written by Jessica
How Much Do Custom Engagement Rings Cost?
Published November 4 2025
Key Takeaways
- We regularly work with budgets ranging from $2,500–$50,000, the exact value depending on your design choices and priorities.
- Custom doesn’t always mean more expensive! You can design something completely personal while staying within your budget.
- Your choice of stone, metal, and design complexity will be the deciding factors that influence cost, but you have full control to balance your preferences and budget.
- A custom engagement ring offers sentimental and long-term value that ready-made rings can’t match, because it’s tailored uniquely for you.
One of the first questions clients ask us is: “How much does a custom engagement ring cost?”
The short answer? It depends, because every ring we make at Engage Studio is built completely from scratch.
We are not like a traditional jewellery store. We don’t have pre-made inventory sitting in glass showcases. Instead, we custom design and manufacture each piece ourselves, cutting out middlemen, and giving you complete creative freedom.
To give you a rough idea of the rings we’ve made, we regularly work with budgets ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 and beyond.
Whether you’re dreaming of a simple solitaire with a lab-grown diamond, a three-stone moissanite ring, or a platinum sapphire design with intricate hand engraving, your ring will be made to fit both your vision and your budget.
And here’s the thing—custom doesn’t automatically mean more expensive! Wild, right? Many of our clients are surprised to learn that, by working directly with the jeweller and having the autonomy to choose their own style and materials, they can get a higher-quality, more personal ring at a similar or even lower price than an off-the-shelf piece from a traditional retailer.
What Factors Influence the Cost of a Custom Engagement Ring?
Every custom ring is made up of many design choices, and each one contributes to the final price. Let’s break it down.
Choice of Stone
The center stone is one of the primary factors in your ring’s overall cost.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be the star of the show. If the overall design is your priority, we’ll help you select a stone that fits perfectly into that vision.
We work with everything from natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds to moissanite, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, morganite, and so much more! Essentially any precious stone durable enough for everyday wear.
Each has its own price range:
- Lab-grown diamonds can cost up to 40–60% less than natural diamonds of the same size and quality.
- Moissanites are even more affordable, offering incredible sparkle at a fraction of the price.
Sapphires, emeralds, and other gemstones can vary widely based on color, rarity, clarity, and whether or not they’re natural or lab created.
Metal Type
Your choice of metal, whether 10K, 14K, or 18K gold (in white, yellow, or rose), or platinum, will also contribute to the price.
As a general overview:
- 10K gold is functionally the most durable option and typically the least expensive, since it contains less pure gold than 14K or 18K. Visually, 10K yellow gold has a softer, buttery-yellow tone that sets it apart.
- 14K gold has higher gold content which naturally increases costs (typically around $200 difference, though this depends on the style of ring)
- 18K gold is the highest gold content out of the three so the cost would reflect that. 18K yellow gold has this rich honey-like hue.
Platinum is denser (though has a softer surface), hypoallergenic, has this almost vintage, gray look to it especially in direct comparison to white gold, and will be more expensive than gold.
Design Complexity
The more intricate your design, the more time, craftsmanship and material it takes to create.
- Halos, three-stone rings, cluster designs for example require more stones
- Custom shapes, hand engraving, or floral-inspired settings may require extra gold and/or stones
At Engage Studio, we’ll show you design options in a range of prices, so you can see what’s possible within your budget.
Custom vs Ready-Made: Price Comparison
It’s easy to assume a custom engagement ring will cost more than something ready-made, but that’s not always the case!
When you buy off-the-shelf, you’re often paying for retail markups, middlemen, and overhead costs like store inventory. When you go custom, you’re paying directly for the materials and the labour costs. So the costs you end up paying can be tailored toward your budget.
A custom engagement ring is designed to your exact preferences, with flexibility to allocate your budget where it matters most, whether that’s the center stone, metal choice, or design detail.
How to Stay Within Budget With a Custom Ring
Here’s where custom design sparkles : you get to control the budget.
At Engage Studio, we recommend thinking in terms of a low-to-high budget range (your ideal number and your absolute ceiling) for example $4500 to $8000.
Here’s why:
When we curate stones and designs for you, we’ll show you a range of options so you can understand what real value looks like side by side. Sometimes you’ll fall in love with a piece below your ceiling—and other times, you’ll find that the slightly higher option feels completely worth it.
Some smart ways to stay within budget:
- Explore and compare lab-grown diamonds and/or moissanite for a look that fits your budget range.
- Prioritize your preferences, cut and sparkle over carat size.
Simplify your setting. A subtle detail on a solitaire design can make a huge impact.
Why a Custom Ring Is Worth the Investment
A custom engagement ring isn’t just about the materials or the design, it’s about the story behind it.
When you create a ring from scratch, you’re making something that can’t be replicated. It’s built around your story, your style, and your priorities. That emotional connection is what we bring to life with every custom ring we design.
Unlike a store-bought piece made for “someone,” your ring is made for you.
And yes, custom takes longer than something you can buy on the spot or with a click online — but that’s exactly the point! For a ring you’ll wear for life, symbolizing a lifelong commitment, the process itself should reflect building something together. That’s what our entire approach is built around.
Start Your Custom Ring Journey With Engage Studio
Our process starts with a quick phone call to understand your vision and budget range. From there, we’ll bring you into our showroom to explore styles, curate stones for you to compare side by side and work with you to bring your dream ring to life.
Whether your budget is $2,500 or $50,000, we’ll help you create something extraordinary within your budget comfort zone.
FAQ
How much do custom engagement rings cost?
At Engage Studio, we regularly work with budgets $2,500 to $50,000, depending on your choice of stone, metal, and design.
Are custom engagement rings more expensive than store-bought?
Not necessarily. Because we design and manufacture in-house, custom rings often provide better quality and value than store-bought rings with high retail markups.
What factors affect custom engagement ring prices?
The center stone, metal type, design complexity, and craftsmanship all influence the cost. We’ll walk you through options that best match your vision and budget.
Can you get a custom engagement ring on a budget?
Absolutely. Custom doesn’t mean out of reach. With options like lab-grown diamonds, moissanite, and simpler settings, we can create a beautiful, personalized ring at nearly any price point.
