Pricing guide

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INVESTMENT

Complete Transparency on Bespoke Engagement Ring Pricing

Every figure broken down. No brand premium. No hidden mark-ups.

Commissions start fromFrom £800Most commissions sit between £2,000–£5,000
Typical timeline6–8 weeksFrom first consultation to delivery
Upfront costNothingNo payment until you approve both design and stone in writing

THE SHORT ANSWER

Bespoke does not mean expensive. It means made for you.

A bespoke engagement ring from À Vie Diamonds starts from £800. Most commissions sit between £2,000 and £5,000. Some — with larger stones or more complex designs — go beyond that.

The price of your ring is made up of three real things: the stone, the metal, and the craft. There is no brand premium, no showroom markup, and no hidden fees. Every figure is broken down from the very first conversation.

This guide walks through each component honestly. By the end, you will know exactly what to expect — and what questions to ask.

  • GIA & IGI certified diamonds
  • Free consultation included
  • Free design included
  • No hidden mark-ups
  • UK hallmarked jewellery
  • Responsibly sourced stones

WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR

Every commission is made up of four components

Nothing is bundled. Nothing is hidden. Your invoice will show each of these as a separate line item.

THE STONE

The single largest cost in almost every commission — typically 50–70% of the total. Natural diamond, lab-grown diamond, or gemstone. Certified and sourced to your brief.

50–70%

THE METAL

18ct yellow, white, or rose gold. 9ct gold. 950 platinum. Weight and alloy determine cost. Every piece is hallmarked at a UK Assay Office.

10–20%

SETTING & CRAFT

Bench work, stone setting, hand finishing, quality check, and engraving if requested. Complex pavé settings take significantly longer than a clean solitaire.

15–25%

DESIGN

CAD rendering, 3D visualisation, and unlimited revisions until you are entirely happy. Design work is included in your commission price — it is never charged separately.

Included

Pricing & Accessibility

This isn’t luxury for the few — this is bespoke for everyone

Bespoke does not have to mean inaccessible. Understanding what drives the cost of a piece helps you make decisions that suit your budget — and get the result you want.

Essential

From £800

A solitaire or bezel-set ring — one stone, one setting, clean and direct. Most achievable with a lab-grown diamond or a smaller natural stone. Often the most enduring choice.

Solitaire or bezelLab-grown or natural£800–£1,500

Statement

£5,000 and above

Larger natural diamonds, fancy coloured stones, complex pavé settings, or rare gemstones. Alexandrite, Paraiba tourmaline, natural pink and yellow diamonds. The highest level of material and craft.

Natural or fancy colour diamondComplex pavé or rare gemsFull bespoke commission

Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll tell you what’s achievable.

Start the conversation

STONE PRICE REFERENCE

Stone cost guide — by type and carat weight

Indicative wholesale price ranges to help you budget. Your actual stone quote will depend on specific cut, certificate grade, and market availability at the time of sourcing — we confirm exact figures before any commitment is made.

These are stone costs only. Setting, metal, and craft are always shown as separate line items — you will see exactly what each part costs before committing to anything.

Natural Colourless Diamond Prices UK

Shape 0.5 ct 0.7 ct 1.0 ct 1.2 ct 1.5 ct
Round £370–£460 £710–£820 £1,180–£1,280 £2,590–£2,850 £3,400–£4,000
Oval £410–£490 £730–£840 £1,170–£1,290 £2,600–£2,770 £3,050–£3,500
Pear £380–£460 £700–£810 £1,180–£1,250 £2,200–£2,700 £2,900–£3,450
Cushion £440–£530 £510–£630 £1,120–£1,470 £1,450–£2,780 £2,880–£3,530
Princess £400–£490 £520–£580 £1,160–£1,430 £1,920–£2,970 £2,990–£3,590
Emerald £400–£480 £710–£820 £1,190–£1,270 £2,180–£3,040 £2,700–£3,200
Radiant £420–£510 £600–£720 £1,370–£1,450 £2,530–£2,750 £3,100–£3,600
Heart £410–£550 £750–£870 £1,140–£1,440 £2,500–£2,790 £3,000–£3,500
Asscher £390–£470 £700–£820 £1,130–£1,360 £1,950–£2,880 £2,800–£3,250
Square Step £420–£510 £700–£820 £1,140–£1,500 £1,720–£2,750 £3,120–£3,330

G–H colour · VS1–VS2 clarity · GIA or IGI certified. Begin your free enquiry →

BRINGING YOUR OWN STONE

Have a stone already? We can work with it.

If you have a family diamond you’d like reset — or if you’ve sourced your own stone — we’re happy to work with it. Heirloom resets are a meaningful way to carry something old into something new, and we approach them with the same care as any commission.

Just let us know at the start of the conversation. We’ll assess the stone, confirm what’s achievable, and quote the metalwork and setting separately.

Start the conversation

ANY STONE, ANY SOURCE

Diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies — sourced through us or independently. If it’s a quality stone in good condition, we can work with it.

HEIRLOOM RESETS

A family diamond doesn’t have to sit in a drawer. We reset inherited stones with the same care and craftsmanship as a new commission.

CLEAR COST BREAKDOWN

You pay for the metalwork and setting only. The stone is yours. Every cost is shown as a line item before you commit to anything.

SAME PROCESS, SAME CARE

Free consultation, CAD design, and sign-off before anything is made. Bringing your own stone doesn’t change how we work.

HOW IT WORKS

01

Tell us about the stone

Share photos and any certificates. We’ll confirm suitability and flag anything worth knowing before the design stage.

02

Design around it

We design the setting to suit the stone — its shape, dimensions, and character. You approve the CAD before we make anything.

03

We make it

Your stone, set by hand. Lead time is typically 3–4 weeks from approval. Delivered insured to your door.

HOW IT WORKS

From conversation to ring — in eight steps

The entire process from first enquiry to delivery typically takes 6–8 weeks. Every stage before payment is free.

INITIAL ENQUIRY

Get in touch

Via website, email, or Instagram DM. No obligation. We ask a few simple questions: occasion, rough budget, aesthetic preferences, timeline.

Always free.

FREE CONSULTATION

We talk it through

A relaxed conversation — phone, video, or message. We discuss settings, shapes, metals, and lifestyle. 20–45 minutes. No booking required.

Always free. No booking required.

CAD DESIGN

Your ring in 3D

We develop your design as a CAD rendering — a precise 3D model you can see before any metal is touched. Unlimited revisions, all included.

Included. Unlimited revisions.

STONE SELECTION

Choose your stone

We source stones to match your brief and present a shortlist with certificates and prices. Natural and lab-grown always presented. You choose with full information.

APPROVAL & DEPOSIT

Sign off and go

You confirm both the CAD design and your chosen stone in writing. This is the only point at which any payment becomes due — a 70% production deposit.

70% deposit due here only.

CRAFTING

Made by hand

Handcrafted by our trusted workshop. Typically 3–5 weeks. We update you at key milestones. Nothing is rushed.

Typically 3–5 weeks.

HALLMARKING

UK Assay Office

Every piece is submitted to a UK Assay Office for independent testing and hallmarking before dispatch. Adds 3–5 working days.

3–5 working days.

BALANCE & DELIVERY

It arrives

The remaining 30% is due after hallmarking, before dispatch. Insured, tracked delivery to any UK or international address, with full documentation.

30% balance due before dispatch.

PAYMENT STRUCTURE

Two payments. No upfront deposit until you’re certain.

All consultations, designs, and revisions are free. No payment of any kind is due until you have approved both the CAD design and your chosen stone in writing.

70%

PRODUCTION DEPOSIT

On CAD and stone approval

Once you have confirmed the design and stone in writing, we raise a production deposit invoice. This payment covers the stone and materials purchased specifically for your commission. Once production begins, the deposit cannot be refunded — it covers materials and workshop time committed to your commission.

30%

BALANCE

After hallmarking, before dispatch

The remaining balance is due once your ring has been hallmarked and quality-checked, before it leaves us. You receive a signed quality check record with your commission.

WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH EVERY COMMISSION

  • Stone certificateGIA or IGI grading certificate for your centre stone, issued by an independent laboratory.
  • UK hallmarkEvery piece is submitted to a UK Assay Office for independent hallmarking before dispatch.
  • Complimentary resizeOne free resize within 3 months of delivery, where the setting design permits.

Everything you need to know

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Commissions start from £800. Most clients spend between £2,000 and £5,000. The price is determined by the stone you choose, the metal, and the complexity of the setting — not a brand name or showroom mark-up. We give you a full breakdown before any commitment.

Every commission includes CAD design and unlimited revisions, GIA or IGI grading certificate for your centre stone, UK Assay Office hallmarking, and one complimentary resize within 3 months of delivery. Design work is never charged separately.

Nothing is due until you have approved both the CAD design and your chosen stone in writing. At that point, a 70% production deposit is raised. The remaining 30% is due after hallmarking, before dispatch. There are no other payments.

Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds — they are real diamonds, grown in a controlled environment rather than mined. Lab-grown stones typically cost significantly less than an equivalent natural stone. The main practical difference is resale value, which is currently lower for lab-grown stones. We present both options with full information and no preference either way.

The full process — from first consultation to delivery — typically takes 6–8 weeks. Design and stone selection usually takes 1–2 weeks. Production is 3–5 weeks. Hallmarking at a UK Assay Office adds 3–5 working days. If you have a specific date in mind, tell us at the start and we will give you a realistic timeline.

Yes. If you have a stone you’d like set — whether sourced independently or a family heirloom — we’re happy to work with it. You pay for the metalwork and setting only. We assess the stone first to confirm suitability and flag anything worth knowing before design begins.

No. À Vie Diamonds Ltd is not VAT registered. No VAT is added to any commission. The price you are quoted is the price you pay.

Every diamond and coloured gemstone we supply comes with an independent grading certificate — GIA or IGI — issued by an internationally recognised laboratory. This documents the exact characteristics of the stone: carat weight, cut, colour, and clarity. You receive the original certificate with your ring.

Still have a question? Our team typically responds within one business day.

Get in touch

Contact À Vie

Bespoke jewellery, clear guidance, no pressure. Tell us about your project and we will respond personally within one to two business days.

Category
Style
Project
Contact

What are you looking to create?

Tell us about your engagement ring

Where are you starting from? *
Setting style *
Setting profile (optional)

How high the stone sits above the finger.

Centre stone *
Metal *
Do you have an existing ring this needs to sit alongside? (optional)

Tell us about your wedding band

One band or two? *
Should they match each other?
Band style *
Setting technique *
Metal *
Does this need to sit alongside an existing ring? *

Tell us about your eternity ring

Coverage *
Setting style *
Stone type *
Metal *
Does this need to sit alongside an existing ring? *

Tell us about your signet ring

Face shape *
Face finish (optional)
Engraving *
Metal *

Tell us about your necklace or pendant

Style *
Pendant setting style (optional)
Stone preference (optional)
Metal *

Tell us about your earrings

Style *
Stone preference (optional)
Metal *

Tell us about your bracelet

Style *
Stone preference (optional)
Metal *

Tell us about your piece

What type of piece? *
Stone preference (optional)
Metal *

A few more details

Investment range *

All prices in GBP. We are happy to discuss currency conversion for international orders.

Timeline *
Do you know your size? (optional)
Location (optional)

Helps us advise on lead times and any import considerations.

Almost there — how do we reach you?

Only used if you would like a call back. We will not contact you by phone otherwise.

Pinterest board, Instagram post, or any reference — we will look before we reply.

How did you hear about us? (optional)