Here's What a Diamond Engagement Ring Costs at Every Carat Size
Diamonds spark a fascination and curiosity worldwide whether you're in the market for one or not. It seems like there is always so much to learn about the stone, as the diamond industry proves to be ever-changing. Well, we can tell you one thing that has remained consistent over time—diamonds are expensive. The high price points are just another contributing factor to the wonder of the diamond, and today, we get to hear a tidbit of insider knowledge from Michelle Adorjan Chila, SVP of marketing and publicity at Tacori, on the pricing of diamonds at different carat sizes.
"At Tacori, our engagement rings are sold as 'semi-mounts', meaning without the center diamond. What we love about semi-mounts is that it provides flexibility in terms of choosing the preferred carat weight or the cut of the gemstone; in other words, it enables you to design your dream engagement ring. And because each Tacori ring is handcrafted in California, each ring is made-to-order and unique for the individual couple.
"Essentially, here at Tacori, you need to pick the size and shape of your center diamond (and your budget, of course)—and then we'll build your dream ring around the diamond you choose. Alternatively, you pick your dream ring from Tacori, and we'll make it to fit virtually any diamond size or shape in the world. This personalization is especially great when you have a 'legacy' or 'heirloom' diamond that is being handed down through the generations and you simply want to change the look and feel of the setting to make it uniquely yours."
Approximate diamond prices for round diamonds from one to five carats:
One carat = $4000 +
Two carats = $17,000 +
Three carats = $42,000 +
Four carats = $62,000 +
Five carats = $157,000 +
1.5-Carat Diamond vs. Three-Carat Diamond
"Here's how size matters with a pear (compare the 1.5-carat diamond versus a three-carat center diamond in the styles below)."
"This is a 1.5 carat pear diamond with a very good cut, G color, and VS2 quality."Price = $10,141
"This is a three-carat pear diamond with good cut, F color, and VS1 quality."Price = $41,000
One-Carat Diamond vs. 2.5-Carat Diamond
"And here's how it matters with a round (compare the one carat versus a 2.5-carat center diamond in the styles below)."
"This is a one-carat diamond with very good cut, G color, and VS2 quality."Price = $5000
"This is a 2.5-carat diamond with ideal cut, G color, and VS2 quality."Price = $32,758
Considering the Four Cs
“Because there is a combination of the four Cs of quality, there will be infinite ranges within every range of cut and weight. The ranges I used with the four Cs for price range comparison of each round-cut carat size are as follows:
Color: G color or better
Cut: Good or better
Clarity: VS2 or better
Carat Weight: Within .05 +/- the round carat. For example, the carat weight range was .95 to 1.05 for one carat, 1.95 to 2.05 for a two carat, etc.
“To give you a good idea for pricing out when it comes to diamonds, imagine asking your realtor to evaluate the price of a two-bedroom house. It would depend on a lot of different things—location and neighborhood, square footage, condition, and style of home, etc. Like with anything of significant value, pricing depends on the relative scarcity of the diamond and customer demand.”
Shop engagement rings we love
Spinelli Kilcollin Amor Ring
Pricing available upon request.
Jemma Wynne Hexagon Diamond Engagement Ring
Pricing available upon request.
Next up, find out how to save money while shopping everyone's favorite fast-fashion brand, Zara, according to 123 of its employees.
Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.
She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.
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