Toi et moi engagement rings have moved from niche to mainstream in London’s luxury jewellery market. The dual-stone concept—two stones, two personalities, one shared future—has won over couples who want something special that represent their relationship.  

But the pricing confusion is real; the same visual design can cost anywhere from £800 to £15,000+, depending on factors that many buyers usually overlook. This guide breaks down exactly what increases or decreases the price so you can find the best Toi et Moi engagement ring in London without overpaying. 

What Makes a Toi et Moi Ring Expensive or Affordable? 

Unlike a solitaire, the cost of a Toi et Moi design is based on two gemstones and several other design factors: 

• Stone type and origin 

• Carat balance between the two stones 

• Setting craftsmanship and complexity 

• Metal selection and finish 

• The London luxury premium that Hatton Garden and independent jewellers each carry differently 

What most buyers don’t realise is that pairing stones of different sizes increases the labour cost. If each stone is set differently—one in a bezel and the other in a claw setting—the ring takes more time and skill to make, which can increase labour costs by 10–30%. 

“Two stones mean two valuations—and the decisions between them matter more than most buyers expect.“

 Style Choice 1: Stone Combination Strategy 

The combination of stones is the biggest factor that affects the price of a Toi et Moi ring. Rings with two diamonds are usually the most expensive, while diamond and sapphire combinations generally fall into the mid-to-high price range. Moissanite combinations bring the cost down significantly while giving a very similar look. 

In 2026, many UK buyers are pairing lab-grown diamonds with a coloured gemstone to save money without affecting the overall look of the ring.  

Many London buyers now pair one premium gemstone with a coloured gemstone, so the ring looks balanced while the price stays within budget.  

Browse our full range of engagement rings to explore available stone and setting combinations across every price point. 

 Style Choice 2: Carat Imbalance vs Symmetry 

Matching stones—same size, same shape—are straightforward to find and keep the price predictable. Going asymmetric, like pairing a 1 ct. with a 2.5 ct., makes everything more complicated and more expensive. 

Finding two stones that look similar in colour and clarity becomes much harder when the sizes are very different—and that difficulty increases the cost.  

Most people also don’t realise that unequal stones can’t just sit in an off-the-shelf ring setting. The jeweller has to build a custom mount from scratch to hold two stones of different sizes securely, which adds to both the time and the price. 

If you haven’t fully decided on your stone sizes yet, it’s worth understanding how different diamond shapes look when paired together before you commit to a Toi et Moi design. 

Style Choice 3: Metal Choice 

Metal selection affects both the upfront price and the long-term maintenance cost—two figures buyers often confuse with. Here’s where the key differences sit: 

• Platinum: Highest durability and the highest price point in London 

• 18k yellow gold: Consistently the most popular choice — warm aesthetic, moderate price 

• White gold: Cheaper upfront, but long-term rhodium plating maintenance is a hidden ongoing cost many buyers overlook 

• Two-tone settings: A growing design trend where each stone sits in a different metal—visually striking, but requires dual metalwork and noticeably increases craftsmanship cost compared to a single-metal design 

In most Toi et Moi designs, the metal choice has a bigger impact on the final price than buyers usually expect, especially when you include long-term care and craftsmanship. 

Style Choice 4: Setting Type 

Setting choice significantly affects both price and visual outcome. Here’s what to expect at each tier: 

• Classic claw prongs: Most affordable option, easiest to adjust or resize 

• Bezel settings: Require more labour and therefore cost more—but offer a cleaner, more protective finish 

• Floating settings: Where stones appear to hover above the band—carry a modern luxury premium reflecting the structural engineering involved 

• Hidden halos: Increase sparkle perception dramatically, but add additional diamond usage and labour, often inflating the overall ring price by 20–40% 

If a hidden halo appeals to you, explore our hidden halo engagement rings to see how the ring design works with different stones and metal choices. 

“The setting is not just an aesthetic choice — it’s an engineering decision that directly sets your price ceiling.” 

Style Choice 5: Diamond Cut Pairing 

Cut pairing not just affects the stone price but also how much rough diamond is wasted during cutting, and this directly impacts the final cost of the ring. 

• Round, brilliant, and oval combinations are the most popular and usually the most expensive. 

• Pear and emerald cuts give a luxury, stylish look and come at a slightly lower price. 

• Cushion and marquise combinations fall into the mid-price range. 

• Mixed fancy-cut combinations cost less to match and are becoming very popular among London buyers. 

This is why cut pairing decisions often influence the final price more than carat size in modern Toi et Moi designs. 

Style Choice 6: Lab Diamond vs Natural Diamond 

The 2026 UK market has shifted noticeably. Lab-grown diamonds are now 30–60% cheaper than natural mined diamonds and are physically and chemically identical. 

Natural diamonds are valued for their resale value and traditional importance, which still matters to a portion of London buyers. 

Hybrid rings—one lab-grown stone paired with one natural stone—are becoming a popular choice for couples looking for a balanced option. 

Market acceptance of lab diamonds is rising steadily in the UK, particularly among younger buyers who prioritise visual quality over the stone’s origin.  

If you’re considering this route, our lab diamond collection covers a range of certified options to compare. 

Style Choice 7: Custom vs Ready-Made Design 

Ready-made Toi et Moi rings offer a faster, lower-cost route with limited personalization. 

Custom rings are more expensive but allow you to adjust the sizes and balance of the stones, select each stone individually, and create a design fully aligned with your preferences. 

The hidden cost gap is real. Custom rings often include CAD design fees, multiple design revisions, and extra costs if the stone requirements change after the design is approved. 

Many buyers report that custom quotes can double after final design approval, usually because mid-process changes reset the pricing structure entirely. 

Getting a full breakdown of costs before committing is essential, especially for Toi et Moi designs, where pricing can shift significantly based on stone pairing, setting complexity, and mid-process custom adjustments. 

“Ready-made offers speed and savings, but custom Toi et Moi rings demand clarity upfront—because every design change, stone choice, and CAD iteration can significantly reshape the final price.”

Where to Buy the Best Toi et Moi Engagement Ring in London? 

Independent London jewellers typically offer the most flexible customisation pricing. 

Hatton Garden jewellers often have good prices and strong knowledge, but quality and transparency can be differ. Online UK jewellers are often more clear about pricing.  

No matter which seller you choose, the key factors to compare are stone certification (GIA or IGI), return policy, and sourcing transparency. 

A jeweller who cannot clearly explain where the stones come from should be approached with caution. 

If you have specific questions before visiting, the contact page is the fastest way to get a straight answer from the team. 

Real Price Range Breakdown in London 

The price of a Toi et Moi ring in London is easier to understand in levels because it depends on materials, stones, and design choices rather than just how it looks.  

The important insight: The same visual design does not mean the same pricing structure. Two rings that look the same can still have very different prices because of how they are made. 

“Same visual design ≠ same pricing structure. Optimise the choices inside the ring, not just the look on screen.“

 How to Choose Without Overpaying 

The price of a toi et moi ring depends more on design engineering than on aesthetics alone. Smart buyers optimise stone pairing and setting complexity rather than fixating purely on carat size.  

If you are looking for the best Toi et Moi engagement ring in London, the right jeweller will make the decisions transparently before you spend anything. Visit A Star Diamonds for bespoke consultations with transparent, stage-by-stage pricing. Book your free appointment today and use code SPARKLE10 for 10% off at checkout.