The price of a pair of gold wedding rings is determined first and foremost by four things: how much gold is in the rings, what karat the gold is, whether there are diamonds in them, and whether you buy one ring or two. A simple, narrow gold ring without stones sits at the low end, while wide rings or rings with a row of diamonds push the price up. Because gold is priced by weight, it is not the design alone but the physical amount of metal that determines a large part of the sum.

Wedding rings are more often bought in pairs today, and many also choose two different rings for each partner rather than two identical ones. This affects the total price, because you are effectively paying for two separate pieces of jewellery, which may each have their own width, karat and any diamond setting.

The amount of gold and the karat are the biggest price factor

Gold is sold by weight, and the weight increases with both the ring's width and thickness. A wide, substantial ring contains more metal than a thin one, and that difference is reflected directly in the price. Two rings with the same design can therefore cost very differently if one is markedly wider than the other.

The karat tells you how large a proportion of the ring is pure gold. 14K gold consists of 14 parts gold out of 24, so a little over half pure gold, while the rest is other metals that make the ring harder and more resistant in daily use. The higher the karat, the greater the proportion of gold and thus the higher the material cost. Both 14K gold and 14K white gold are the supporting metals, and white gold is made by alloying the gold with white metals, so the actual amount of gold per karat is the same as in gold.

If you want to understand what the karat number covers before you choose, it can help to read which karat gold is best, which goes through the difference between the common karats.

A ring without stones is cheaper than a ring with diamonds

A smooth gold ring without stones costs less than a ring with diamonds, because the price covers only metal and workmanship. As soon as stones are set in, both the value of the stones and the extra setting work are added on top.

The number of diamonds and their total carat weight are decisive. A single small diamond raises the price modestly, while a ring with stones all the way around contains far more carat and therefore costs more. Here the choice between lab-grown and natural diamonds makes a big difference: lab-grown diamonds have the same physical and optical properties as natural diamonds, but typically sit at a lower price level for the same carat and quality. Longvé carries many designs in both variants, so the same design can be chosen with the stone type that fits the budget.

Eternity rings and half eternity rings as a wedding ring

Many choose a ring with diamonds as a wedding ring, and here the carat weight is the clearest price factor. An eternity ring has small diamonds all the way around the ring band and therefore contains the most stones, which makes it the most expensive type within this group. A medium eternity ring in 14K gold holds, for example, 0.80 carat spread over the entire ring.

A half eternity ring has diamonds only halfway around, typically on the upper half, and thus uses fewer stones. A large half eternity ring in 14K gold has 0.50 carat, and it is precisely the smaller amount of stones that makes the type cheaper than a comparable ring with stones all the way around. If you want a diamond look without the full carat weight, the half eternity ring is the more affordable route.

Price for one set versus two different rings

The decision of whether you buy two identical rings or two different ones affects the total amount. If one partner chooses a narrow gold ring without stones and the other a wider ring with diamonds, the two prices become very different, and the total bill reflects the sum of two separate choices.

It is worth distinguishing between an engagement ring and a wedding ring when setting a budget, because many end up with several rings over time. If you are in doubt about what the two rings cover, the article on what is the difference between an engagement ring and a wedding ring explains the connection.

How much should you set aside for gold wedding rings?

There is no fixed amount, because the range is wide: a simple, narrow gold ring sits lowest, while wide rings or rings with a row of diamonds cost considerably more. The biggest levers to adjust are the ring's width, the karat, whether there are diamonds in it, and how much carat they make up if so.

A practical approach is to decide whether you want stones or not, and then whether the rings should be identical or different. Both choices affect the price more than anything else. The amount of gold is the heavy item, so a narrow ring keeps the amount down, while width and diamonds push it up.

If you want to dig into what diamonds specifically add to the price, the article on how much a diamond ring costs gives a more detailed picture of how carat and quality play together.