Is getting a wedding band from Quince a bad idea? It's a third of the price of a local jeweler.

By Aditi Shrikant

'I am slightly anxious about purchasing something so big' from an online retailer known for cut-price duplicates of popular clothes and accessories

"Is there insurance for it, like there is for my actual ring?"

Dear Dollar Signs,

I recently got engaged and my ring was too big and the stone was loose. When we went to get it resized, the jeweler charged us $80, which I think is ridiculous because the stone was loose.

I was going to get my wedding bands from this same jeweler because I like that they are a local Chicago jeweler, but now we are thinking of getting our wedding bands from Quince. It's a third of the price, and the customer service at the local jewelry store wasn't even good.

However, I am slightly anxious about purchasing something so big through Quince. How does shipping work? Is there insurance for it, like there is for my actual ring?

Bride

If you're just starting out on your money or career journey and have questions about how to navigate your finances, we want to hear from you. Write to Dollar Signs, MarketWatch's new advice column, at dollarsigns@marketwatch.com.

Dear Bride,

I understand your hesitation: Buying a wedding ring online, without trying it on or seeing it in person, feels like a scam waiting to happen. Don't do anything that makes you uncomfortable, but I'd say Quince is a totally legitimate, safe place to purchase a wedding band.

For the uninitiated, Quince is a high-end, direct-to-consumer brand which makes duplicates of pricey, popular apparel and accessories. (To be totally transparent, I'll disclose that I bought a winter coat from Quince last year which was meant to be a duplicate of the Aritzia Super Puff. It is fantastic.)

Quince offers free standard shipping on all items, and you must sign to receive the package if it cost more than $100. While it doesn't offer insurance, all jewelry does come with a warranty that covers "imperfections that are the result of defects in the manufacturing process." (You can read more about the details of the warranty here.)

Like I said, don't do anything that makes you uneasy. But, I do believe that buying wedding bands and engagement rings online is an extension of Americans' growing preference to shop digitally instead of at brick-and-mortar stores: 28.4% of consumers prefer to do most or all of their shopping online, according to data from Capital One.

It might not be the norm yet, but why not be an early adopter?

Couples are spending less on rings

Getting married is expensive. The average wedding cost $34,200 this year, according to The Knot, and your preference for a more affordable alternative is increasingly commonplace. Wedding rings seem to be an area "where couples have the flexibility," said Emily Forrest Skurnik, a spokesperson for wedding-planning platform Zola.

Lab-grown diamonds are now more popular than natural diamonds for engagement rings, according to Zola's 2026 Wedding Style Report: 54% of couples opt for lab-grown, while only 34% choose natural diamonds.

"This reflects a broader shift toward couples embracing alternatives to traditional wedding jewelry and prioritizing personal preferences over convention," Skurnik said.

I know you're asking about wedding bands but, for context, many couples are spending less on rings altogether. In 2025, Americans spent, on average, $4,600 on an engagement ring, according to data from The Knot. In 2024, they spent $5,200.

Along with a lower price point, DTC brands often offer longer return windows, too. Traditional jewelers usually offer a 14-day to 30-day return window.

At Quince, though, you can return a wedding band for one year and an engagement ring for 60 days. At online jewelry store Frank Darling, shoppers can return or exchange their ring 30 days from when the order is ready to ship or pick up, or 60 days from the date of the first purchase, whichever comes first.

Because Quince's appeal over other DTC brands is that it sells quality products at a discounted price - $50 cashmere, for example - I'd be relatively comfortable purchasing a wedding band from them.

Ask questions

Katherine Bodoh, a registered jeweler and CEO of the American Gem Society, says that before you buy any ring - whether it be from a traditional jeweler or a DTC brand - you should ask a few questions:

-- Is the diamond lab-grown or natural? Does it come with a grading report?

-- What's the return policy, the warranty and the plan for sizing or repairs down the road?

-- Is there a trained gemologist on staff who can help you?

"When you buy from a local jeweler, you can see the piece in person - so online, you want those protections in place," Bodoh said. "And if a price seems too good to be true, the quality may not be what you expect."

Quince offers both lab-grown and natural stones which come with a grading report, the aforementioned return policy and a warranty. It does not offer resizing, and doesn't employ a gemologist. (Representatives for Quince did not respond to requests for comment.)

I know that oftentimes, the logistics of getting engaged and married can take away from the joy of progressing in a partnership. If ordering a ring online makes this experience more stressful, I say use a traditional jeweler. But if you want to spend a bit less, this seems like a great option.

Write to Dollar Signs at dollarsigns@marketwatch.com.

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-Aditi Shrikant

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10-24-26 1110ET