Choose 18K for the deeper color, and plan on a polish now and then, because the softer gold shows wear sooner. Pick the gold color she already wears. Then decide the middle of the ring. Lab-grown centers here run near 3 carats, natural ones mostly under a carat, and a cluster of small diamonds skips the single stone altogether. Know her size before you buy, because a resized ring is final.
18K or 14K: is 18K gold good for an engagement ring
Yes, when she wants the deeper color and will give the ring a little care. 18K is three parts gold in four. 14K is just over half gold, and harder. The softer 18K picks up fine scratches sooner, and a jeweler polishes them out. Have the prongs checked once a year, since soft gold wears at the tips first. Every ring here is 18K, and the middle one weighs just under 4 grams. For 14K and platinum, start with every engagement ring.
Gold color: yellow, white or rose gold engagement ring
Match the gold she wears every day, on her watch or her other rings. Nearly every ring here is offered in yellow and white, and most add rose, chosen on the listing. In 18K the yellow runs rich and the rose reads a soft pink. White gold is pale gold under a rhodium plate, which wears thin with daily use and is renewed every year or two. Yellow and rose need no plating. Yellow gold engagement rings have a page of their own.
Center stone: lab-grown or natural diamond, and how many carats
Here the difference is size. The lab-grown centers sit around 3 carats, most of them E or F color, and every one VS clarity or cleaner. The natural centers mostly stay under a carat. About half of the graded ones are SI clarity, and nine list no grade at all, so ask the desk before you choose one. Lab-grown and natural diamonds of the same grade look the same; a natural diamond costs more. We don't sell diamonds as an investment, and resale value isn't guaranteed for either. The natural side also holds an 8 carat canary cushion. Three lab listings name an IGI report, and the desk answers for the rest. Compare lab-grown and natural diamond engagement rings across the metals.
Cluster and baguette: an engagement ring without a center stone
About half the rings bought here in the year had no single center diamond. The middle is built from small natural diamonds instead, most often a cluster framed by a square halo or baguettes and rounds gathered into a shape. The face reads wide and the ring stays under 5 grams. The cluster, at 1.75 grams, sold most of any ring here in the year. These come in yellow or white gold, with sizes 5 to 8 on each. They suit a woman who wants sparkle across the finger rather than one tall stone.
Size: 18K engagement ring sizes and resizing
Borrow a ring she already wears, have it sized, and tell the desk which finger and hand it came from. Most of these rings run from size 5 to 8 in half sizes. Some reach down to 4 or up to 10. Eight listings come in one size only, so read the size before you buy. The refund policy counts a resized ring as custom work, and custom work cannot come back. For a size a listing lacks, the live chat answers first, then call or text 212-872-9692 from 10 AM ET.
Questions we get in the store
Is 18K gold good for an engagement ring?
Yes, if she wants the deeper color and can live with a little wear. Its gold content runs higher than 14K, which makes it softer, so fine scratches show sooner and a jeweler polishes them away.
Lab-grown or natural diamond for an 18K engagement ring?
Choose on size: lab-grown centers here run near 3 carats, natural ones mostly under a carat. Lab-grown and natural diamonds of the same grade look the same; a natural diamond costs more. We don't sell diamonds as an investment, and resale value isn't guaranteed for either.
Which gold colors do these 18K engagement rings come in?
Nearly all come in yellow and white gold, and most in rose as well, picked on the listing. The cluster and baguette rings stop at yellow and white, and four listings offer no color choice, so ask the desk which gold it is.
More questions we get
Can an engagement ring have no center stone?
Yes. About half the rings bought here in the year had none. Their middles are small natural diamonds, most often a cluster in a square halo or baguettes set in a shape, and those designs weigh under 5 grams.
Does 18K white gold need replating?
Yes, now and then. White gold is pale gold under a rhodium plate that wears with daily use, and a jeweler renews it, usually every year or two. Yellow and rose 18K never need a plate.
What ring size should I order if the proposal is a surprise?
Order the size of another ring she wears, borrowed for a day and measured, or ask a friend or relative who will keep the secret. Check it against the ring size chart. Most rings here come in 5 through 8, half sizes included.
How fast does an 18K engagement ring ship?
A ring in stock usually leaves in two to five business days, tracked. Several here are made to order in her size, and the 3 carat oval solitaire's listing allows about two to three weeks. Ask the desk which yours is.
Can I return an 18K engagement ring?
Yes, within 14 days of delivery, unworn and unaltered. Get clearance from customer service first, at service@traxnyc.com or 212-391-3832, then ship on the store's return label. Restocking takes 5 percent of the refund, and the label's cost comes off too. A resized or made-for-her ring is final.
How much does an 18K gold engagement ring cost?
Each listing prints its own price. Most of it rides on the center stone, its carat, its grades, and grown or mined. For a stone not listed, start in the live chat, or call or text 212-872-9692 from 10 AM ET.