What your budget buys
Nobody tells you this part, so here it is plainly. These are honest working examples, not the cheapest thing we could squeeze into each bracket.
Entry: around £2,500
A well cut round or oval of roughly half a carat, colour G to H, clarity VS, in a plain platinum or 18ct solitaire setting. Certified, hallmarked and valued.
At this level we would spend on cut before size — a smaller stone cut properly outsparkles a bigger one that is not.
Most common: £5,000
Around a carat in a round or oval, or a larger emerald cut, with room for a shaped or diamond-set band. This is where most of our engagement rings land.
Enough headroom to choose the stone on its merits rather than the budget.
Considered: £10,000 and above
One and a half to two carats, higher colour and clarity, or a fancy shape with genuine rarity. Fully bespoke, designed from scratch around the stone.
At this level we source specific stones to order and show you several side by side before you decide.
Every stone is different and prices move with the market. These are guides to help you set expectations before you come in — we quote in writing on the day.