Factors that Determine Price

Type of Center Stone

One of the top drivers of cost is the rarity and the size of the center stone. Depending on the type of stone you use, the price can vary widely. Many factors impact the price of diamonds and gemstones including the carat weight, the stone’s cut, clarity, and color (The 4C’s), as well as the rarity of the stone. Typically, natural diamonds are the most expensive stone option, but there are rare gemstones that can exceed that of a diamond. Emeralds, Rubies, Alexandrite and Jadeite all give the diamond a run for its money in terms of rarity and value. If you want to achieve the same look for less, clarity enhanced diamonds, as well as lab-created diamonds and gemstones are a great option.

Center Stone Size

As one might expect, prices go up as diamond carat weight increases. However, prices increase exponentially rather than incrementally. Certain carat values called “magic numbers” mark the points where diamond prices jump: 1.00 ct, 1.50 ct, 2.00 ct, 3.00 ct, 4.00 ct, and  5.00 ct. This means that diamonds ranging from 0.01 to 0.99 cts, for example, have around the same price per carat. Once above 0.99 cts, a diamond’s price per carat increases as it enters a new range. 

Not all carat weights visually appear the same as another, because this is a measurement of weight, not visual size. By going with a carat weight just under these magic numbers you can save money and find a diamond that looks almost identical in size. Ex: a 1.98 carat round brilliant diamond compared to a 2.0 carat round brilliant diamond. 

Center Stone Quality

All of the stones we use at A. D’Mae Diamonds are certified, conflict-free, visually beautiful and high quality. We will never present to you a stone that we wouldn’t personally use in our own custom piece of jewelry. There is the possibility that you will find lower prices for rings that are mass produced, with similar sized stones that are not exceptionally cut, have lower clarity or a lower color grade - especially when looking online. 

One can also anticipate paying more for our lab-created diamonds, compared to those listed online. All of our lab-created diamonds are created within the US and under strict quality standards, where the same cannot always be said for retailers who choose to source their lab-created stones from other countries who do not uphold the same standards and ethics. I’ve personally experienced this during my time working for an online retailer. I was heartbroken to find out after leaving the company that their lab-created diamonds had a different chemical composition than what’s standard… therefore making their lab-created diamonds less than a true diamond. Moral of the story - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Repurposing an Heirloom Stone

One of our favorite things to do is repurpose a client’s heirloom stone and give it new life! Designing engagement rings with our client’s existing diamonds or gemstones is not only a specialty of ours, but it will also save you the cost of purchasing a brand new center stone. We do require proper documentation of your stone in order to use it in your new ring or custom bling, and it must pass our standards for quality, durability and design compatibility. Heirloom diamonds and gemstones hold so much meaning in them, and we want to make sure that they are stable enough to undergo this kind of transformation, as there can be some risk involved when working with older stones.

Metal Type

The price or value placed on precious metals continuously fluctuates - sometimes even by the hour. Generally speaking, platinum and palladium will increase the cost of a finished piece of jewelry more than yellow, white or rose gold. Platinum and palladium pieces generally weigh more than gold by ounce, therefore it will typically cost more, even when the price per ounce of gold is more. It’s also worth noting that no matter what metal is used, the amount of metal used will influence the cost. For example: a solitaire engagement ring with a 5mm band will cost more than the same design with a thinner band of 1.5mm.

Design Details

Since each piece of custom jewelry we make is unique from another, they range in level of detail, structural requirements and the complexity of design. A design with a high level of detail and intricacy (especially if extra stones are used) will be higher priced than a simple design due to the extra hands-on time that is required throughout each phase of the process. 

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