Retour au panier
Contact
The Price of an Engagement Ring
In our opinion, there's no need to feel uncomfortable about the price you wish to pay for an engagement ring; quite the opposite. Budget is not a negative thing in jewelry; significant budgets are always involved for all couples. Therefore, it's useful to consider it from the outset to best manage everyone's expectations and how best to meet them.
How to Discuss the Topic as a Couple
We recommend discussing the budget as a couple to align desires with possibilities. Offering a ring is often associated with an important life stage, and it should not be synonymous with taboo, as this can then lead to problems in the choice.
We are convinced that transparency with each other allows for mutual desires to be built, and more importantly: shared pleasures!
It might seem awkward to directly ask for the expected budget, especially if the proposal is a surprise... So there are different ways to approach the topic.
When one of your friends gets married, you can take the opportunity to discuss the ring given to understand what motivated their choice. Indeed, there are several scenarios:
-
Regardless of the price, the gesture and symbol were the most important
-
Value was key for them
-
They are happy to have been able to reuse family jewelry
-
They are glad to have used an independent house that doesn't charge big brand prices
-
Only the diamond mattered
All these elements provide indications that will allow you to understand each person's sensitivities and implicit budget.
Another way to approach the topic is to know each other's family traditions. For example, does one of the families customarily donate jewelry that could be remounted for a wedding? If so, you've already crossed an important threshold because stones are one of the main components of the price.
Don't be afraid to warn your partner if you sense they're planning something... and that they might overdo it. Indeed, this is often your fiancé's first jewelry purchase, and not a minor one. A sum of factors will influence their decision, so don't hesitate to remind them what the most important criteria are for you; we have no doubt about your tact!
The ring is meant to be worn every day. Therefore, as you'll see in some famous examples below, everyday comfort and "discretion" are also factors that can influence the price. The larger the diamond or precious stones adorning it, the harder it will be to hide the price of a ring if you wish to remain discreet on the subject.
Our jewelry between €1000 and €2000
Our jewelry between €2000 and €3000
Criteria Affecting the Price
Once the budget is defined, it is important to discuss with your jeweler the impact of the following elements:
-
The desired style
-
The quality of the diamond considered, also known as the 4 Cs: Carat, Color, Clarity, Cut
-
The choice of gold
If it's a custom-made piece of jewelry, the complexity of the 3D construction of the jewelry, its assembly, and the number of iterations needed to create the piece will also affect the budget.
The Choice of Reuse and Transformation
Ethical jewelry or eco-responsible jewelry is also a way to control your budget. Indeed, by favoring the reuse of stones and short supply chains, you can impact the price. The best example, of course, is the reuse of family jewelry to create your ring.
At Héloïse & Abélard, price does not dictate luxury
Our pricing position at H&A is that of accessible luxury. We offer high-end quality jewelry entirely made in Paris. Each piece of jewelry is crafted by 7 artisans with distinct expertise.
We do not charge the prices of the major houses on Place Vendôme because our margins are reasonable.
All our jewelry is entirely made in Paris using second-hand diamonds in a renowned workshop, certified RJC and a member of century-old family businesses.
Napoleon Bonaparte's "toi et moi"!
At the time Napoleon Bonaparte wished to propose to Josephine de Beauharnais, he was not yet emperor and had not taken command of the Italian campaign. He announced their upcoming union in February 1796, with a 18 mm diameter, this gold ring adorned with a pear-cut diamond and sapphire arranged "toi et moi." Considered "modest" at the time, it was estimated between 8,000 and 12,000 euros at an auction in 2013, and ultimately sold for 896,400 euros.
George Clooney's Misfortune
In 2015, the DailyMail reported that Amal Clooney no longer wished to wear her engagement ring, finding it not understated enough for her work. As a reminder, George Clooney had chosen a ring adorned with a 7-carat diamond that was difficult to conceal. Rest assured, Amal Clooney still loves her ring; she just wanted to be able to wear a more "simple" one on occasions that required it.
Queen Elizabeth II: The choice of an engagement ring designed for everyday wear with family jewels
Prince Philip designed and had Elizabeth II's engagement ring made from diamonds from his mother's tiara. According to experts, this ring had a very original style, notably with medium-sized diamonds that allowed the Queen to wear it every day.
