The 13 Best Engagement Rings for Couples in 2023

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Forever starts with the perfect ring.

One of the most important things you'll ever buy is an engagement ring. It's a piece of jewelry that'll change the trajectory of your life, welcome in a new chapter, and symbolize the start of forever. So obviously, you should choose your engagement ring wisely.

Here's the thing about engagement rings—they're far more crucial than wedding rings. Wedding rings can be swapped for newer or different styles in 10, 20, 50 years; you'll still be married! But you won't still be engaged (I hope). This is a one and done ring—no do-overs for the piece of jewelry on your partner's finger that'll prompt countless "So how did you pop the question?" prompts. The engagement ring you wear and the engagement ring your partner wears should be perfect—each to your own style, a story of your unique love, a memory you'll always cherish.

That being said, the world of engagement rings is a scary place. There are a lot of options to consider—what metal do you want for the band? And how thick should it be? Do you want diamonds or gemstones? Does your partner? How many carats? What shape? Should it be a halo ring, or a cathedral one? Ugh. Eternal love is beautiful, but to get to eternity, you have to answer a lot of these questions. It'll all work out in the end, though—you, your partner, the perfect rings for you both. To get you started, there's an assortment of the best engagement rings on the market—of all shapes, sizes, and styles—below. Peruse for inspo, or pull the trigger before you pop the question.

Elegant and timeless, this puts a subtle, beautiful twist (literally) on a simple band, with emeralds dispersed throughout. It's perfect for stacking, so when the wedding ring comes into play, both can be worn together.

This stunning yellow gold engagement ring features emerald-shaped and pear-shaped lab-grown diamonds on a diamond-studded band. It's classy without being overly flashy, the ultimate placeholder before the wedding.

For him or for her, this gold and diamond ring is uniquely cool—it retains the style of a band, but doesn't skimp on the stones.

Cool, sleek, and masculine, this timeless ring combines white gold with a perfect, small, subtle diamond in the center.

This is the classic, timeless engagement ring—a simple, beautiful band.

A three-stone engagement ring is a timeless, elegant style that's romantic and classy. This one is customizable, from the metal color to the shape of the diamond.

28 rose-cut diamonds make a dazzling pattern on this slim band, which sits perfectly under a wedding ring.

Elegant, elevated, and understatedly luxurious.

A classic engagement ring style, with some extra diamonds on the band. This is as timeless as your love.

Or, the standard—but still stunning—engagement ring. There really isn't any going wrong with this style.

Diamonds not her thing? No worries—maybe sapphires are. This unique, precious gemstone shines on a tapered baguette setting.

No two loves are alike, and if you want something unique, this sapphire-studded band is cool and groovy for you or your partner—or both.

A modern, abstract band, this puts more emphasis on the tiny stone and sits elegantly on your ring finger.

Trishna Rikhy is the Associate Style Commerce Editor at Esquire. Previously, her writing has appeared in Vogue Runway, PAPER Magazine, V Magazine, V MAN, and more. She is based in NYC, but can probably be found wherever the strongest cup of coffee is.

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