Engagement
Ring Guru
Diamond Pricing
Cost is an important
attribute of a diamond just like the other four Cs. After deciding and
compromising upon the carat, color, clarity and cut, comes the cost
factor. It could also be said that cost is the outcome of other four Cs.
The diamonds of higher grading are much more costly because they are also
more rare.
You
usually hear about the ‘salary guideline’, which advises you to spend
about two months salary on a diamond engagement ring. These types of
guidelines are the creation of a salesman’s mind. The truth is that there
is no perfect and all-inclusive pricing guideline. Pricing too much
depends on personal factors. You know your financial situation the best,
so only you could decide the budget for buying the ring. Though buying an
engagement ring is often an emotional decision but you should never go
into debt to get a good ring.
Even though setting a
budget is a very personalized decision but I am giving a few generalized
diamond price guidelines. They would help in determining what type of
diamond you can expect to find within various price ranges.
Given below are two
pricing charts. The first chart sets some guidelines as to what type of
diamond (size and quality) can be found within various price ranges. The
second chart determines the pricing based on the Four C’s of diamonds.
Diamond Pricing Chart
Price ($)
|
Description
|
Specifications
|
|
125-500 |
Minimum price range |
Carat Weight: 0.15 - 0.25
Diamond Quality: Unknown (no AGS/GIA cert.)
Setting: 10-14K gold (white or yellow)
|
|
500-750 |
Slightly larger stones and 18K setting |
Carat Weight: 0.20 - 0.37
Diamond Quality: Unknown (no AGS/GIA cert.)
Setting: 10-14K gold (white or yellow);
occasionally 18K gold
|
|
750-1,000 |
AGS/GIA certified stones and 18K gold settings
& platinum settings |
Carat Weight: 0.30 - 0.5
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 14-18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
1,000-2,000 |
High quality diamonds, AGS/GIA certified
stones and 18K gold settings & platinum settings |
Carat Weight: 0.30 - 0.75
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 14-18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
2,000-3,000 |
Exquisite quality diamonds |
Carat Weight: 0.40 - 1.00
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 14-18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
3,500-5,000 |
Good quality 1-carat stones |
Carat Weight: 0.50 - 1.50
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
5,000-7,000 |
Very good quality diamonds in the low carat
end (0.80 - 1.0) of this range |
Carat Weight: 0.80 - 2.00
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
7,500-10,000 |
Big and beautiful diamonds. Best value is
found in the 1.00 - 1.50 carat range |
Carat Weight: 1.00 - 2.50
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
10,000 - 15,000 |
Nice quality 2-carat and excellent quality
1-carat stones. |
Carat Weight: 1.00 - 3.00
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
15,000-20,000 |
Highest possible grade of 1-carat stones and
very nice quality stones up to 2.50 carats |
Carat Weight: 1.00 - 3.00
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
20,000-30,000 |
Excellent quality stones up to 2.80 carats |
Carat Weight: 1.70 - 3.00
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
30,000-60,000 |
Best quality stones up to 2.80 carats |
Carat Weight: 2.00 - 3.00
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
|
60,000 and up |
Diamonds in this range tend to be greater than
3-carats and require a customized setting |
Carat Weight: Above 3.00
Diamond Quality: Varied.
Setting: 18K gold (white/yellow), Platinum
|
Four Cs Pricing Comparison Chart
|
Carat
|
Color
|
Clarity
|
Cut
|
Shape
|
Price ($)
|
|
.30
|
I
|
VVS1
|
Very Good
|
Round
|
511.00
|
|
.30
|
E
|
VS2
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
781.00
|
|
.30
|
D
|
VS2
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
839.00
|
|
.30
|
F
|
VVS1
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
971.00
|
|
.30
|
E
|
VVS1
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
1,130.00
|
|
.50
|
E
|
SI2
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
1,263.00
|
|
.50
|
D
|
SI1
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
1,604.00
|
|
.50
|
E
|
VS2
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
1,844.00
|
|
.50
|
G
|
VVS2
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
2,026.00
|
|
.50
|
E
|
VVS2
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
2,714.00
|
|
1.00
|
H
|
VS1
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
5,899.00
|
|
1.00
|
H
|
VVS2
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
6,445.00
|
|
1.01
|
G
|
VS2
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
6,892.00
|
|
1.01
|
G
|
VS1
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
7,308.00
|
|
1.01
|
D
|
IF
|
Ideal
|
Round
|
17,716.00 |
|
2.00
|
K
|
SI2
|
Very Good
|
Round
|
8,620.00
|
|
2.00
|
K
|
VS2
|
Very Good
|
Round
|
10,264.00
|
|
2.00
|
I
|
SI1
|
Premium
|
Round
|
11,751.00
|
|
2.00
|
E
|
SI2
|
Very Good
|
Round
|
16,092.00
|
|
2.00
|
E
|
VS1
|
Very Good
|
Round
|
27,080.00
|
|
3.00
|
K
|
S12
|
Premium
|
Round
|
14,305.00
|
|
3.00
|
J
|
SI1
|
Very Good
|
Round
|
17,905.00
|
|
3.01
|
G
|
SI1
|
Very Good
|
Round
|
29,396.00
|
|
3.00
|
F
|
VS2
|
Very Good
|
Round
|
42,881.00
|
|
3.01
|
D
|
IF
|
Good
|
Round
|
112,079.00 |
A lot of people are confused about diamond
pricing. You could say that asking for the cost of a diamond is quite
similar to asking for the price of an apartment. A realtor is unable to
give you a price quote for an apartment without knowing its space,
condition, location, etc. This same is the case here. The cost of a
diamond is a reflection of all the 4C’s-cut, clarity, carat, and color.
To conclude, I would like to say that diamonds
could be found in a great variety of price ranges and you will definitely
find one that suits your preferences and budget. It is up to you to buy a
diamond that will truly represent your deepest emotions.
|
|
