What Determines Wedding Band Prices?

Short answer: Five things set the price of a wedding band: the weight of the gold, its purity, the workmanship, the total carat and quality of any stones, and the gold price on the day. For a plain band, the gold sets almost the whole price; for half and full eternity bands, the stones make up most of it. That is why we give a current price for the design you choose rather than a fixed list.

1. Gold weight: width, thickness and size

For a plain band, the basis of the price is the weight of the gold. Three things decide the weight:

• Width: The amount of gold in a slim 2-millimetre band and a wide 5-millimetre band differs several times over.
• Thickness: At the same width, a thicker (fuller) band means more gold. A very thin band looks cheaper but can bend over time.
• Size: A larger ring has a longer band and so more gold. This is why men’s bands usually weigh more.

Because the gold price changes every day, the price of the same band also changes over time. When you ask for a quote, ask which day the price is for.

2. Purity: 14 karat or 18 karat?

14 karat gold is 58.5% pure gold and 18 karat gold is 75%. In the same design, 18 karat costs more because it contains more pure gold. 14 karat is harder and a little more resistant to scratches in daily wear. We explain the difference between the two in a separate article.

3. Workmanship: surface, shape and detail

Two bands of the same weight are priced differently according to the workmanship. A polished plain surface is the simplest; matte, sandblasted, lined or diamond-cut surfaces take extra work. Comfort-fit shapes with a slightly domed inside, bevelled edges and two-tone gold designs also add to the workmanship.

4. Stones: number, total carat and quality

In a stone-set band, the stones set most of the price:

• Total carat: The combined weight of all the stones in the ring. A 0.50-carat half eternity and a 1-carat full eternity differ twice over in the amount of stone.
• Number and size of stones: The same total carat can come from many small stones or a few large ones; large stones cost more per carat.
• Colour and clarity: How white and clean the stones are affects the price directly. Because the stones in a band are small, being one grade more flexible usually cannot be seen.
• Matching: Making every stone in a row the same size and colour takes careful selection, and that shows in the price.

A full eternity band carries roughly twice as many stones as a half eternity of the same stone size, so it costs more. We compare them in the full eternity article and the styles in wedding band styles.

5. Natural or lab-grown diamond?

Choosing lab-grown diamonds for a stone-set band means whiter, cleaner stones for the same budget. The stones are real diamonds, with the same chemistry, hardness and light as natural diamonds. What is a lab-grown diamond?

Making the most of your budget

• If comfort in daily wear matters, choose a band between 2.5 and 4 millimetres rather than a very wide one.
• If you want a stone-set band, a half eternity looks the same from above as a full eternity and costs less.
• A pair of bands does not have to match: one can be stone-set and the other plain. Choosing a pair of wedding bands.

Frequently asked questions