Photo by Janelle Elise Photography
In This Article
Average Cost by CaratFactors That Determine CostHow to Know If You’re Paying a Fair PriceFrequently Asked Questions
Have you had your eye on a particular diamond, but you have no idea how much it costs? That’s not surprising. Diamond prices are complicated; there are so many factors that go into the price from the cut to the origins to the carat. It’s hard to figure out the price of a diamond without asking a jeweler, and even then, how do you know you are getting a fair or competitive estimate?
To help answer all your questions, we turned to jeweler Anna Jay. She explained how much a diamond costs on average and what determines its price. She also gave advice on how to find the right diamond for your budget. Read on to learn more.
Meet the Expert
Anna Jay is a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America and the owner of Anna P Jay, a jewelry company in Nantucket that sells diamonds.
Average Cost by Carat
People often assume a diamond’s cost is determined by its carat (weight), but that isn’t true, reveals Jay. “There are so many factors that impact the price of a diamond, including shape, clarity, and color,” she explains. That means that even if a diamond is the same carat as another, it might not have the same price. “Natural round diamonds tend to be about $6,000 per carat, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t one-carat diamonds that are $1,000 or $15,000,” she says. “It all depends on the quality of the diamond you are purchasing.” The good news is that if you want a diamond with a particular carat, and that is the most important factor for you, you can find one at a range of prices.
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Another common mistake people make is to assume the price scale of diamonds is linear (i.e. a two-carat diamond will be worth twice the amount of a one-carat diamond.) “The diamond price scale is exponential, not linear,” Jay explains. That is why diamonds are tricky, and it might be a good idea to work with an expert to determine which diamond is the best fit for you. “Working with [a jeweler] allows you to see diamonds that are exactly within your goals of size, budget, and quality.”
Factors That Determine Diamond Cost
A lot of people are aware of four factors, known as the 4Cs, that help determine a diamond’s cost. They are carat (weight); color (Diamonds come in all sorts of colors, including red and purple!); clarity (Are there defects or blemishes?); and cut (round, princess, emerald, etc.) But there are also other lesser-known factors such as what material the diamond is made of, what the cutting style is, and how square or rectangular a diamond is.
“The general rule of thumb is that the [rarer] it is—think higher color, larger carat weight, and higher clarity—the more expensive it will be,” says Jay. “For a natural diamond to be created over millions of years, brought to the surface, and then subsequently found, have enough fine qualities to be cut and polished is incredibly rare.” That means if you want a diamond that is D-colored (which means it has no color like glass) or naturally blue, green, pink, or yellow, you are going to pay a lot more. “These diamonds are much [rarer] and therefore expensive on a price per carat basis than their colorless counterparts.”
How to Know If You're Paying the Right Amount for a Diamond
You may be thinking, if the cost of a diamond is so complicated and can change based on so many factors, how do I know if I am paying the right amount?
Jay says the best way forward is to do your research and know exactly what you are purchasing. Compare the price of diamonds that have many of the same qualities—the same clarity, cut, and carat, for example—and ask a lot of questions about the qualities of your particular diamond and how it differs from cheaper or more expensive ones. “By understanding what you’re purchasing, you’ll understand the value and subsequently the price,” she explains.
FAQ
- Do diamonds with the same carat cost the same?
While carat is an important factor for determining a diamond's price (and diamonds with a higher carat are generally more expensive than diamonds with a lower carat), it is only one of many factors. That means diamonds with the same carat can cost different amounts if they vary in rarity, cut, clarity, and other factors.
- What are the most expensive diamonds?
The most expensive diamonds are ones that are rare. For example, diamonds with a color grade of D are hard to find because they lack any color and appear flawless to both the human eye and under a microscope. Diamonds that also have a rich, natural color like a blue emerald diamond, are also rare and therefore, more expensive. If a diamond has more than one rare factor, the price goes up even more.
- How can you determine a diamond's cost?
The most important thing is to do your research. Ask questions about your diamond's qualities and understand what sets it apart from other pieces. It's helpful to work with a diamond expert you trust to help you navigate this complicated world. They will be able to find the right diamond for you within your budget.
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