The price of an engagement ring covers a wide range, and there is no single answer. It depends on which diamond sits in the ring, which shape it is cut in, which metal the ring band is made of, and how elaborate the design itself is. A simple ring with a small stone and a ring with a large centre stone can both be called engagement rings, but they are far apart in price. Below, we go through the factors that genuinely move the price, so it becomes easier to set a budget that suits both wishes and wallet.

Is there a rule of thumb for the budget?

Many people look for a fixed figure when getting started, and several old rules circulate suggesting that the engagement ring should correspond to one or two months' salary. In Denmark it is common to take something resembling a month's salary as a starting point, but the rule is precisely only a guideline and not a fixed norm. A sensible starting point is to settle on an amount you are comfortable with, and from there prioritise what matters most: a larger stone, a particular shape or a particular metal.

In practice, the budget is less about hitting a specific amount and more about how the money is distributed across the ring's individual parts. Two rings at the same price can look very different, depending on whether the emphasis is placed on the size of the stone or on a more elaborate design. It usually makes more sense to decide which elements are most important before locking yourself into a precise figure.

What affects the price of the diamond?

The diamond is most often the single part that weighs heaviest in the accounts, and its price is determined by the four characteristics known in English as the four C's: carat, cut, color and clarity. They work together, and a change in one of them can noticeably alter the price, even if the others are kept the same.

Carat - the weight

Carat indicates the diamond's weight, where 1 carat corresponds to 0.2 grams. The price does not rise evenly with the weight, but typically faster the larger the stone becomes, because larger stones are less common. The jump from half a carat to a full carat therefore costs more than the mere doubling of the weight suggests. This is also where the choice between lab-grown and natural diamonds is clearly felt: a lab-grown diamond makes it possible to get more carats for the same amount, and at Longvé many designs are available in both variants, so the same piece of jewellery can be chosen with either a lab-grown or a natural diamond.

Cut - the cutting

The cut determines how the diamond returns the light, and a well-cut stone appears more lively than a poorly cut one of the same weight. Cut affects both the price and the visual impression, and different shapes use the carat differently. A round brilliant is the most sought-after and often the most expensive per carat, while elongated shapes such as oval or pear can appear larger on the finger at the same weight. At Longvé there is a classic round solitaire ring with one centre stone in a claw setting, and if you want a more elongated line, there is a pear solitaire ring and a marquise solitaire ring.

Color - the color

Color describes how colourless the diamond is. A completely colourless stone is priced higher than one that has a slight hint of yellow, even though the difference is often difficult to see with the naked eye once the stone is set. The color also interacts with the metal: a slight tone in the stone is less noticeable in a ring of 14K gold than in 14K white gold, which can make room to prioritise carat over the very highest color grade.

Clarity - the clarity

Clarity is about how many and how visible the small natural inclusions in the stone are. The purer the diamond, the higher the price, but many inclusions are so small that they cannot be seen without magnification. Therefore it is often possible to go one step down in clarity grade without visible loss and use the saved money on weight or cut instead.

Does the metal matter for the price?

The ring band makes up part of the total price, and the choice of metal is about both appearance and durability. At Longvé, 14K gold and 14K white gold are the core metals, and the two variants of the same design are close in price, so the choice here is mostly about which tone best suits both the stone and the hand. White gold gives a cool, silver-like frame that lets a colourless diamond stand out clearly, while gold has a warmer tone. The price of the metal itself is also affected by how wide and solid the ring band is, and by how many small diamonds may be set into the band.

How does the design move the price?

Beyond the stone and the metal, the construction itself comes into play. A solitaire ring with one centre stone is often the simplest starting point, because the entire expression rests on the single stone. If you want more sparkle or a larger overall impression, more diamonds and more work go into the ring, and this is reflected in the price.

A trilogy ring has three stones in a row with a centre stone and two side stones, which gives more total weight than a single solitaire. A pavé ring has many small diamonds set closely into the surface, so the ring gets extra sparkle without a large centre stone. If you want diamonds all the way around, an eternity ring gives that expression, while a half eternity ring has stones halfway around the ring band, typically on the upper half, and therefore sits one step lower in total carat weight. The more stones and the more workmanship, the higher the price - but it also provides more routes to the expression you are after, within a given budget.

How do you get the most ring for your money?

Once the budget is set, it comes down to distributing it wisely. The most effective route to a larger stone without pricing everything up is to choose a lab-grown diamond, because it gives more carats for the amount than a natural diamond of the same size. In addition, you can go one step down in color or clarity grade, where the difference is not visible to the naked eye anyway, and put that money into weight or cut.

The shape of the diamond is also a tool: elongated shapes such as oval, pear or marquise cover more of the finger per carat than a round stone and can therefore give a larger impression for the same amount. Finally, a simpler design such as a plain solitaire can keep the price down, while a pavé or trilogy design adds more - so the choice between them is just as much a budget choice as a matter of taste. By deciding which of these factors matters most, it becomes easier to land a ring that both lives up to your wishes and stays within the frame.