The price per ounce now stands at $4,000 for gold, reinforcing (if there were any doubts) that this naturally yellow metal is a precious one. Addressing the constant price spikes this year turned out to be an Olympic sport for which no one was training, and now as 2025 fades into a new year, 2026 looks a lot pricier. Costs on finished jewelry are rising—there’s no way around it—while the entire industry works round the clock to make beautiful, still-accessible jewelry designs.

Goldstar Jewellery

Accomplishing this goal requires some next-level creativity. What can you buy in karat gold under $2,500? Be prepared for pieces partly made with some less-fine materials and plated or even gold-filled offerings.

Jessica Zerega has been living this reality since the start of Q3 2025; the marketing director of Goldstar Jewellery has been fielding fewer requests for gold alloys like 14k and more for gold-inspired compounds.

“Most of our customers have launched a price conscious gold-plated (most requesting vermeil) and sterling silver collection over the last six months,” she reveals. “These products are mostly with lab-grown diamonds and retail under $999.” The upside of this inventory besides the price? It’s trendy, with rapid-fire style, but delivered in the quality that only a fine-jewelry manufacturer can provide.

“The styling of this product category is trend-right basics with a fast-fashion appeal,” continues Zerega. “Layering and stacking and ear parties feature mixes of Huggie hoops, chain earrings, studs, and more.

Wrist stacks feature bangles, dainty chains, and chunky chains, too. The same goes for the neck. Plus, rings are having a fun moment with layering on all fingers. The pinky ring is back!”

                   Marathon

For Everspark, a bridal jewelry maker and sister company to Samuel B., keeping costs low means using small accent stones, but most clients like to customize their final designs, putting cost management out of his control.

“Buyers want to design things that have meaning to them,” says Matthew Behnam, president. “They want designs they won’t find in a showcase.”

A related move that helps keep costs to a minimum? When clients bring in family stones to repurpose. It’s a sentimental move that does double duty as a cost-control mechanism.

Karat gold items from Everspark that retail for under $2,500 also include bands—the brand has a band program in a few hundred stores nationwide.

“We have halfway and three-quarters bands,” notes Behnam. “They’re basic, simple, but have been trending.”

At Marathon, the prices of its signature 14k gold lockets will inevitably rise, but there are some sterling options with karat gold accents. Its well-known Cape Cod bracelets can also be made in mixed metals and gold fill, and for gem accents, the brand frequently uses just small diamonds or white topaz.

For Cirari and Color Jewels, the core of their diamond basics already ranges from $600 to $1,900, and half of their business is colored gemstones. So, when leaning into the less expensive stones (amethyst, citrine), finished design prices will be lower than ones set with rare gems like rubies. Even so, a current best seller is a sapphire and diamond ring with 0.75 ctw. gems around the $500 retail mark.

Cirari/Color Jewels

Another is a 14k gold and diamond bypass ring, which retails for nearly double. Prices of both can’t help but rise, and there’s no choice but to wait and see how customers react.

One proactive move by the company that will hopefully help in the long run is the elimination of half of its older products.

“We’re trying to impress that next generation, which is getting harder and harder,” says Mark Funk, vice president of sales and marketing. “My daughter is 32 and doesn’t like jewelry. We’re looking for more fashion-forward young customers.”