Send in your own diamonds and have the perfect ring made
Your diamond. Your ring. Your price. Without the markup you'd pay at a jewellery store.
In a nutshell
At Velur, you can send us your own diamond, and we’ll craft the ring of your choice around it. You purchase the stone yourself at the best price, without the usual jeweller’s markup of 100 to 200 percent. That way, you get exactly the diamond you want, set in a handcrafted ring from Munich.
Why Diamonds Are So Expensive at the Jeweler's
When you buy an engagement ring from a traditional jeweller, you’re not just paying for the ring and the stone. You’re paying for the downtown rent, the sales staff, the display case lighting, and the markup the jeweller adds to the cost price. With diamonds, this markup is particularly high.
In the jewellery industry, a practice known as “keystone pricing” is widespread: the jeweller doubles the purchase price. A diamond that costs 2,000 euros at wholesale is sold for 4,000 euros. For luxury brands, the markup can even reach 200 to 300 percent.
This problem isn't limited to luxury brands. Even the jeweller down the street has to cover his costs: store rent, insurance, staff, and inventory. All of that is factored into the price you end up paying. A diamond that sells for 1,500 euros wholesale can easily cost you 3,000 euros or more in the store window.
That means: When you buy your diamond online yourself, you save on the biggest cost component of the entire ring. Online retailers don’t have expensive retail space, display cases, or the same overhead. That’s why they can offer diamonds with margins under 10 percent. And that’s exactly where our service comes in: You secure the best price for your stone, and we take care of the rest.
Here's how it works: Your diamond, our ring
The process is simple. You choose your own diamond, send it to us, and we’ll craft the ring of your dreams around it. Four steps, no stress, complete transparency.
Consulting
Contact us via WhatsApp or email. We'll discuss your ring design and check whether your diamond is compatible.
Send a Diamond
You send your certified diamond, with insurance, to our studio in Munich.
Manufacturing
Our goldsmiths craft the ring and professionally set your stone in the mount.
Shipping
Your finished ring will be insured and shipped to you discreetly. It comes with a ring box and a certificate.
Send us a photo of your certificate in advance via WhatsApp. That way, we can immediately check whether your stone matches your desired ring and provide you with a binding quote.
5 Reasons Why You Should Bring Your Own Diamond
You'll save on the jeweller's markup
The biggest advantage is obvious: You buy the diamond at wholesale price—or close to it. Online retailers operate with margins under 10 percent, while traditional jewellers double the price. For a 1-carat diamond, that can quickly add up to a difference of 2,000 to 4,000 euros.
You choose exactly the stone you want
At a jewellery store, you're limited to what's in the display case. Online, you have access to hundreds of thousands of certified diamonds. You can filter by exact specifications: cut, colour, clarity, carat weight, and fluorescence. You can compare stones side by side, read independent reviews, and make an informed decision.
Full Transparency Through Independent Certificates
When you buy your diamond yourself, you choose a stone that comes with an independent certificate from GIA, IGI, or HRD. You know exactly what you’re getting. You don’t have to rely on a salesperson’s word—instead, you have a scientifically verified document that describes every aspect of your stone.
Use heirlooms and existing stones
Maybe you’ve inherited a diamond set in an old ring that no longer suits your style. Or perhaps you have a loose stone that’s been sitting in a drawer for years. Instead of selling it (and losing a significant amount of its value in the process), you can have it set in a new, modern design. This gives the stone a second life.
Handcrafted in Munich, without compromise
At Velur, you won’t find mass-produced jewellery. Every ring is made to order in the gold alloy of your choice: yellow gold engagement rings, white gold engagement rings, or platinum engagement rings. Your diamond is set by hand. The result: a ring as unique as your story. With a lifetime warranty on materials and craftsmanship.
What to Look for When Buying a Loose Diamond
Buying a diamond on your own might sound intimidating, but it's easier than you think. Thousands of people buy diamonds online every day, compare certificates, and make informed decisions. With a few basic guidelines, you'll be well prepared.
Understanding the 4Cs
Each diamond is graded according to four criteria: carat (weight), cut, colour, and clarity. Of these four, the cut is the most important factor in determining the stone’s sparkle. A superbly cut diamond with slightly lower colour or clarity will look better than a poorly cut stone with perfect grades on paper.
Our recommendation for the best value for the money: Choose an Excellent or Ideal cut, a colour between G and I (indistinguishable from colourless to the naked eye), and a clarity of VS1 or VS2 (no visible inclusions). When it comes to carat weight, aim to buy just below the round numbers. A 0.95 ct diamond looks just as big as a 1.0 ct stone, but costs significantly less.
Choosing the Right Certificate
Only buy diamonds that come with a certificate from a recognized laboratory. The three most important ones are:
| Laboratory | Strength | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| GIA | The most rigorous evaluation, the global gold standard | Natural Diamonds |
| IGI | A leader in lab-grown diamonds, with excellent consistency | Lab-Grown Diamonds |
| HRD | European standard, strict colour assessment | European buyers |
Allocate Your Budget Wisely
If you buy your diamond yourself and have Velur craft the ring separately, you have full control over your budget. For example, you can invest 70 percent of your budget in an exceptional stone and 30 percent in a beautiful setting. At a jewellery store, you would have received a significantly smaller stone or one of lower quality for the same total budget.
Calculation Example
Budget: 5,000 euros. At a jewellery store, that will get you a ring with a 0.7-carat diamond (including the markup). If you buy the same 0.7 ct diamond yourself online for about 2,500 euros and have the ring made at Velur (starting at 1,100 euros for the setting), you’ll save over 1,400 euros. Or you can invest the money you save in a larger stone.
Natural Diamond or Lab-Grown?
Both options work with our service. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds, but cost 60 to 80 percent less. If the sparkle is more important to you than the resale value, a lab-grown diamond is an excellent choice. You can learn more about this in our article “Moissanite vs. Lab-Grown Diamond vs. Natural Diamond.”
Shipping and Security
When you send your diamond to us, we recommend insured shipping via UPS or DHL Express with a declared value. Pack the stone securely in a padded envelope or a small box. As soon as your diamond arrives at our studio, we’ll confirm receipt via WhatsApp, and from that moment on, it’s fully covered by our workshop insurance. Once the ring is finished, we’ll send it back to you via insured and discreet shipping.
Sources: GIA – How to Buy a Diamond
What You Really Save: Jewellery Store vs. Buying Your Own Diamond + Velur
Numbers speak louder than words. Here's a realistic comparison for an engagement ring with a 1-carat diamond (lab-grown, Excellent cut, G colour, VS1 clarity):
| Cost factor | Traditional Jeweller | Custom Diamond + Velur |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond (1 ct, lab-grown) | approx. 2,000–3,000 € | approx. 800–1,200 € |
| Ring setting (14k gold) | Included in the package price | Starting at €1,100 |
| Jeweler's Markup | 100–200% | 0% |
| Total Price | approx. 4,000–6,000 € | approx. 1,900–2,300 € |
| Savings | Up to 60% |
"Most people don't realize that the diamond itself has the highest markup at a jeweller's. If you buy the stone yourself and just have the setting made, you'll get a much better ring for the same budget."
Velur Editorial Team
The comparison shows that the savings are far from negligible. You can potentially save several thousand euros without compromising on quality. On the contrary: You’ll receive a handcrafted ring from Munich with a lifetime warranty, paired with a diamond that you’ve selected yourself based on your own criteria.
And the best part: You don’t have to choose between quality and price. At a jewellery store, your budget is often the limiting factor that forces you to compromise on stone size or quality. With our model, you invest your budget where it makes the biggest difference: in the diamond itself. At Velur, you’ll receive a handcrafted setting that can rival any jewellery store.
Popular Ring Designs for Your Diamond
Each of these designs can be crafted with your own diamond. Choose the setting that best suits your stone and your style. All rings are available in yellow gold, white gold, and platinum.
Elegance Solitaire Oval
A timeless solitaire with a slim band. Makes every stone shine to the fullest.
Floral Oval with Accent Stones
Floral accent stones frame the main stone. Romantic and unique.
Eternal Light
Oval centre stone with a hidden halo and accent stones along the band. A real statement piece.
Perfect for you if...
...you have a diamond (whether inherited, purchased yourself, or from an old piece of jewellery) and are looking for a modern, handcrafted ring made without a jeweller's markup. Or if you'd like to buy the diamond yourself online to get the best price.
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FAQ on Submitting Your Own Diamond
Yes. You can send your own diamond to Velur, whether you bought it online, inherited it, or removed it from an old piece of jewellery. Please contact us in advance via WhatsApp so we can check its compatibility with the ring of your choice.
We accept natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds accompanied by a recognized certificate (GIA, IGI, or HRD). The stone should weigh at least 0.3 carats and be in good condition with no visible damage. We can also set moissanite.
At a traditional jewellery store, the markup on diamonds averages 100 to 200 percent. If you buy your diamond online yourself and send it to Velur, you’ll save the entire markup and pay only for the ring setting. For a 1-carat stone, that can amount to several thousand euros.
We recommend insured shipping via UPS or DHL Express with declared value. As soon as your diamond arrives at our facility, it is fully covered by our workshop insurance until the finished ring is returned to you.
Once we receive your diamond, production typically takes 2 to 3 weeks. This includes inspecting the stone, crafting the setting, and professionally setting the diamond. For particularly intricate custom designs, it may take a little longer.
Online platforms generally offer the best prices for certified loose diamonds. Look for a GIA or IGI certificate, compare the 4Cs (carat, cut, colour, clarity), and only buy from retailers that offer a return policy. If you’re unsure, we’d be happy to advise you via WhatsApp.
Your diamond deserves the perfect ring
Send us your stone, and we'll craft the ring you've always imagined. Handcrafted in Munich, with no jeweller's markup.
