The Biggest Mistakes Couples Make When Buying an Engagement Ring in 2026

Buying an engagement ring is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. There’s a lot to consider, from your budget to ring designs and ethical materials. Engagement ring trends are changing with a greater focus on personalized styles and choosing a ring that reflects who you are as a couple, including your values. 

Many of the mistakes that couples make when buying an engagement ring, whether they’re choosing a ring together or one partner is planning a surprise proposal, come from misinformation and misconceptions about the jewelry industry.  

At Valley Rose, our sustainable engagement rings are easy to customize, as you can choose the center stone for your ethical, fairmined gold setting. In this guide, we’re covering 4 of the biggest mistakes couples make when buying an engagement ring and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Buying a Ring Without Understanding the Stone

One of the worst engagement ring mistakes you can make is buying a ring without understanding the stone. There’s more to a gemstone or diamond than just its carat weight. The cut, clarity, and color of your gemstone or diamond are just as important. 

Before you start engagement ring shopping, read our guide on the 4Cs and the importance of diamond grading. When in doubt, always ask your jeweler for more information about the stone, and don’t be afraid to try different options that suit your budget.

Mistake 2: Choosing Trends Over Timeless Designs

It’s easy to fall in love with a trend, but you have to remember that you’re likely to be wearing your engagement ring for the rest of your life – unless you’re planning a future engagement ring upgrade. Instead of focusing on trends, you can choose a unique engagement ring that reimagines a classic silhouette or style, like our ‘Kristina’ oval sapphire engagement ring. 

Remember that your engagement ring is an heirloom, and you want to balance aesthetic with longevity to find a style that you’ll still love to wear in 10 years.

Mistake 3: Overlooking Ethical Sourcing

Sustainability has become one of the buzzwords in the jewelry industry, with conscious luxury becoming one of the defining trends for engagement rings in 2026. If you want an engagement ring that will stand the test of time, it’s important to consider ethical sourcing. You can future-proof your engagement ring by choosing a style made with fairmined gold, responsibly sourced sapphires, and lab-grown diamonds.

Mistake 4: Not Thinking About Your Wedding Ring Early

Although you’re getting ready to propose, you’ll want to think of your engagement ring and wedding ring pairing. The silhouette of your engagement ring may limit the type of wedding ring you can stack it with. You’ll want to create a cohesive look between your engagement and wedding ring, ensuring that they stack easily together to look intentional. Every time you look at an engagement ring, consider what type of ethical wedding ring it would look best with.

Find Your Perfect Match with an Ethical Engagement Ring

Avoiding these 4 common mistakes will help you choose an engagement ring that feels intentional and that will become a modern heirloom. Ethical materials, like fairmined gold and lab-grown diamonds, can help your engagement ring stand the test of time by incorporating your values into your ring. Ready to pop the question? Book a virtual consultation to start designing your bespoke engagement ring or shop our ready-to-ship engagement rings.