What is the right price for a diamond ring?
The key factor in the cost of your engagement ring is the diamond. There are 4 main components to pricing a diamond and a small change in one can have a significant affect on the cost. It is therefore important to know what these different characteristics are, as one may be more important to you than another.
What are the 4c's that affect the cost of your diamond?
- First, is the weight of a diamond, which is measured in carats. (The bigger the stone, the more rare it is, therefore more expensive).
- Second, is how perfectly the diamond was cut which determines how well it sparkles!
- Third, is how clear and colourless the diamond is. Diamonds that are tainted are much less valuable than perfectly clear ones.
- Fourth is clarity which refers to how many imperfections there are in a stone. Diamonds are natural and therefore never perfect and most imperfections that would be carefully noted and graded by a gemmologist using a 10x magnifying loupe are invisible to the naked eye.
1791 Diamond Engagement Rings; showing diamond quality and their consequent price
The following are indicative prices (April 09). Exact prices can be found in our Collections.
| Rings showing same carat size and different quality | Same quality and different carat size | ||
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Approx. £1,500 0.5 carat, clarity SI2,colour G, cut excellent. |
Approx. £2,500 0.5 carat, clarity VS2, colour D, cut excellent. |
Approx. £3,500 0.5 carat, clarity VS2, colour E, cut excellent. |
Approx. £13,000 1.2 carat, clarity VS2, colour E, cut excellent. |
Set Your Own Budget and Choose Your Own Diamond
We have two ways to help you choose a diamond and ring to suit your budget:
Design-Your-OwnThis feature allows you to choose your own diamond shape, size and quality - all tailored by you to suit your budget. You will be able to see the price changing as you adjust the quality or size of your diamond, so that you can decide what size of diamond and what quality of diamond you really want. Why not have a play and see what's available to you... |
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1791 Signature and Modena CollectionsThe Signature and Modena collections were created by jewellery designer Alice Herald. A tray of rings with prices can be seen along the top of the page - when you select a ring, several image views and a detailed description of that ring will be shown. You can click on as many rings as you want, comparing prices as you go, or save to favourites to compare later. You can also change the size and quality of your diamond at any time. |
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Budgeting For Your Diamond Engagement Ring
The popular guide when purchasing a diamond engagement ring is to spend approximately two - three months' salary. More practically, though, you should not spend more than you can comfortably afford especially in tighter financial times it is absolutely fine to be more conservative.
Diamond Price - External Forces
Diamond prices are partly affected by natural forces: Formed over millions of years by extreme heat and pressure, diamonds reflect the beauty and miracle of nature. Mining them is an expensive process, and the large majority of mined diamonds are suitable only for industrial purposes. This leaves a small percentage of gem-grade diamonds to be cut and fashioned into jewellery, and this rarity is a key factor in why a diamond is so valuable.
Price is also affected by human influence: Economies of supply and demand impact on market prices, and the ever important factors of Cut quality and Carat Weight, as determined during the cutting process, also help determine the price a diamond can command.
