in Australia |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought while living and earning well in Australia; ended up about £2k under budget |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Chose a smaller carat with better quality stone and setting |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | About to propose the following weekend |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer says the price felt neither cheap nor expensive |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Jeweller tried to raise the price after learning it was for a proposal, honoured the original figure when pushed back |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer originally wanted to cap spending at 1000 but ended up with a custom ring plus a wedding band |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | 1988 | Equivalent to about A$6,000 today; was half a month's salary at the time |
| A$2,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Ring was too small, resized once free; paid extra for lifetime warranty with 6-monthly checks; a fallen diamond was replaced free |
| A$2,600 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | A simple band with a small diamond used as the proposal ring; writer feels pricier diamond rings are a scam |
| A$2,800 | – | – | – | – | 2018 | Personally designed the three-diamond layout and silver mounting |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | 2010 | One-off custom design with a quality stone, chosen to suit her taste and be practical for her job; her wedding band was a bargain after the maker underquoted it |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom made ring with good cut, size and colour; writer felt it was a good price for what she got |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | One-off custom ring quoted at 4k, negotiated to 3k; writer favors moissanite or lab-grown over natural diamond |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Planned to spend around 1500 but ended up at 3000, which was half price off a 6000 tag |
| A$3,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 0.75 ct | – | white gold | 2006 | Chose together at the jeweller; 0.75ct solitaire marked down for a visible inclusion; plain white gold band like her mother's |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent about $3k, roughly three weeks' salary at the time |
| A$3,000 | Sapphire | – | – | platinum | – | Designed a blue sapphire and platinum ring with a jeweller; wife doesn't always wear it due to the attention it draws |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Was a large chunk of household income and savings at the time; now would cost less than a week of their combined pay |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Budgeted up to $4k, ended up spending around $3k |
| A$3,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Chose a lab-grown diamond for ethics and affordability; custom-designed ring cost about $3k |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Paid about £1,700 (about $3,000 AUD); earns $130k AUD; whole wedding plus rings totalled about $5,000 |
| A$3,000 | Moissanite | – | – | – | 2014 | Moissanite for a bigger look at lower cost; wife has loved it for almost a decade |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Amount recalled approximately |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Tried styles on in person first; avoided one that looked too chunky |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Fiance's after-tax base pay stated; writer picked between two design options he offered |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | 2011 | Bought the diamond separately, had a jeweller design and make the ring; no kids or mortgage then |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Could have afforded more but chose not to |
| A$3,000 | Moissanite | – | – | – | 2018 | Moissanite stone plus a custom setting at a jeweller, about six years before this comment |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought together; in hindsight would choose something cheaper or just a band |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Married with just wedding bands first, then bought a single diamond ring on the European honeymoon; was 26 at the time |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Deliberately kept the ring cheap, feels money is better spent elsewhere |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Recently engaged |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband's income at proposal, finances not yet combined; says they'd likely have only gone to about 5k even after combining income, since returns are marginal |
| A$3,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | 2024 | Chose a lab-grown stone just over 1ct with a bit of color for character instead of colorless; fully converted to lab-grown after being unsure |
| A$3,000 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Partner chose a sentimental aquamarine over a diamond, since her mum had one; writer had budgeted 5k or more expecting a diamond |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Partner dislikes diamonds and sees their pricing as artificial, so writer designed a non-diamond ring and had a jeweller make it |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | In-laws are jewellers, got a ring appraised at 10000 for about 3000; an earlier placeholder ring cost a few hundred |
| A$3,000 | – | – | – | – | – | An Australian-made ring the writer calls gorgeous |
| A$3,000 | Moissanite | – | – | – | – | Wife wanted a bigger look, writer wanted affordable; happy with the result |
| A$3,300 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | A radio competition prize of $5k covered the ring plus a car service |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Ethically sourced diamond ring for an ex-partner, priced in the $2,000-5,000 range |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought on special for $3.5k; technically a $5k value ring |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought during Boxing Day sales, ring priced around $3,500 |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Wanted a decent-sized stone that would look good; partner didn't care about size but writer did |
| A$3,500 | Moissanite | – | – | platinum | – | Platinum trilogy setting with a 9mm moissanite centre stone from Cullen Jewellery |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Similar salary to the person asking |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom Celtic-knot design; prioritised design over stone size on a combined 200k income |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Chose stone and design in person at a nice jeweller, before travelling overseas |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Suggests shopping sales, including pawn shops, for better prices than jewellery stores |
| A$3,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought during a sale planned six months ahead |
| A$3,500 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Wedding cost about 30k; also buying a 650k property together |
| A$3,500 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Partner picked the ring |
| A$3,600 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought secondhand on eBay with GIA certification and paperwork |
| A$3,700 | – | 0.5 ct | – | – | 2016 | Bought from a US retailer since local Australian stores felt overpriced; half-carat solitaire |
| A$3,800 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 2 ct | asscher | yellow gold | – | Ring still being made at time of posting; chose VVS2 clarity since asscher cuts show inclusions easily, and G color to avoid a cold, icy look |
| A$4,000 | Lab-created coloured stone | – | – | – | – | Lab-created ruby ring from Brilliant Earth; very happy with it |
| A$4,000 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | First engagement ring was ruby and diamond, style picked by her, exact ring chosen by fiance; about $4,000 |
| A$4,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | gold | – | A 0.8k lab diamond set in a gold band cost $4k total; earning $50k a year at the time |
| A$4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent about $4k while in an entry-level job; wife no longer wears it since it doesn't fit after kids |
| A$4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | After the proposal she went ring shopping and chose a $4k ring herself, affordable but a fair amount for them then |
| A$4,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Custom made online with a lab-grown diamond; avoided heavy in-store markups |
| A$4,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Made by a jeweller friend near wholesale cost; wife rarely wears it |
| A$4,000 | – | – | – | – | 2010 | Jeweller combined two rings the buyer liked into one design |
| A$4,000 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Sapphire hand-picked in Sri Lanka on a trip, set by a Sydney jewellery artist with small diamond accents |
| A$4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Household income around 250k plus his 100k, varies with her RSUs and his overtime; whole wedding came to about 9k |
| A$4,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Simple custom ring designed around concepts from his wife's heritage; personally considers 10k too much |
| A$4,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.5 ct | – | – | – | Partner didn't care about carat size so they focused more on the ring's design; put extra effort into the proposal itself instead |
| A$4,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 0.96 ct | round | platinum | 2025 | Total price for the ring: 0.96ct round lab diamond, platinum cathedral setting with 6 tulip prongs, custom made by a small local jeweler |
| A$4,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 0.96 ct | round | platinum | 2025 | Fiance-designed ring with the setting custom made to fit this specific diamond |
| A$4,300 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Quoted RRP of 8.3k for the same lab diamond, which he thinks is just an inflated retail figure |
| A$4,500 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Local jeweller helped design it; cost $4,500, appraised at $5,500 once finished; chose from 10 diamonds of similar value |
| A$4,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Budget was $10k but chose a $4,500 ring together after initially wanting a cheaper $3k one and being upsold |
| A$4,500 | – | – | – | – | 2013 | Bought on sale about 10 years before the comment; now having a nicer anniversary ring made by a local jeweller |
| A$4,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Compared roughly 500 rings online; avoided mall stores as overpriced |
| A$4,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.8 ct | – | platinum | – | Platinum band and setting; earning a bit more than the asker's income at the time |
| A$4,500 | – | – | – | platinum | – | Platinum base requested for skin allergies, plus a few hundred more in customs fees to ship it over |
| A$4,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Original ACA (Whiteflash's branded ideal cut) engagement ring, value used for insuring and customs before trading it in for an upgrade. |
| A$4,999 | – | – | – | – | – | Boxing day sale, 50 percent off a 10000 list price |
| A$5,000 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Two side diamonds flank the sapphire |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought a loose stone online then had a local jeweller make a simple custom setting; about 15 hours of research to maximise value |
| A$5,000 | Sapphire | – | – | rose gold | – | Proposed with an imitation ring first, then designed this one with a sapphire centre and two small diamonds, before 2020's gold price rise |
| A$5,000 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Bespoke ring built around a sizeable Australian emerald, on a salary similar to the asker's |
| A$5,000 | Other gemstone | 2 ct | – | – | 2013 | 2ct pink morganite centre with about 1ct of small diamond accents; not a diamond person |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | 2015 | Replaced first ring around the wedding a year later; both later found to be poor-quality gold causing a skin reaction |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | 2023 | Now replacing again with a new custom ring after realizing the gold quality was poor |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Ex-fiance's traditional solitaire was beautiful but not her style; would've preferred something different and cheaper |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband proposed with ring 'optional'; designed together, came to about $5k |
| A$5,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Spent $5k all up on a lab diamond in a ring made by a jeweller the partner likes; earns similar to the person asking |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Wholesale/manufacturing jeweller made a near-exact copy of a Tiffany-style ring, cheaper than high-street equivalents; price recalled approximately |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer's mother sold her own ring to the couple at a family discount; mother said it was worth about $20k |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Husband had just been promoted; writer working part-time and studying full-time at the time |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Let partner pick it; married three years at time of comment |
| A$5,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 0.42 ct | – | – | – | Used a lab diamond company for a solitaire-style ring |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Consulted four jewellers with photos of styles partner liked; avoided the traditional three-months-salary amount |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Earning a bit less than the original buyers |
| A$5,000 | – | 0.36 ct | princess | white gold | – | 18ct white gold princess-cut solitaire; resale quotes came in around $500. |
| A$5,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | 2024 | Recently upgraded from the moissanite to a lab diamond |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Paid more because of a particular style she liked |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Made in a workshop with a professional setting the gem |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Picked among a few strong contenders the jewelers showed her |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Made at a discount by the writer's jeweller uncle; real value estimated higher |
| A$5,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.5 ct | – | – | 2024 | Upgraded from a 1.5ct moissanite gift (price not given, received when combined income was about 200k) to a 1.5ct lab diamond now that household income is 500k |
| A$5,000 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Chose a sapphire over a diamond and had it customised to taste; gets a lot of compliments and no regrets |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | 2013 | Now sits in a drawer, wrapped in sadness; considering selling it |
| A$5,000 | – | 0.9 ct | – | white gold | 2013 | A .9ct solitaire on a white gold band; thought it excessive at the time and wouldn't want to marry someone who spent more |
| A$5,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.7 ct | – | – | 2025 | Final choice, a higher-quality lab-grown diamond for about a third of the natural options' price |
| A$5,000 | – | – | – | – | 2018 | Assembled the ring himself choosing all 4 Cs; local jewelers wanted over $10k AUD for equivalent quality |
| A$5,000 | Sapphire | 1.6 ct | radiant | gold | 2026 | Natural Australian parti sapphire with a diamond band in 18k gold; sapphire sourced separately then set locally |
| A$5,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Engagement ring from Michael Hill; after the relationship ended she pawned it and got only the scrap gold value, since a jeweler said the diamonds were too low quality to resell despite having clarity paperwork |
| A$5,500 | Other gemstone | 2.5 ct | – | white gold | – | Pink morganite centre stone with about 1 carat total of small diamonds, one-of-a-kind design by a master jeweller |
| A$5,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.2 ct | oval | white gold | 2024 | Designed together: oval lab diamond with a halo of smaller diamonds under white gold prongs; recommends the Melbourne jeweller by name |
| A$5,500 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | 2024 | Similar simple style to another buyers's lab-grown ring but smaller and from Tiffany, so not lab-grown |
| A$5,850 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | white gold | 2013 | Loose diamond bought online then set locally by a Melbourne jeweller; still married 10 years on |
| A$5,900 | – | – | – | – | – | Listed around $6.5k, paid $5.9k; husband earns about $80k as a truck driver |
| A$6,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.4 ct | oval | – | – | Built via an online ring builder; stone type inferred from lab-focused vendor and context |
| A$6,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 0.9 ct | – | platinum | – | Custom platinum ring with a lab diamond around 0.9ct, F/VS2; typical cost for that spec quoted as 5-7k |
| A$6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Designed with partner's input; $6,000 budget paid off over a year |
| A$6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Had dependants and a mortgage at the time of purchase |
| A$6,000 | – | – | – | – | 2013 | About ten years before the comment |
| A$6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Original purchase later sold to a jeweller for a fraction of the price. |
| A$6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Wife wanted a proper diamond ring once back in Australia |
| A$6,000 | – | 0.75 ct | – | – | – | Eight-year engagement so far |
| A$6,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2 ct | – | – | – | Earns about $100k a year; chose lab grown over mined |
| A$6,000 | – | – | – | – | 2016 | Wife's mother nearly threw the ring away after mistaking the tissue it was wrapped in for rubbish |
| A$6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer's wife doesn't want to know the price |
| A$6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | A vintage-style ring |
| A$6,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.6 ct | – | – | 2025 | A fancy vivid pink lab diamond ring bought from an Australian lab-diamond jeweler |
| A$6,500 | Natural diamond | – | radiant | platinum | – | Budgeted $10k but came in lower after import costs; wife preferred a mined radiant stone with a pave platinum band |
| A$6,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 1.5 ct | – | – | – | Midpoint of a stated 6-7k range |
| A$6,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Planned to spend 3k but went higher, no regrets |
| A$7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Partner secretly researched her taste for months; custom-made ring cost $7k; she'd have picked a $1k antique herself |
| A$7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Had some personal wealth and family help; partner would've been just as happy with a tenth of the cost |
| A$7,000 | Other gemstone | – | – | – | – | Custom ring using her birthstone as the centre stone; researched styles beforehand |
| A$7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | First engagement ring; bought years before the comment, year not given; later sold for a fraction. |
| A$7,000 | Sapphire | – | – | – | – | Large sapphire with small diamond accents |
| A$7,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Paid a few years before the comment, exact year not given |
| A$7,000 | – | – | – | – | 2018 | Says gold has risen a lot since; would cost about the same now only thanks to lab-grown options |
| A$7,000 | Natural diamond | 2.1 ct | – | – | 2018 | Bought about 7 years before the comment; not the best clarity, but says a similar 5-carat stone would still cost far less than the six-figure estimates floated here |
| A$7,140 | Sapphire | 2.01 ct | – | white gold | – | 2.01ct Sri Lankan sapphire in an 18-karat white gold band with twelve small diamond accents, designed together after the proposal |
| A$7,500 | – | – | – | – | 2015 | Custom one-off ring with rare stones made at a discount by a family friend's jewellery-manufacturing business |
| A$7,500 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Combined two family heirloom diamonds with a new sapphire chosen at the jeweller |
| A$7,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Picked a relatively affordable diamond that looked as good under light as pricier ones |
| A$8,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 1 ct | – | – | – | Earning about $120k; bought a 1ct diamond and designed the ring with a jeweller; small diamonds down the band, pear detail |
| A$8,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Had no fixed budget, just found what he wanted |
| A$8,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | gold | – | Bespoke ring mixing a lab-grown stone with small mined Australian diamonds on an 18k gold band; jeweller offered 5k/8k/10k tiers, settled on the middle |
| A$8,800 | – | – | – | – | – | Already paid $8,800 for the ring ahead of proposing; says the amount isn't really the point |
| A$9,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Chose a non-Tiffany ring since the brand's style didn't suit her; most of her friends have Tiffany rings instead |
| A$9,000 | – | – | – | – | 2015 | Bought about 8 years before the comment; still hadn't found a way to resell it. |
| A$9,000 | Natural diamond | 2.65 ct | cushion | gold | 2025 | Custom ring: 2.65ct unheated yellow/green parti sapphire cost $5,000 AUD; whole ring with a 16-diamond halo and hidden sapphires, made by the same crafter, ran under $9k AUD total |
| A$9,100 | – | – | – | – | – | Followed old salary-percentage advice and regrets it; ring later listed secondhand unsold for years |
| A$9,500 | – | – | – | – | 2019 | Designed and had his wife's ring custom made secretly for a surprise proposal |
| A$10,000 | Natural diamond | 0.8 ct | – | platinum | – | Platinum chosen over gold; kept the 0.8ct stone modest; lab-grown wasn't easily available when he bought |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Designed without his wife's input as a surprise, per her preference; she said she'd love it regardless of his choice |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Partner loves it though she had no input on design or stone |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Budget was $20k (one month's salary, implying ~$240k income) but partner chose $10k, feeling a big diamond wasn't practical |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Used the ring's cost to justify buying himself a watch later |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Family gave a $10k heirloom ring the day after a spontaneous, unplanned proposal |
| A$10,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | platinum | – | Bought a loose lab diamond then had a local jeweller set it in platinum; jeweller said it'd cost 4x more if natural |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent $10k on partner's ring; both love it, no regrets |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Jeweller sells stones near cost and lets the stone be traded back later at the purchase price |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought from a well-reviewed local jeweller who resized it; worn daily |
| A$10,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Family are fourth-generation jewellers; custom-made ring |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | 2017 | Bought the exact ring she had pointed out years earlier; price had risen by the time he bought it |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | 2014 | About 10 years back, just under 1ct total with accent diamonds set from the 9 to 3 o'clock positions |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | 2015 | Mother considered it cheap and small; writer was too nervous to wear it in public at the time |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | A one-off remake of a discontinued design she had picked out six years earlier |
| A$10,000 | Other gemstone | 10 ct | – | – | – | 10-carat emerald center stone with an emerald-style band, bought in India |
| A$10,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Highpoint store; care plan with free cleaning and rhodium plating lost after missing an inspection deadline; ring type implied by discussion |
| A$11,000 | – | – | – | – | 2020 | Just over 1ct stone with halo and pave diamonds; called it a happy medium his partner was content with |
| A$11,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent $11k; has a mortgage and similar income to the person asking; partner loves the ring |
| A$11,000 | Lab-grown diamond | – | – | – | – | Had budgeted 15-20k; income given as 250k or more |
| A$11,000 | – | – | – | platinum | 2017 | Antique early-20th-century platinum ring; replacement value estimated around $15k-18k, a bit above the price paid |
| A$11,500 | – | – | – | – | 2016 | Bought about 7 years before the comment; later resold with a GIA certificate. |
| A$12,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought more than six years before the comment; insurer revalues it yearly for the premium, now about $13.5k |
| A$12,000 | – | – | – | – | 2023 | Spent this because it mattered to partner; she is buying him a gift too |
| A$12,000 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.5 ct | round | platinum | 2024 | 2.5ct lab-grown in a French pave halo, half the setting in platinum with diamonds; writer earned 400k plus about 300k in investment gains last year, partner earned 135k before mat leave |
| A$12,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | – | Original diamond ring, later rebuilt after weight loss changed her hand size, then lost at work without her noticing it slip off |
| A$12,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent in the $10,000-15,000 range |
| A$14,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Spent 14k on a 70k salary at the time of proposal; feels in hindsight it was too much |
| A$14,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Later resold the ring for a fraction of what was paid |
| A$14,000 | Natural diamond | 1.2 ct | oval | gold | – | Diamond halo setting on an 18ct gold band; about 10000 USD equivalent; writer says she'd choose lab if buying again |
| A$14,000 | Natural diamond | 1.6 ct | oval | – | 2024 | Custom band included; bought from an independent Sydney jeweller in the Dymocks building; stone ratio 1.42 |
| A$15,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Her budget was $5k but he went about three times over (~$15k) on a custom-designed ring reflecting his own taste |
| A$15,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Describes self as a good saver; no regrets |
| A$15,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Was 26 and earning 71k when he proposed |
| A$15,000 | – | 1 ct | – | platinum | – | Ordered Whiteflash's super-ideal 'A Cut Above' line in a platinum setting; says most local Australian retailers besides one exception aren't worth buying from |
| A$15,000 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Just gave partner this ring; jeweller's insurance valuation came in at double the price paid |
| A$15,000 | – | – | – | – | – | First marriage; writer felt obligated to say yes and was uncomfortable with the spend |
| A$18,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Spent 18k on a natural stone, now wishes he'd gone lab-grown for the same specs at far less cost |
| A$18,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Went big at $18k while earning $95k a year; calls it a splurge for an heirloom-quality piece |
| A$18,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Had mentally budgeted this amount already, so it wasn't a shock |
| A$20,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer's partner spent this on the ring; writer thinks it was over the top and dislikes the ongoing insurance cost |
| A$20,000 | – | – | – | – | 2012 | Bought over ten years before the comment; she gets many compliments and dislikes cheap things |
| A$20,000 | Natural diamond | 1.5 ct | – | platinum | – | Custom 1.5ct triple-excellent mined stone in platinum; bought a watch instead of upgrading once he saw current bigger-stone prices |
| A$20,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Custom ring with stones ethically sourced from Australia; no regrets |
| A$22,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Regrets paying extra for a natural stone with a GIA certificate his partner has never even opened; recommends lab-grown instead |
| A$22,000 | – | – | – | – | 2019 | Still very happy years later, calls it the best money he ever spent |
| A$23,000 | – | 2.1 ct | – | – | – | Bought at a steep discount before the marriage ended; sold with all papers after separating. |
| A$25,000 | – | – | – | – | 2023 | Income_pct is of his own after-tax salary; called it a once-in-a-lifetime purchase despite being an outlier here |
| A$25,000 | – | – | – | – | 2024 | Felt fine spending this much since he spends more on his own hobbies; warns against treating the ring as an investment |
| A$30,000 | – | 2.5 ct | – | – | – | Bespoke design to control cut, clarity and colour across 2.5ct total; certificate valued it at $50k |
| A$30,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Nearly all of writer's savings at the time, before buying a home; no regret |
| A$30,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Wishes he had gone lab grown instead |
| A$32,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Works in mining and got a 20 percent discount on the diamond |
| A$35,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Given by a former partner; writer was too anxious to ever wear it |
| A$37,500 | – | 1.5 ct | – | – | – | 1.5ct ring worn daily; described as three months' salary then, about 35-40k in today's terms; friends who went bigger later upsized |
| A$40,000 | – | – | – | – | – | About twice what he personally wanted to spend but came at a significant discount since his wife worked in the jewellery industry at the time |
| A$80,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Third proposal, also declined; partner seemed more focused on the ring's value than her answer |
Sources and method
Price reports on this page come from 42 public discussions where buyers answered in their own words. Each comment that stated what someone paid became one row; notes are paraphrased, never quoted.
The largest discussions used here (42)
- 2023-06: Husbands, how much did you spend on the engagement ring? (1083 comments)
- 2026-01: Ring will be around 23k-35k. NEED ADVICE (1050 comments)
- 2023-01: How much would you spend on an engagement ring? (909 comments)
- 2025-05: Neighbor’s natural 5 carat just got smeared at and I’m laughing. (580 comments)
- 2024-08: How much would you spend on an engagement ring? (517 comments)
- 2026-05: Fuck you, Michael Hill (516 comments)
- 2023-08: Show me you inexpensive rings! (475 comments)
- 2022-10: How much y’all paying for your engagement rings? (399 comments)
- 2026-07: PSA: do not buy an engagement ring from Tiffany’s (372 comments)
- 2025-03: Did I mess up? (369 comments)
- 2022-10: Is everyone here super rich? 😅 (336 comments)
- 2025-04: What are people spending on engagement rings? 💍 (265 comments)
- 2025-07: Can you pick out which is diamond ? (211 comments)
- 2024-08: Was quoted 10k CAD for a 2.5 carat moissanite (196 comments)
- 2025-11: Do you wear your engagement ring everyday? What does your ring look like? (187 comments)
- 2026-03: Cheap engagement ring ideas that don’t look cheap (173 comments)
- 2023-02: Selling an engagement ring (172 comments)
- 2025-07: How much did you spend on an engagement ring ? (165 comments)
- 2023-04: What are the engagement ring customs in your country? 🌎💍 (158 comments)
- 2024-12: Engagement rings (127 comments)
- 2025-06: Buying an engagement ring (122 comments)
- 2024-09: Advice: Engagement ring doubts (116 comments)
- 2025-07: Question, what does an average American Man spend on an Engagement Ring? (114 comments)
- 2024-09: Engagement Ring price. How much did you pay? (108 comments)
- 2022-07: Hi guys, I need help. How much does your fiancé/husband spend on your engagement ring? I feel shy about my husband. He wants me to buy around $4000. I think it's too much. (92 comments)
- 2026-03: I found my dream guy and my dream ring, but the ring is wayyy too expensive. (86 comments)
- 2026-04: Do people really spend the same amount as RENT on an engagement ring? (77 comments)
- 2025-07: Unheated 2.65ct Australian Yellow/Green Parti Sapphire 🥹💚💛💍 (60 comments)
- 2025-09: General questions: how expensive was your engagement ring and where did you buy it? (56 comments)
- 2018-10: What’s a reasonable spend on an engagement ring these days? (54 comments)
- 2025-10: Buying an Engagement Ring Australia (50 comments)
- 2022-09: From Langley BC. I’m looking for a 2ct moissanite ring just like this. I’ve been getting quotes from 4000-8000$ CAD. Does that seem right or no? Picture on the right is a mined diamond (What’s the point if they look similar) psst it’s 10k (43 comments)
- 2026-02: $30 or $300? (40 comments)
- 2024-07: #JOTW Belated post - 10 year anniversary upgrade - 3.6ct M SI2 old mine cut cluster (38 comments)
- 2023-03: I’m worried my fiancé severely overpaid for a CZ ring. (38 comments)
- 2026-06: Knobspin 10ct moissanite ring (38 comments)
- 2025-11: Would I be overpaying for the setting? (32 comments)
- 2026-04: Engagement ring prices are all over the place - what did you actually spend? (21 comments)
- 2024-03: Any Australians here who have upgraded with Whiteflash? (14 comments)
- 2026-07: Enagagment Ring Insurance (14 comments)
- 2026-08: Jeweller/Wholesaler recommendations for Oval Diamond Ring (Australia or India Based) (11 comments)
- 2025-11: Is this a reasonable price for this lab-grown engagement ring? (10 comments)
A price counts here when the buyer paid in Australian dollars: the community's own currency, or one the buyer named. Quotes not taken, price bounds and rings reported second-hand are left out.