The "three months' salary" figure floating around is not a rule. It is marketing. Here is what your money actually buys in the UK and EU market, broken into realistic tiers.
Under €500
This is the moissanite tier. A well-made moissanite solitaire in 925 silver or 10k gold, GRA-certified, will land here. You are not buying a diamond; you are buying the look and the ethical story. Perfect if you want a bigger centre stone without the debt.
€500–€1,500
Lab-grown diamond solitaire territory, or a higher-carat moissanite in 14k gold. You can get a 0.5–0.7ct lab-grown diamond with a real certificate at the top end of this range.
€1,500–€3,500
The most common UK engagement ring budget. Here you can choose between a smaller mined diamond (0.3–0.5ct, good cut) or a larger lab-grown (0.8–1ct). The setting in 14k or 18k gold will look and feel genuinely premium.
€3,500–€7,000
Here you are into 1ct mined diamond territory, especially online. Choose cut over colour, and look for G/H colour, VS clarity. High-street jewellers will charge 30–50% more than online for the same stone.
Where the money goes
A typical solitaire breakdown:
- Centre stone: 60–70%
- Band and setting: 20–25%
- Certificate and insurance first year: 5–10%
- Buffer for resizing: 5%
The hidden costs
Remember: insurance (typically 1–2% of the ring value per year on a home contents policy), rhodium re-plating if you choose white gold, and the occasional prong check. None of these are large, but they exist.