It's the question almost everyone asks before they book a consultation, and almost no one asks during it. So we'll answer it here, honestly and in full — because we think you deserve to walk into any conversation about a bespoke ring with a clear sense of what you're looking at.
The short answer: a bespoke engagement ring made in Sydney typically costs between $5,000 and $18,000 AUD, with most Laher clients sitting in the $7,000–$12,000 range.
But that number is almost meaningless without context. Here's what actually drives the cost.
The Two Components: Stone and Setting
Every engagement ring has two distinct cost elements — the centre stone, and the setting (the metal work that holds it). Understanding these separately is the first step to understanding your budget clearly.
The Centre Stone
The stone is almost always the dominant cost. For a bespoke ring, you're typically choosing one of the following:
Australian Parti or Teal Sapphire Our most requested centre stone. A high-quality Australian parti sapphire in the 1–2ct range typically costs $2,500–$7,000 for the stone alone. Exceptional stones — larger, more saturated, or with particularly striking colour zoning — can reach $15,000+. Teal sapphires in the same size range tend to sit slightly lower, $2,000–$5,000.
Natural Diamond A natural, untreated diamond of 1ct, good cut, G colour and VS2 clarity will cost approximately $6,000–$10,000 AUD for the stone. Colour diamonds — champagne, yellow, cognac — can be sourced for considerably less than white diamonds of equivalent size.
Lab Grown Diamond Lab grown diamonds are chemically and optically identical to natural diamonds and cost 40–60% less. A 1.5ct lab grown diamond of excellent quality typically costs $1,800–$3,500. They're an excellent choice if size matters more than provenance.
Other Coloured Gemstones Spinels, tourmalines, and other sapphire colours sit across a wide range depending on origin and quality. Budget $1,500–$6,000 for a quality centre stone in most categories.
The Setting
The metal work — what most people call "the ring" — is the second component. For a bespoke piece made in-house by a Sydney jeweller, setting costs typically range from $2,500 to $6,000 depending on:
- Metal type. 18ct yellow, white or rose gold is standard. Platinum costs more — typically an additional $500–$1,500 — due to material cost and the additional skill required to work with it.
- Complexity. A clean solitaire setting is simpler and less costly than a cluster, halo, or multi-stone design. Each additional stone, each pavé detail, each custom structural element adds time and cost.
- Side stones. If you want diamonds or sapphires set into the band or shoulders, budget an additional $500–$3,000 depending on the quantity and quality.
What Does a Typical Laher Ring Actually Cost?
To give you something concrete, here's how the numbers tend to fall at Laher:
| Ring Type | Approximate Total |
|---|---|
| Australian parti sapphire solitaire, 18ct gold | $7,000–$10,000 |
| Teal sapphire cluster, 18ct gold | $8,000–$13,000 |
| Natural champagne diamond, 18ct yellow gold | $9,000–$14,000 |
| Lab diamond solitaire or three-stone, 18ct gold | $5,500–$9,000 |
| Freeform sapphire, custom asymmetric setting | $10,000–$18,000 |
These are real ranges based on work we do regularly — not aspirational minimums.
What You're Paying For with a Bespoke Ring
The word bespoke gets used loosely in the jewellery industry. At Laher it means something specific: your ring is designed from scratch, around your stone, by our team — and then made by hand in our Surry Hills studio.
That process involves:
Direct stone sourcing. We don't buy from a wholesale catalogue. We source stones directly from Australian miners, cutters, and select international suppliers. This gives us access to stones that don't reach the open market — and allows us to offer genuine value at the quality level we work at.
Design. Our designers work with you through as many revisions as needed before anything is made. No alteration clauses, no limits on changes. You're not locked into a design until you're ready.
In-house production. Every Laher ring is made by our jewellers — Justin, Nikki, Kara, and Jono — in our studio. Not outsourced. Not sent overseas. This matters for quality control, for communication, and for the integrity of what you're getting.
Aftercare. We offer complimentary annual cleans and checks. A ring made well and maintained well will last generations.
How the Deposit Works
We require a deposit to secure your chosen stone and begin the design process. The remaining balance is due on completion — not before. You never pay the full amount upfront, and you never pay for a ring you haven't approved.
Is a Bespoke Ring Worth the Premium Over a Retail Ring?
We're biased, obviously. But here's what we genuinely believe: the premium for bespoke isn't just about the object — it's about the process.
When you buy a ring off a display shelf, you're buying someone else's decision about what a ring should look like. When you work with us, the ring emerges from your own preferences, your partner's personality, the stone you were drawn to, the proportions that felt right.
That's a different thing entirely. And in our experience, the people who wear Laher rings know it.
Next Steps
If you'd like to explore what's possible at your budget, a consultation is the best starting point — and there's no obligation. We'll show you stones, talk through design options, and give you a clear picture of what you're looking at before you commit to anything.
Book a consultation → Browse our current collection →
Laher is a bespoke jewellery studio in Surry Hills, Sydney. We design and produce engagement rings and fine jewellery using Australian sapphires and unique coloured diamonds.