Fineness

• Definition: fineness measures the purity of a precious metal.
• Scale: it is stated in thousandths (e.g., 750 means 75% pure gold).
• Impact on price: higher fineness means a higher price due to more precious metal content, so fine engagement rings are generally more expensive

Alloys

• Definition: an alloy is a mixture of a precious metal with other metals.
• Examples:
  • 333 gold: contains one-third pure gold and two-thirds other base metals. It is considered an inferior alloy.
  • 750 gold: contains three-quarters pure gold and one-quarter other metals, making it a high-quality alloy.

Other metals are added to influence the colour, e.g. to obtain red gold or white gold, but also to increase the stability. Pure 999 gold would be too soft to make jewellery, like an engagement ring, for example.

The more precious and scarce the metal, and the more of this precious metal is used, the higher the price of the engagement ring. A wide platinum engagement ring costs more than a delicate engagement ring in gold, which in turn has a higher price than a silver ring.

You can save on the material, but at the expense of the resale value and often also the durability of the ring. An investment in a valuable precious metal pays off and ensures that you will enjoy your engagement ring for a lifetime. The price of the chosen precious metal usually only makes up a small part of the total price, because the main value in an engagement ring is determined according to the gemstone used.

The price of a colourless diamond is defined by the 4C’s:

• Carat: the larger the diamond, the more expensive it is
• Colour: the whiter the diamond, the higher its price
• Clarity: the fewer the flaws, the more valuable the diamond
• Cut: the better the cut and proportions, the more costly the diamond

You can save cleverly by opting for diamonds that appear perfect to the naked eye. In everyday life, a diamond with colour G/H, clarity SI1/VS2, and a Very Good cut can look just as impressive as a more expensive stone with colour D/E, flawless clarity (IF or FL), and an excellent cut. Only a professional can tell the difference upon close inspection.

How to determine the cost of an engagement ring

The easiest way to answer the question "How much does an engagement ring cost?" is by looking at the price of the diamond(s). A solitaire engagement ring with a larger stone of particularly good quality will quickly become expensive. An alternative would be a trilogy engagement ring, for example, as the price for 3 smaller diamonds with a total weight of 1 carat is less than that of one single diamond of 3 carats.

Where you buy matters

It is also important where you buy the engagement ring. World-famous brands with a large number of expensive shops in inner-city locations usually have higher prices. In contrast, digital native companies like BAUNAT, which focus on E-commerce and source diamonds directly, offer more competitive pricing.

How to get the biggest-looking diamond for your budget

Choosing a diamond with strategy usually gives more visual impact than simply chasing carat weight. Thoughtful trade-offs  -  prioritising cut, using just-under carat thresholds, picking certain shapes and choosing the right setting  -  let you maximise the perceived size and brilliance of the centre stone while keeping costs sensible.

Prioritise cut over carat

• Why cut matters: cut quality determines how well a diamond returns light. An excellent cut makes a stone look brighter and more lively than a larger, poorly cut diamond. Aim for Ideal or Very Good cuts for brilliant shapes; these grades keep sparkle high without the steep premium of the very top proportions. 
• Practical tip: compare two stones side by side in similar light. A smaller, better-cut diamond will often read as larger on the finger because of superior brightness and contrast.

Just-under carat trick

• Price behaviour: diamonds commonly jump in price at round carat benchmarks. Choosing a stone just under a major benchmark (for example 0.95–0.99 ct instead of 1.00 ct) can save a noticeable amount while delivering almost the same visual presence. 
• How to apply it: set your search filters to include the fractional range below the next full carat. Retail listings often group stones by whole-carat buckets, so you get more value by targeting the high end of the lower bucket.

Balanced colour and clarity choices

• Colour: for most viewers the sweet spot sits in the near-colourless range. Choosing G to H balances whiteness and value, producing a stone that looks white in most settings without the premium of top-tier colour grades. 
• Clarity: selecting VS2 to SI1 offers a good compromise between eye-clean appearance and cost. Many SI1 stones are eye-clean once set, especially with brighter cuts. Avoid recommending clarity grades below SI1 as a general preference.

Choose shapes that maximise perceived size

• Elongated and fancy shapes such as oval, marquise and emerald spread carat weight across a longer surface, making the stone appear larger than a round of the same carat weight. Pear and marquise cuts in particular add perceived length on the finger. 
• Note on proportions: for elongated cuts, choose balanced length-to-width ratios to avoid an overly narrow look; an experienced jeweller can advise on suitable proportions for each shape.

Setting tactics to enhance apparent size and brilliance

• Halo settings: a halo of smaller stones around the centre increases apparent diameter and sparkle, making the centre stone look larger without adding carat weight. 
• Pavé and micro-pavé: accent stones along the band add continuous brightness, drawing the eye and enhancing perceived size. 
• Bezel vs prong: prong settings expose more surface area of the centre stone, often making it look bigger than a full bezel, which can reduce apparent size.

Two example scenarios

• Example A (value-for-brilliance): a well-cut 0.90 ct VS2 G oval set in a halo will look notably large on the hand thanks to the elongated shape and halo amplification, offering strong sparkle and perceived size for a restrained budget. 
• Example B (carat-first solitaire trade-off): a 1.00 ct SI1 I round solitaire offers the psychological appeal of a full-carat stone and a classic silhouette, but compared with Example A it may appear less bright and slightly smaller in perceived diameter if the cut is not top grade.

Quick checklist before you buy

• Prioritise cut grade (Ideal or Very Good) for brilliance. 
• Search just under whole-carat thresholds to find value bargains.
• Target colour G–H and clarity VS2–SI1 for a balance of appearance and price. 
• Consider elongated shapes and halo/pavé settings to maximise perceived size. 
• Compare stones in similar light and, when possible, view the setting to understand how the stone sits on the finger

Using these tactics consistently helps you achieve the largest-looking, brightest centre stone for your budget without sacrificing long-term satisfaction.

In Europe, the average price for an engagement ring is around € 2.500. In Germany and Austria it’s slightly less, in Switzerland slightly more. This corresponds roughly to a 0.50 carat solitaire ring.

How much your engagement ring may cost is up to you to decide. You should neither go into debt nor be miserly with probably the most important ring that a woman will ever have put on her finger. In contrast to consumer goods, the investment in an engagement ring is always an investment of lasting value, and a beautiful one in particular.