Jewellers share the most and least expensive engagement rings they’ve made
image via @lindelli/INSTAGRAM
as told to daisy henry
From $700 sterling silver bands to custom-made designs upwards of $50,000, we take a look at both sides of the spectrum.
If you’re anything like me, then you, too are nosy when it comes to wanting to know all the important details of someone’s wedding. I want to hear about the search for the perfect wedding dress, budgets, regrets and the lore of the hen’s party. However, there’s one element I’m always most intrigued by: the engagement ring.
Perhaps it’s because the idea of having a lifelong piece of jewellery feels both special and terrifying (what if I lose it? Scratch it? What if something happens?). The idea that some people might be going through life with tens of thousands of dollars sitting on their fingers is a scary thought.
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For Cleopatra’s Bling designer, Olivia Cummings, engagement rings are never about the price tag. “I’ve loved creating lower price point rings just as much as higher ones,” she says. “Each ring carries its own meaning and story, which is what makes this work so fulfilling. The excitement of our clients is what gets me excited.”
From $700 sterling silver bands to custom-made designs sitting upwards of $50,000, the spectrum for engagement rings is fairly broad, and you can approach it a number of ways. So, to showcase the different types of rings you can get at varying price-points, I asked three Australian jewellery designers to share their most and least expensive creations.
Olivia Cummings, founder and designer of Cleopatra’s Bling
Least Expensive: The Leonids Ring, Boudica Ring or Eanna Ring
For the least expensive engagement ring, one of our best sellers is the Leonids Ring. Another popular option is the Boudica Ring. Our Eanna Ring is also a great example, as it’s made in sterling silver, which helps to challenge the common perception that an engagement ring must be gold.
We also customise the centre stones and offer one-on-one consultations to create bespoke versions of these designs. Each piece is hand carved in wax and then cast using traditional lost-wax techniques, ensuring that no two are ever identical.
Most Expensive: It varies (priced anywhere between $40,000 and $70,000).
For the most expensive, we’ve created engagement rings between $40,000 and $70,000, often featuring generous diamonds of exceptional quality. These are crafted in close collaboration with clients through a deeply personal design process that brings together their stories, aesthetic and our workshop expertise.
All of our jewellery is designed between our studios in Istanbul, Florence and Melbourne, where we work closely with artisans who specialise in centuries-old techniques such as engraving, enamel and stone setting. The result is a balance of symbolism, history and modern wearability that defines the Cleopatra’s Bling aesthetic.
Davina Adamson, Black Finch
Least Expensive: It’s a tie between a 18ct High Summer or our Clarity Diamond Ring (beginning at $5,500).
We can’t keep the High Summer ring on our shelves. It’s a piece we try to always have in production one in, one out. They make a great gift and we consider them an entry product to our brand, however, we’ve started to see a rise in people wanting to purchase the regular 9ct gold ring in 18ct and making it their engagement ring.
We don’t believe in rules here in BF, we’re all for selecting the ring that speaks to you, works with your lifestyle and marks the occasion. Partners have also purchased the ring as the proposal piece, then bringing their partner in to design the forever engagement ring together – less financial and emotional stress than having to invest a lot of time, energy and finances into a higher priced custom piece where our minimum spend begins at $5,500.
Most Expensive: The Diamond Opus Ring (at the time of making, $59,790.00).
It would have to be the Diamond Opus Ring we designed in 2023 as part of our ready-to-ship Diamond Engagement Collection. The Opus Diamond Ring featured an exceedingly rare 4.53ct cushion cut white diamond with very unique inclusion, specifically, a seed diamond. It literally included a baby diamond in the diamond, those rare mother nature occurrences which you just cannot get from man made, lab grown diamonds. So rare, magic and precious!
The diamond was M in colour, holding a faint hint of warmth, imparting a unique character to the diamond and coupled with the S12 clarity, the diamond became a testament to the wonders of nature. At the time of making we priced the EPIC piece at $59,790.00, which in today’s climate wouldn’t compare given the staggering rise in the price of precious metals.
Toya Worsley, founder of Lindelli
Least Expensive: The Mini Bloom Ring ($4,400)
The Bloom ring has this quiet duality. Modern yet timeless, soft yet strong. It nods to tradition but feels entirely fresh. The Mini Bloom features a 1ct premium lab-grown diamond, handcrafted in Australia in Lindelli’s signature sculptural style.
Most Expensive: Interval Old Mine Cut ($26,400)
Interval is all about presence. Sculptural arms curve and meet in perfect balance, drawing the eye to that hypnotic eight carat old mine cut diamond. It’s confident, feminine and just the right kind of bold. The kind of piece that stops conversation without ever needing to ask for it.
Bloom was born from the idea of new beginnings; Interval from a pause, that rare breath between what was and what’s to come. At Lindelli, we’re particular about quality. Each diamond is sustainably grown and cut to bring out its own character, not just its clarity. For our old mine cuts, we have every stone shaped by hand, no stock pieces, no shortcuts. It means every diamond tells its own story, made to suit the wearer rather than the other way around.
We believe no one should have to compromise on the ring they’ll wear forever. By working with sustainable lab-grown diamonds, we can offer the size, quality and sparkle our clients dream of, while keeping the process accessible and kind to the planet. Most designs are made to order within four weeks, giving each piece that balance of craftsmanship and modern ease.
For the most iconic celebrity engagement rings, head here.
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