Pricewise, here's how they compare, using the benchmark of 1 carat , H color , and VS1 clarity to control for the other Cs. Fancy-shaped diamonds are not given a cut grade by GIA, so they are a bit more challenging to buy. If you're considering one of these alternate shapes, make sure you do the research and talk to a trustworthy jeweler who can tell you if the diamond is cut well or not. If you're purchasing online, make sure you purchase from a website that shows you actual magnified photos of the stone such as James Allen.
Which diamond shape do you like best? These labs all have their own grading criteria and standards. These two labs are the most respected worldwide and have the highest, most consistent grading standards. Other labs may inflate their quality by as much as two whole grades.
You'd be paying for an inferior product that just looks good on paper. But this is an area that you absolutely should not compromise on. Did you know : The Federal Trade Commission legally allows a jeweler to be off by one color and clarity grade. This makes you think you are getting a better diamond and they can fetch a higher price. These two labs have the most accurate grading practices. There is one last characteristic you need to know about - diamond fluorescence.
Fluorescence is when a diamond shows a soft glow under ultraviolet light usually blue. This is caused by certain minerals in the diamond. This effect is totally natural, appearing in one third of all diamonds. Usually, fluorescence doesn't cause any negative effects on the appearance of a diamond. In diamonds with lower color grades I and lower , the blue can counteract the slight yellow tint and improve the face-up color usually by one whole color grade.
So you can buy a cheaper diamond with fluorescence in a lower color grade, and have it appear whiter. Though there is usually no negative effect, you should know that for diamonds with a very high color grade D-F , a strong-very strong fluorescence could cause a hazy appearance.
But we wouldn't recommend that you purchase a diamond in the colorless range anyway! For an in-depth guide at diamond fluorescence, please read this article.
We want to quickly mention lab created diamonds or synthetic diamonds. This makes a huge difference in pricing. So far, the examples you have seen are all for naturally mined diamonds. But lab diamonds are becoming more and more popular for engagement rings. Not only are they cheaper, they're also eco conscious.
Lab created diamonds are the same as natural diamonds with the same carbon structures. It's just that the process is sped up in a controlled lab environment. Even gemologists can't tell the difference. Because they can be made in mass quantities in a lab, synthetic diamonds are much cheaper. Are lab diamonds the same as treated diamonds? No, they are very different. Treated diamonds are natural diamonds that have been enhanced. A brown diamond can become white after a color enhancement.
There are also clarity treatments to remove and fill flaws. It sounds good, right? But be careful, because treatments can weaken the diamond and make it easier to damage. If a diamond has been treated, it should be properly disclosed on the report.
Besides diamond characteristics factors, there are a couple of other things that affect how retailers price their diamonds:. Jeweler markups : This has the biggest effect on diamond prices. Of course, prestigious brand names such as Tiffany and Harry Winston have high premiums. But popular mall jewelry stores have high markups as well. Stores with a physical location need to pay for a lot of overhead the store itself, staff, etc.
Online diamond retailers have less overhead, so they can sell their diamonds at a lower price. These generous policies can be factored into the selling price of the diamond. This gift is a symbol of eternal love to the most important person in your life. But buying the right one can be overwhelming. As part of our series on engagement rings, CreditDonkey asked a panel of industry experts to answer readers' most pressing questions.
Here's what they said:. We recommend checking out James Allen for affordable prices. Color and clarity do not affect the brilliance of the stone, so you don't need to splurge on flawless and colorless rocks.
Cut is what determines how sparkly it is, so don't cheap out on this. Put whatever money you have into this area. A clarity of VS2 offers the most value for the money because most people won't be able to see the small inclusions. A color of H is the best value for diamonds set in white gold or platinum bands. Getting a yellow or rose gold setting will save you more, because you can safely go down to a J or K diamond.
Round diamonds are the shiniest but also the priciest. Consider a fancy shape for a more unique, yet budget friendly engagement ring. Look for a diamond lower in color grade with medium-strong fluorescence for a significant price drop and a whiter appearance at the same time. Multiple smaller diamonds cost a lot less than one single larger diamond.
The halo setting is great for making a smaller center diamond appear huge on a budget. Do you feel ready to shop for an engagement ring now? Picking a diamond is part emotion and part science. It's about hitting that balance of all 4Cs so that you get a stone that satisfies all your preferences while staying within your budget. We hope this diamond price guide has given you a good starting point to understand diamonds and what to expect in cost.
Please read our how to buy an engagement ring guide for more information. Write to Anna G at feedback creditdonkey. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do. About CreditDonkey CreditDonkey is a diamond jeweler comparison website. Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.
CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice. Updated November 29, By Anna G. Read more about How to Buy Engagement Ring.
This article contains references to products from our partners. We may receive compensation if you apply or shop through links in our content. You help support CreditDonkey by reading our website and using our links. Don't Overpay. Compare Diamond Prices. Many high-quality and honest diamond jewelry sellers can be found online and in stores. For a 1 Carat Diamond ring, we recommend finding an online seller as they tend to have a larger selection of quality 1 Carat Diamonds than local stores.
With the online option, you have a greater chance of finding an exquisite diamond at an exceptional price. We have a consistent pulse on which companies you can trust and which companies produce the best diamond cuts at an excellent price point. We highly recommend the following sellers for a 1 Carat Diamond engagement ring:.
These diamonds look identical in a ring. There is no such thing as a Diamond Size. People often mistake diamond carat for diamond size, but this can be easily avoided by knowing a few basics. Diamond Carat refers specifically to the weight of the diamond. It does not impact table surface area, depth or other shape features. Higher carat weight does not mean a larger sized diamond. Size, on the other hand, has to do with the visual appearance of the diamond. For example, a Marquise Shaped Diamond will likely appear larger than a Round Brilliant Cut in the same carat only because of its elongated shape.
Thus, two diamonds of the same carat usually appear different in size depending on shape design and cut quality. This factor dictates how many inclusions, surface defects or blemishes and extra facets are present in the diamond. Similar to our recommendations for Diamond Color , we suggest reviewing the Clarity of a diamond yourself or asking for assistance from an expert. What the naked eye can see is more important than simply a GIA Grade rating.
For instance, a low clarity eye-clean diamond will look identical to a flawless diamond assuming all else is equal yet will cost far, far less. Currently, the only vendors offering sufficiently high-quality images on all of their diamonds for reviewing Clarity are James Allen and Blue Nile. For a 1 Carat Diamond, we generally recommend a minimum of a VS2 grade, as most inclusions and blemishes will be invisible to the naked eye.
You may be able to find a SI1 with inclusions near the edges of the diamond—that, depending on shape, may be covered by the setting prongs. The maximum Clarity rating, within a reasonable budget, will usually be a VVS2, which provides no inclusions or blemishes to the naked eye.
Ringo, a patented artificial intelligence model, that can examine videos of diamonds and determine if they are eye-clean. Be sure to review it yourself or have an expert assist you. A well-cut 1 Carat Diamond with a beautifully designed setting will look stunning in any Diamond Shape. As such, Diamond Shape is primarily selected based on personal preference and style. For those concerned with the size appearance of the diamond, there is a surface area difference amongst 1 Carat Diamond Ring shapes.
Depending on their differing table sizes the top, flat leveled surface of a diamond , the 1 Carat may seem larger. Our chart below gives you insight into surface area differences among Diamond Shapes:.
You can also look at this image that gives you a better idea about the 1ct diamond sizes compared to a US quarter and to each other. The GIA grades color on a scale from D to Z, with D being the clearest, colorless diamond, and Z being a diamond with easily noticeable yellow or brown tint. James Allen states it well in their article about Diamond Color , saying:. The difference in price, however, can be significant. In this article, we discuss the issues we have with LCDs as well as advice on how to get the best LCD diamond if you decide to go that route.
The basic question is are you willing to sacrifice long-term value for short term bang for your buck? If you do decide to go for a lab created diamond, we recommend James Allen. When discussing pricing and what is a fair deal, you have to know what you want and how to be sure you are getting what you are paying for. The purpose of buying a diamond with a certificate is to have peace of mind that you are getting what they claim.
They are the gold standards for the diamond industry. You may have heard of the four Cs of diamonds and we have articles on each of them: Color , Clarity , Cut and Carat. I will use color as an example. I understand that this gets a bit confusing trying to balance the different diamond proportion and qualities.
If you prefer more personal help guiding you through the qualities, feel free to contact us. Shop around. Blue Nile and James Allen are the industry leaders when it comes to diamonds like Amazon is for many products. For example, we reviewed Shane Co and were offered a 1. Next, we can do a quick price compare. Follow these three steps to ensure you are getting proper value. There are some other pitfalls you need to avoid as well e.
We are happy to help you navigate the rocks and shoals of diamond buying. Just contact us and tell us what you are looking for.
Diamonds are all priced per carat and the price can vary based on shape. For example, a diamond with very low color and clarity grades for example, M and I1 might cost slightly less per carat than the price ranges listed above. However, is this a desirable diamond? Outside of certain circumstances, most likely not. Use this Diamond Price Calculator to calculate the expected range of prices for different diamonds. Blue Nile is a market leader in pricing, so we chose to base our tool on their inventory.
These diamonds look identical in a ring. As you can see, this is a huge range, with some diamonds costing as much as 10 times higher than other diamonds of the same carat weight. The biggest of these are the four Cs, which we briefly mentioned earlier — cut quality, clarity, color and carat weight. As we mentioned above, diamonds are all priced per carat. Diamond prices per carat increase as you jump up to higher weight categories.
Therefore, diamond prices increase exponentially with weight, since their prices increase both due to the increased weight and due to the higher price per carat for the increased weight category.
Below the 1 carat mark, diamond prices per carat are significantly lower. And also there are prices in parentheses which indicate the minimum for diamonds with recommended specs:.
As with other precious items, the market price for diamonds tends to increase with inflation. Note that the prices published below are for the whole diamond , not per carat:. Price points and environmental facts expressed in this blog were taken from popular online retailers and may vary. Learn more about the environmental impact of mining by visiting our blog.
A Forever Company. Enter our monthly contest for a chance to win a Diamond Nexus shopping spree. Make sure you watch your email for more information from us and enjoy shopping our site. How Much is a 1-Carat Diamond Worth? D-F means a diamond is absolutely colorless, internally flawless, and highly valuable G-J means a diamond is near colorless, so much so that only the most trained of an eye will catch it K-M means a diamond has faint color, but still must be caught by a well-trained eye N-R means a diamond has very light color, which can be easily seen in larger stones S-Z means a diamond has a light color and it can be seen in diamonds of different sizes Remember that these differences in color can be extremely subtle and sometimes may be hard to detect even for an expert.
Diamond clarity is graded by inclusions, ranging from: No inclusions Minute inclusions Minor inclusions Noticeable inclusions Obvious inclusions Obvious inclusions mean the worth of a 1-carat diamond is significantly less than the worth of a 1-carat diamond with no inclusions otherwise referred to as internally flawless. Fire-—the way a diamond flashes with rainbow colors in the light Brightness——the reflection of white light on the internal and external surfaces of the diamond Scintillation——patterns of dark and light that are evident when the diamond is moved or tilted Now, about those diamond shapes.
Other metrics that are evaluated include: The thickness of the girdle——which is the edge formed where the bottom and top of the diamond meet. The culet——this is the flat or faceted bottom point of a diamond. As Featured In.
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