Now that you know you want to buy a diamond, you may be asking the very real and very important “how much is it going to cost?”
We can’t set your budget for you, but we can provide this general diamond price guide that demonstrates what type of diamond you can expect to find within various price ranges. Please note that this is a general guideline, every jeweler sets their own prices and they do vary.
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the Gemstone Option
If you’re on a very tight budget, you may wish to consider purchasing a gemstone (such as sapphire, ruby, tanzanite). Often you can get higher quality and larger stones for the same price you’d pay for a smaller, lower quality diamond.
However, if this diamond purchase is for an engagement ring, we recommend using all means of stealth at your disposal to determine if your beloved will be happy with a gemstone engagement ring. This is not a question where you want to “guess” at the answer. For many women, the only “engagement ring” is the “diamond engagement ring.”
All prices are based on the “round brilliant” shape. You will find variances in price dependent on the diamond shape. For example, if you have an “emerald cut” diamond and a “round brilliant” that are the same size and quality, the “emerald cut” will generally be less expensive.
- $125 – $500
This is the minimum you can expect to spend for a diamond engagement ring, and we do mean minimum — if this is your price range, you may wish to consider the a non-traditional gemstone enagagement ring (such as sapphire, tanzanite, tourmaline, etc.)Carat Weight: 0.15 – 0.25
Diamond Quality: Unknown (no AGS/GIA certificate)
Setting: 10-14K gold (white or yellow)
Recommended Stores- Titanium Kay (selection of contemporary Tungsten Diamond rings)
- Jewelry.com (gemstones)
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- Titanium Kay (selection of contemporary Tungsten Diamond rings)
- $500 – $750
Similar to the $125 – $500 range with slightly larger stones and the occasional 18K setting. In this price range, gemstones, rather than diamonds, are usually a better value.Carat Weight: 0.20 – 0.37
Diamond Quality: Unknown (no AGS/GIA certificate)
Setting: 10-14K gold (white or yellow); occasionally 18K gold
Recommended Stores- Jewelry.com (gemstones)
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- $750 – $1,000
This is the range where you start to see value for your diamond dollars. The stones are still on the small end of the scale, but you can find AGS/GIA certified stones (and thereby know the value of what you are buying). Additionally, you can find 18K gold settings and platinum settings.Carat Weight: 0.30 – 0.5
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 14-18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
See AlsoBuying Guide For A $15,000 Engagement Ring2 Carat Diamond Rings Buying GuideHow Much To Spend on Engagement RingAn Impressive Engagement Ring - What Size Of Diamond To Buy?- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $1,000 – $2,000
High quality stones in the 0.30 – 0.55 range, mid- to high quality stones in the 0.58 – 0.70 range. AGS/GIA certified stones available, as well as 18K gold settings and platinum settings.Carat Weight: 0.30 – 0.70
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 14-18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $2,000 – $3,500
Absolutely exquisite quality diamonds in the low carat end of this range, but use caution when considering the larger stones. Make sure you are familiar with the “Four Cs” of diamond quality before purchasing. The .90 – 1.10 carat stones in this price range will likely have a clarity grade of SI1 or lower -OR- a color grade of “H” or lower.Carat Weight: 0.35 – 1.10
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 14-18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $3,500 – $5,000
This is the lowest price range where you can reasonably expect to find some quality diamonds just under one carat (0.9 – 0.93). The smaller stones in this range will generally be of greater value and quality, but you can also find 0.90 carat stones that fit our recommended minimum standards for round brilliant diamonds. You will occassionally find quality certified 1.0+ carat stones in the top end of this price range, but not often. The 0.94 – 1.10 carat stones in this price range will likely have a clarity grade of SI1 or lower -OR- a color grade of “H” or lower.Carat Weight: 0.50 – 1.10
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $5,000 – $7,500
Very nice quality diamonds in the low carat end (0.80 – 1.10) of this range, but use caution when considering the larger stones. Make sure you are familiar with the “Four Cs” of diamond quality before purchasing. The 1.50 carat stones in this price range will likely have a clarity grade of SI1 or lower -AND- a color grade of “H” or lower.Carat Weight: 0.80 – 1.50
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Store
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $7,500 – $10,000
You can find some spectacular diamonds in this price range — big and beautiful. The best value is generally found in the 1.00 – 1.10 carat range. The 1.50 carat stones in this price range will likely have a clarity grade of SI1 or lower -OR- a color grade of “H” or lower.Carat Weight: 0.70 – 1.75
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $10,000 – $20,000This is the lowest price range where you can reasonably expect to find a good selection of quality 1.5 carat stones (and the 1-carat stones in this price range will stir the heart of the toughest critic). The 1.76 – 2.50 carat stones in this price range will likely have a clarity grade of SI1 or lower -OR- a color grade of “H” or lower.
Carat Weight: 0.90 – 2.25
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $20,000 – $30,000
In this price range, you can expect to find excellent quality stones up to 2.10 carats. The 2.10 – 3.10 carat stones in this price range will likely have a clarity grade of SI1 or lower -OR- a color grade of “H” or lower.Carat Weight: 1.00 – 3.10
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $30,000 – $50,000
In this price range, you can expect to find excellent quality stones up to 2.50 carats. Occassionally, you will even find quality stones up to 3.00 carats. However, the majority of the stones in the 2.50 – 3.75 carat range will likely have a clarity grade of SI1 or lower -OR- a color grade of “H” or lower. Stones in the 3.75 – 4.50 carat range will likely have the lower grade in both categories.Carat Weight: 1.00 – 4.50
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $50,000 – $100,000
In this price range, you can expect to find excellent quality stones up to 4.0 carats. Stones in the 4.0 – 5.0 carat range will likely have a clarity grade of SI1 or lower -OR- a color grade of “H” or lower. Stones in the 5.0 – 6.0 carat range will likely have the lower grade in both categories.Carat Weight: 1.50 – 6.00
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $100,000 – $200,000
In this price range, you can expect to find excellent quality stones up to 5.5 carats. Stones in the 5.5 – 8.0 carat range will likely have a clarity grade of SI1 or lower -OR- a color grade of “H” or lower.Carat Weight: 2.00 – 8.00
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white or yellow), PlatinumRecommended Stores
- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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- $200,000 – $999,999
Diamonds in this price range tend to be greater than 3-carats (though not always) and will require a customized setting (standard settings generally accommodate up to three carats).Recommended Store- Blue Nile (Editor’s Pick)
- James Allen (Editor’s Pick)
- Kay Jewelers
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This guide is a general “diamond price guide,” providing loose guidelines as to what type of diamond (size and quality) you can expect find within various price ranges. This price guide is not an official “diamond pricing index,” but rather a general chart to retail diamond prices.
Diamond Education
4Cs of Diamond Grading | Diamond Cut | Diamond Clarity | Diamond Color | Carat Weight | Diamond Certificates | Diamond Size Chart | Diamond Fluorescence | Diamond Ring Settings | Diamond Glossary
Diamond Shapes
General Shapes Information | Asscher Cut Diamonds | Cushion Cut Diamonds | Emerald Cut Diamonds | Heart Shaped Diamonds | Marquise Cut Diamonds | Oval Diamonds | Pear Shaped Diamonds | Princess Cut Diamonds | Radiant Cut Diamonds | Round Brilliant Diamonds
