The price tag for designing a custom engagement ring
If you're trying to decide between a generic or custom engagement ring to pop the question with, you may want to read up on the differences between the two. From average cost to personal touches, there are several factors that contribute to the price and design of an engagement ring.
Establishing your ring buying budget
Wedding tradition holds that men are supposed to spend 2-3 months' worth of paychecks on their fiancé's engagement ring, but every couple is different. Before you even begin to look for a ring, it's important to calculate your salary, individual paychecks and lifestyle to establish a ring buying budget. Of course, there are outside factors that may allow or prohibit you from spending a certain amount. For a smaller budget, use 4-6 weeks of paycheck as your price range - if you can increase that amount a little more, great! Don't forget to ask around or research the current market - according to a 2012 survey conducted by The Knot, the average cost of an engagement ring last year was $5,431. Economic factors may influence this number, so use it as a base but stick to a number you are ultimately comfortable paying.
Price factors to keep in mind
Now that you have a number in mind, it's time to start the design process. Contributing factors that will greatly influence the overall cost of your custom engagement ring include:
Diamond clarity - The clearer the stone, the more expensive it will be. Talk with your jeweler to ensure that stone has no detectable flaws to the human eye.
Diamond color - The color of your diamond affects the price tag as well. Colorless diamonds are the most expensive. If the stone appears cloudy, tinted or shaded it will rank lower on the color scale. However, buyers can afford to buy a stone on the lower end of the scale because of the hearts and arrows cutting technique performed by the Brian Gavin jewelry team - this method is used to ensure that all stones portray the maximum amount of brilliance possible. Another option to traditional white diamonds are colored diamonds. Yellow or pink stones are often just as - if not more - expensive than colorless diamonds.
Carat - The weight of the diamond plays a huge role in the cost of your custom engagement ring. The weight of the solitaire stone often hikes up or lowers the price of the ring. Make sure to inquire about the center stone weight and overall carat weight of the ring if you are going to implement additional stones into the design.
Cut - Rounds are the most expensive diamond cut on the market, as they incur more weight loss relative to a fancy shape (such as an emerald or oval design) when cutting from a piece of rough material.
Craftsmanship - The amount of time and artistic detail that go into designing the ring will play a part in your final bill. From engraving the inside of the band to laser cut, art deco embellishments, the more time and effort that goes into creating the custom engagement ring, the more beautiful (and expensive) it may be.
Metal - The strength of the metal used in your custom engagement ring will play into the cost. Yellow gold, white gold and platinum metals are pretty common today. Rose gold has become increasingly popular over the last few years, however, the Brian Gavin team has maintained the same price for all types of gold finishes for their jewelry.
The thrill of the design
Although there is a lot of research, terminology and styles to keep in mind during the design process, the overall result of creating a custom engagement ring is well worth the time and cost. With the Brian Gavin team, you'll be able to create the ring of her dreams and stay within your budget.
