Seattle Engagement Rings Shopping Guide

When I first started shopping for an engagement ring for my (now) fiance, it was incredibly overwhelming! There were so many styles, industry buzz words, and there’s a huge variety in pricing. While looking online, I had a hard time finding a local, helpful, engagement ring shopping guide for Seattle – so I decided to write this Seattle engagement rings shopping guide! Hopefully, at the very least, you find this helpful. Best case scenario, you find the perfect jeweler within Seattle. Let’s get started!

How To Pick The Right Engagement Ring

Before you go shopping, it’s best to know what you’re looking for. It’ll help you find the right ring with much less friction along the way. There are a ton of details to each individual ring, and jewelers are phenomenal artists. The best way to get started is to know a general style, and budget you’d like to stick to. Once you have these things nailed down, sorting through the variety will be much easier!

When it comes to the style of the engagement ring, really think about your partner’s style and what they like. Do they wear much jewelry at all, or are they more of a minimalist? Would they want something flashy and gold – or would they want something moody, dramatic and dark?

There are colored diamonds, vintage inspired, natural/organic, classic, and some other key phrases and words you’ll hear along the way. Pick out a style that your partner loves, and use it for inspiration!

I’ve photographed weddings with massive diamond rocks that could outshine the sun, and I’ve photographed elopements with small bands that had been passed down through generations in their family. The amount you spend may not make you happy, but sticking to something that’s valuable to you and your partner will!

Even something as simple as getting the right ring box can make a world of difference to the presentation! This is a ring box from The Legend of Zelda, with a crown setting for the engagement ring with a vintage style. The striped, simple, band was the wedding band for the groom.

Engagement Ring Jewelers in Seattle, Washington

Brilliant Earth

Brilliant Earth’s mission “is to cultivate a more transparent, sustainable, compassionate, & inclusive jewelry industry.” They “believe in creating jewelry you can feel good about wearing, without ever compromising between quality and conscience.” Their “about” page is so impressive, it even includes a mission report from the previous year. In their origin story, they mention that they couldn’t find a standard that met their own – so they created a new one. Including responsible sourcing, social impact, and climate action, they “started Brilliant Earth in 2005 to raise the ethical standards of the diamon industry and create a new way to buyu beautiful fine jewelry.” Their website also mentions sustainable packaging, rainforest conservation, and Renewable Energy Credits and Verified Emission Reductions. It’s safe to say that if you care about going greener and lowering your impact on the environment, Brilliant Earth most likely aligns with your values.

Green Lake Jewelery Works

When my fiance and I originally went engagement ring shopping, our first stop was at Green Lake Jewelry Works in Bellevue. Without an appointment, we were able to walk in, check out all the rings we wanted, and we even got to sit down with a jeweler and talk with him for an hour. They were kind enough to show us all kinds of styles, answer all of our questions, and gave us a TON of information about making the right decision. I’d recommend them based on this experience alone!

They’ve been making custom jewelry since 1996, and they love having their clients work directly with the artist.

Baraka Gems

Baraka Gems has a family-owned history rooted in giving. With a record of sending half of its profits to help build orphanages in Uruguay, along with wells in India, they believe people come first. Baraka Gems states on their website that they are a “safe space. We do not discriminate against couples or clients based on race, gender, sexual orientation, citizen status, disability, or religious beliefs. We practice inclusivity and community support.” They make a donation with every purchase to A Ring Of Hope, their non profit organization.

Olympic Jewelry Seattle

Olympic jewelry is located across the street from the Olympic Fairmont Hotel, and has been family owned jeweler was established in 1979. Originally owned by Edward Basoglu, his daughter Jizel eventually joined him in business. Jizel’s son, Michael, grew up working in the store and is now the 3rd generation owner. Together, this family boasts a “commitment to transparency, ehtics, and providing an unmatched client experience.”

Tara Nash

Tara Nash meets with every single one of her clients in the comfort and privacy of her own studio. She leans into her friendly nature, and strives to make everything easy on her clients. Additionally, she offers personal, private meetings, you get the full breakdown of your invoice prior to ordering, and get to design something one of a kind. Her website also includes lots of other pieces of jewelry, along with a large amount of high-quality reviews from previous clients.

Joseph Jewelry

Although we may share a name, that has nothing to do with this listing! Joseph has been in the jewelry industry since before 1993, and opened doors with his brother in Bellevue in 1996. In 2018, they expanded to include a downtown Seattle showroom, “offering the same custom desig process and high-end customer service.” They have an online portal which allows them to work with customers from around the world. They value Giving Back, Conflict-Free Sourcing, and Recycled Materials.

Seattle Diamonds

Open since 1985, Seattle Diamonds is on the corner of 9th and Lenora, close to South Lake Union and Capital Hill. They offer a luxury client experience, and each one of their staff members has training in the Gemological Institute of America.

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