We are asked about price more often than any other single question. This page answers it honestly, including what drives the investment up and down and how to think about allocating budget across different pieces.
Si Dian Zuan Sets
A complete Si Dian Zuan set consists of four pieces: a bangle, earrings, a necklace, and a ring. The investment range is wide because the variables are significant.
Typical investment ranges
SGD 5,000 – 8,000
Modest but well-designed sets. Smaller diamond weights, simpler settings, 18K gold. A very respectable choice for couples where budget is a genuine constraint. Not a compromise in quality of craftsmanship — a compromise in stone weight.
SGD 8,000 – 15,000
The most common range for our clients. Allows for diamonds that make a visual statement across all four pieces. Good stone weights in certified lab-grown diamonds, or more modest weights in certified natural diamonds. Most couples find this range satisfying.
SGD 15,000 – 25,000
Meaningful natural diamond weights across all four pieces, or substantial lab-grown diamond weights with more complex designs. Sets in this range tend to be notable as individual pieces, not just as a collection.
SGD 25,000 and above
Reserved for clients who want significant natural diamond weights, premium cuts (rounds, ovals), and designs with real complexity. Not the starting point for most, but important to know the ceiling is not fixed.
What drives the investment
Total diamond weight: More carats costs more. This is the single biggest driver. A set with 1ct total diamond weight across all four pieces will cost roughly half of a set with 2ct across the same designs.
Natural vs lab-grown diamonds: Lab-grown diamonds of equivalent quality typically cost 60–80% less than natural diamonds. Choosing lab-grown diamonds allows significantly more diamond weight for the same budget. Most clients who make this choice do not feel they have compromised — the stones are physically identical to natural diamonds.
Diamond shape: Round brilliants are the most expensive shape per carat due to cutting waste from rough. Ovals, cushions, and other fancy shapes typically cost 15–30% less per carat for equivalent quality. This difference can be meaningful across a four-piece set.
Metal: Platinum costs roughly 20–30% more than 18K gold for the same design due to the higher cost of the material and the greater density of platinum (more metal is used for the same ring). Yellow, white, and rose 18K gold are all similarly priced.
Design complexity: A simple solitaire costs less to produce than a halo with micro-pavé shoulders. Complex designs with many small stones, intricate metalwork, or unusual structural elements involve more labour and typically more total diamond weight. This is reflected in the price.
Engagement Rings
Typical investment ranges
SGD 3,000 – 6,000
Smaller lab-grown diamond in a well-designed setting, or a very modest natural diamond. A meaningful ring that will photograph well and wear beautifully, but not one where the centre stone will draw strong comment on its own.
SGD 6,000 – 12,000
The most common range for custom engagement rings at Diamond Ateliers. Allows for a 0.7 to 1.2ct lab-grown diamond of good quality in a well-designed setting, or a 0.5 to 0.8ct natural diamond of equivalent quality. Rings in this range attract strong positive responses.
SGD 12,000 – 25,000
1ct+ natural diamonds of good quality, or 1.5ct+ lab-grown diamonds with complex designs. Rings in this range are genuinely impressive as individual pieces.
SGD 25,000 and above
Significant natural diamond weights, premium cuts and quality grades, or unusual stones (fancy colour, very large). We make rings in this range regularly. No upper limit.
The ‘three months’ salary rule
This rule was invented by diamond marketing in the 1980s. It is not a meaningful guide to what to spend. The right engagement ring budget is one that buys a ring you are both proud of without creating financial stress before a wedding. We work with clients at all budget levels.
Wedding Bands
Plain gold or platinum wedding bands typically start from SGD 600 to 1,200 for a single ring depending on width, metal, and finish. Diamond wedding bands — half-eternity or full-eternity styles with pavé or claw-set diamonds — typically range from SGD 1,500 to 5,000 or more depending on total diamond weight and design complexity.
How Quotations Work
Every commission begins with a consultation, at which we discuss your brief, budget, and timeline. We then prepare a detailed quotation that breaks down the cost of diamonds, metal, and craftsmanship for your specific design. There are no hidden charges and no pressure to add to the original scope.
The quotation is fixed once accepted. You will not receive a different number at collection.
Book a no-obligation consultation to discuss your budget →
