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The Ultimate York Wedding Guide
How can you cut the high cost of an engagement ring without sacrificing the quality?
Most engagement rings are overpriced, generic, and made for mass appeal. But your love story isn’t generic, it’s personal, rare, and unforgettable. Your ring should be, too. This guide shows you exactly how to get a premium quality one-of-a-kind engagement ring, without overpaying for costly middlemen.
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The smart way to buy
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Get to Know Their Style
An engagement ring should feel personal, effortless, and made just for them. If you’re unsure what they’d love, their closest friends or family can be your secret weapon. They’ll know if they prefer classic and timeless or modern and unique, yellow gold or platinum, minimal or bold. Checking their existing jewellery is also a great clue.
One of my clients, Tom, wanted to surprise his fiancée with the perfect ring but had no idea where to start. By noticing the jewellery she wore daily, simple, elegant pieces in white gold, he knew a modern platinum solitaire would be ideal. Together, we designed a stunning, timeless ring that felt effortlessly “her.”
Working with an expert helps translate these details into a perfect custom design — something meaningful, not just trendy.
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Picking The Right Stone
The five key factors that impact an engagement ring’s price are Carat, Colour, Clarity, Cut, and Certification. The right balance ensures the perfect ring without overspending. After crafting over 1,000 engagement rings, I’ve refined the diamond quality I work with to offer the best mix of beauty, value, and rarity, unless a client has specific preferences.
For mined diamonds, I use D colour and VS2 clarity; for lab-grown, D colour and VVS2 clarity offer near perfection. D colour maximizes brilliance, VS2 in mined provides top quality without excess cost, and VVS2 in lab-grown is a smart upgrade. Carat affects size, but lab-grown offers the best value without compromising beauty. Certification matters, GIA for mined, IGI for lab-grown, your assurance of quality and authenticity.
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Where You Buy From Matters
Most high-street jewellers in York sell ready-made rings imported from overseas factories, often with heavy markups and little flexibility.
When you work with a York-based designer and gemologist like me, every part of the process is personal and transparent. From selecting the perfect diamond to the final handcrafted details, you're involved at every step. No sales pressure, no middlemen.
Each piece is crafted right here in our York workshop using techniques we’ve perfected over two decades.
