How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring?

1. Craftsmanship

A ring shaped by hand - rather than mass-produced - carries a different kind of value. Time, skill, and care are built into every stage, from stone setting to polishing.

2. Materials with integrity

Recycled gold, traceable gemstones, and lab-grown diamonds offer conscious choices that don’t inflate cost unnecessarily.

3. Emotional worth

Perhaps the most important factor. A ring becomes part of your partner’s daily life. The moment they receive it - and the memories it holds - often matters far more than carat weight.

4. Longevity

A ring made to last a lifetime, with complimentary cleaning, resizing, and repairs, offers long-term value that transcends the initial price. A ring isn’t expensive because it follows tradition; it’s valuable because it’s chosen with intention.

How to Set a Budget Without Pressure

Instead of fixed rules, consider these gentle guidelines:

Start With What Feels Comfortable

Choose a budget that fits naturally into your life - not one that causes stress.

Prioritise What Matters Most

Is your partner drawn to:

• A modern lab grown diamond?
• A unique gemstone?
• A handcrafted bespoke design?

Let their style guide your choices 

Be Open About Alternatives

Sapphires, salt-and-pepper diamonds, grey diamonds, champagne tones, and lab-grown diamonds offer exceptional beauty at a range of price points.

Use the Budget as a Framework, Not a Limitation

A well-designed ring doesn’t need to be large to feel significant. Balance proportion, character, and comfort - the elements that will matter every day.

What Does an Engagement Ring Cost in the UK?

There is significant variation, but most couples find themselves in a range that feels comfortable rather than prescriptive. Because we work with recycled materials and create pieces in-house, many of our rings offer meaningful value without compromising craftsmanship. A bespoke design also allows you to set your budget first, then shape the ring around it - a calm, collaborative process where every choice is transparent.

When Bespoke Offers Better Value

A bespoke ring isn’t necessarily more expensive - it’s simply more intentional.

You can choose:

• The exact stone
• The metal
• The proportions
• A style that suits your budget
• A design made once, and only once

This ensures that every element aligns with what matters to you - financially and emotionally. A bespoke piece becomes a modern heirloom, crafted with care rather than dictated by convention.

Why the Old “Salary Rules” No Longer Apply

The “two-month salary rule” was invented by marketing campaigns in the mid-20th century — not by tradition, not by romance, and certainly not by modern values.

Couples today prioritise:

• Conscious materials
• Meaningful design
• Financial wellbeing
• Pieces made to last, not impress

Your ring should reflect your relationship - not an outdated spending rule.

A More Meaningful Question to Ask

Rather than “How much should I spend?” consider:

• What feels right for us?
• What will my partner love wearing everyday?
• What materials and craftsmanship align with our values?
• What story do we want this ring to tell?

When approached this way, choosing the right engagement ring becomes a moment of clarity rather than pressure.

A Ring Chosen With Intention

The most meaningful engagement rings aren’t defined by cost - they’re defined by care. Whether crafted in recycled gold, set with a lab-grown diamond, or shaped through our bespoke service, the value lies in the thought behind it.

Choose a budget that feels comfortable. Choose a design that feels true. Choose a ring that will carry your story forward. The rest will fall into place.