bespoke yellow gold

Yellow gold engagement rings, designed and made for you

We design and make bespoke engagement rings in 18ct yellow gold: warm, classic and easy to live with, with no plating to renew.

COMMISSIONING IN YELLOW GOLD

Your yellow gold ring

How we design a yellow gold engagement ring around your stone, your skin tone and the way you live.

WHY YELLOW GOLD

Why choose yellow gold for a bespoke ring?

Yellow gold gives warmth and character with very little upkeep.

Yellow gold is gold in its natural colour, so there is no plating and nothing to wear off. A polish at a check-up is all it needs to look new.

It flatters warm and olive skin tones, and it gives a diamond a soft, inviting setting. With coloured stones such as sapphires, emeralds and rubies, yellow gold often makes the colour look richer.

For the trend and the history, read Yellow gold engagement rings: why they are back and how to choose one. This page is about commissioning one with us.

Side view of a yellow gold oval diamond solitaire with a plain band and four claws

THE DESIGN

How we design in yellow gold

Most of our yellow gold engagement rings are made in 18ct, which balances a rich colour with good strength. 9ct is harder but paler and wears away faster with daily contact, so we usually reserve it for bands rather than settings that hold a valuable stone.

Because 18ct yellow gold is softer than platinum, we design claws a little heavier and plan claw checks into your aftercare. A white gold or platinum setting head on a yellow gold band is also an option if you want a colourless diamond to read as white as possible.

Not sure between 9ct and 18ct? Our article 9ct vs 18ct gold vs platinum for an everyday ring sets out the differences.

Yellow gold elongated diamond solitaire with a plain band, photographed face up

WORTH KNOWING

What to consider before choosing yellow gold

Yellow gold can make a diamond in the lower colour grades look a little warmer. That is often a good thing: it means you can choose a slightly lower colour grade without it showing, and put the saving into size or cut. We will show you stones against yellow gold before you choose.

Claws and thin bands in yellow gold wear sooner than in platinum or white gold. A sensible minimum band width and annual claw checks keep the ring secure.

If you wear other jewellery every day, think about whether yellow gold will sit happily alongside it. Many people find it pairs with almost anything.

Book a free consultation
Yellow gold oval diamond solitaire worn with a slim matching yellow gold band

Why yellow gold can be smart design

Warm colour that lets your budget go further

Yellow gold costs less than platinum for the same design, and its warmth can hide a touch of colour in a diamond. Together, that can free up a real part of your budget for the stone.

There is no plating to renew, so the running cost over the life of the ring stays low.

No plating Yellow gold is its natural colour all the way through. A polish restores it.
Flexible stone choice A warm setting can make a slightly lower colour grade look just as good.
Easy to resize Yellow gold is the most forgiving metal to resize and repair.
Why bespoke can cost less

Keep comparing

Yellow gold and the rest of your ring

Metal is one decision among several. These guides help you compare it with the alternatives and with the rest of the design.

Guide

All our metals

Compare yellow gold with platinum, white gold and rose gold.

View the metals guide

Gold purity

Carat vs karat

Gold purity and diamond weight use similar words but mean different things.

Read the article

Classic base

Solitaire engagement rings

A yellow gold solitaire is one of the most requested designs we make.

View solitaire rings

Budget

Engagement ring pricing

See how metal, stone and setting add up to the price of a finished ring.

Read the pricing guide

How do they compare?

Yellow gold purities compared

How 18ct and 9ct yellow gold compare, and how yellow gold compares with platinum and white gold for an engagement ring.

75% gold · Rich colour

18ct yellow gold

Our usual choice for engagement rings. Rich colour and a good balance of softness and strength.

Wearability Medium

Plan annual claw checks.

37.5% gold · Paler

9ct yellow gold

Harder and more affordable, but paler and wears away faster with daily contact.

Wearability Medium

Better suited to bands than to stone settings.

Naturally white

Platinum 950

The strongest everyday metal, for those who want a white ring instead.

Wearability High

Does not need replating.

Plated white

18ct white gold

A bright white look in gold, with a rhodium finish to renew.

Wearability High

Replating every 1 to 3 years.

75% gold · Rich colour

18ct yellow gold

Our usual choice for engagement rings. Rich colour and a good balance of softness and strength.

Wearability Medium

Plan annual claw checks.

37.5% gold · Paler

9ct yellow gold

Harder and more affordable, but paler and wears away faster with daily contact.

Wearability Medium

Better suited to bands than to stone settings.

Naturally white

Platinum 950

The strongest everyday metal, for those who want a white ring instead.

Wearability High

Does not need replating.

Plated white

18ct white gold

A bright white look in gold, with a rhodium finish to renew.

Wearability High

Replating every 1 to 3 years.

Colour

Deep, warm yellow

Paler yellow

Cool white

Bright white

Upkeep

Polish and claw checks

Polish and claw checks

Polish if you want shine

Replating

Long-term wear

Good with checks

Wears away faster

Excellent

Very good

Relative cost

Moderate

Lowest

Highest

Moderate

Suits

Warm skin tones, coloured stones

Bands and lighter wear

Daily wear, white look

White look on a budget

Resizing

Very easy

Very easy

Possible, costs more

Easy, needs replating

Colour

Deep, warm yellow

Paler yellow

Cool white

Bright white

Upkeep

Polish and claw checks

Polish and claw checks

Polish if you want shine

Replating

Long-term wear

Good with checks

Wears away faster

Excellent

Very good

Relative cost

Moderate

Lowest

Highest

Moderate

Suits

Warm skin tones, coloured stones

Bands and lighter wear

Daily wear, white look

White look on a budget

Resizing

Very easy

Very easy

Possible, costs more

Easy, needs replating

The bottom line

Choose 18ct yellow gold for a classic warm engagement ring with rich colour and simple upkeep.

Choose 9ct only if budget is tight and the design is simple; we will advise whether it suits your setting.

Choose platinum or white gold if you want your ring to read white rather than warm.

Not sure which gold suits your design? We can show you stones and metal colours side by side at your consultation.

Talk to us

DESIGN OPTIONS

Yellow gold design options

Every option below can be discussed at the design stage. What is possible depends on the stone, the setting and how the ring will be worn.

White metal setting head

Available

Set a colourless diamond in white gold or platinum claws on a yellow gold band, so the stone reads whiter.

Coloured gemstones

Available

Yellow gold suits sapphires, emeralds, rubies and other coloured centre stones particularly well.

Engraving and milgrain

Available

Yellow gold suits vintage-style detail such as hand engraving, milgrain edges and sculpted galleries.

Textured finishes

Available

Brushed, hammered or satin finishes hide light marks and give a softer look.

Very fine bands

Partial

Possible, but very thin yellow gold bands wear faster. We will recommend a sensible minimum width.

Matching wedding band

Available

We can design a yellow gold band to sit with your engagement ring from the start.

White metal setting head Available

Set a colourless diamond in white gold or platinum claws on a yellow gold band, so the stone reads whiter.

Coloured gemstones Available

Yellow gold suits sapphires, emeralds, rubies and other coloured centre stones particularly well.

Engraving and milgrain Available

Yellow gold suits vintage-style detail such as hand engraving, milgrain edges and sculpted galleries.

Textured finishes Available

Brushed, hammered or satin finishes hide light marks and give a softer look.

Very fine bands Partial

Possible, but very thin yellow gold bands wear faster. We will recommend a sensible minimum width.

Matching wedding band Available

We can design a yellow gold band to sit with your engagement ring from the start.

What to budget

A yellow gold engagement ring, designed around your brief. Pieces start from £600

The price of a yellow gold ring is driven by the centre stone, the gold purity and weight, the setting style and any side stones or detail. Every price is for the finished ring, agreed in writing before anything is made.

Essential

Pieces start from £600

A clean yellow gold solitaire with a well-proportioned setting and plain band.

Plain bandSolitaire

Yellow gold engagement ring FAQs

Common questions about yellow gold rings

Practical answers on purity, wear, stone colour and upkeep.

For a ring holding a valuable stone and worn every day, we usually recommend 18ct. It has a richer colour and wears more gracefully. 9ct is harder but wears away faster with daily contact, so it is better suited to bands.

A colourless diamond can pick up a little warmth from yellow gold. Many people like this. If you want the stone to look as white as possible, we can set it in white gold or platinum claws on a yellow gold band.

18ct yellow gold is softer than platinum and white gold, so it shows light marks sooner. A polish at a check-up removes them, and a brushed or textured finish hides them day to day.

No. Yellow gold is its natural colour throughout, so there is nothing to replate.

Diamonds of every shape, plus most coloured gemstones. Sapphires, emeralds and rubies often look especially rich against yellow gold.

Yes. Yellow gold pairs well with platinum and white gold, either in the same ring or in a stack. Our metals guide covers what to watch for.

Not sure whether yellow gold suits your stone?

Ask us
bespoke yellow gold engagement rings

Commission your yellow gold engagement ring

Tell us about your stone and your style. We will design your ring in yellow gold, show you every angle in CAD, and agree every detail before it is made.
Start your design Commission remotely