APlus Diamonds

The 4 Cs

When it comes to buying a diamond of any type, it can be a stressful experience if a person does not feel educated in the areas that affect a diamond’s value. One way to get a very solid grasp of exactly how diamonds are priced is by understanding the 4 Cs of Diamonds. These are the primary factors that determine a diamond’s worth and by knowing them, a buyer can make sure they get a fair deal for the diamond they are purchasing and compare prices from one source to another to ensure that the best value is found.

Carat – This is the single factor that has the largest impact of any of the 4 Cs because it determines the weight and size of the stone itself. This unit of mass can be thought of in this formulaic way:

1 carat = .2 grams (200 milligrams) = .007 ounce = 100 points

Points are understood as a .75 carat diamond weighing 75 points. The word carat itself comes from the Greek term “keration” meaning the seed of the carob tree, the standard measure of gems in older times. The larger the carat count, the bigger the diamond. Keep in mind, many diamond cutters will make a less than perfect cut in order to obtain a higher carat since larger carats are worth more money. Cut is part of the 4 Cs of Diamonds and so a buyer should pay close attention if the carat count seems especially large for the price point the piece is being offered at.

Another way to look at the inherent value of the carat is considering that a single carat of diamond is created by digging up and processing over 250 tons of ore. A diamond may start out at 150 carats in its raw form, but if polished incorrectly or simply not strong enough, it can easily be reduced to dust.

Cut – This is the other incredibly crucial determiner of a diamond’s value. The craftsmen who work with diamonds apply the “shape” that you end up seeing through the cutting process. This is a very tricky process that requires a cutter of high skill and in today’s world, complicated mathematics and lasers are often employed to get the perfect cut that wastes the least amount of diamond possible. All of the flat planes or facets of a stone must be cut in good symmetry and proportion to one another if a diamond is going to be graded as having a good cut. Many experts insist that cut is even more crucial than carat because it is the cut that determines the fire, shine and brilliance of a diamond. This is why certain cuts, such as the Round Brilliant or the patented Leo Diamond, can be worth far more than other cuts. 

Color – This is the one part of the 4 Cs that is determined entirely by natural causes rather than by the hand of a diamond cutter. It is coloration visible within a stone and the less color a stone has, the more valuable it becomes. The grades D, E and F are all considered to be closest to truly colorless and are therefore worth more due to their rarity although the scale does go to Z. 

It should be noted, however, that while the Gemological Institute of America’s alphabetical color scale is used to measure the increasing transparency of diamonds, there are also Fancy Colored Diamonds. These are more rare than even the D colorless diamonds and not covered by the GIA’s color scale. Pink, blue, vivid yellow or green diamonds are exceptionally high priced and make excellent specimens for the high end collector to show off.

Clarity – This value is seen as the purity of the diamond itself. Since small elements of other minerals are often trapped within a diamond as it forms, these “inclusions” are a part of many diamonds on the market today, but they bring the clarity down. Other aspects that will affect the clarity of a diamond include: needles, pinpoints, clouds or even fractures that are breaks within the stone. A high clarity stone will reflect a great deal of light and give off a rainbow of fire that is truly captivating to those who behold it.

Diamond Pricing Guide

Those who find themselves wanting to purchase diamond jewelry will often be unsure what sort of price range they should consider, especially if they are a first term buyer of diamonds. That is why this Diamond Price Guide has been created. It gives the price ranges one can expect at the retail level, such as a jewelry shop, but prices will obviously vary from shop to shop and depending on a great many factors involving the piece of jewelry itself. 

Those considering a diamond engagement ring will want to know these prices because they are reflective of the most sought after shape for a diamond, Round Brilliant. Other shapes such as Heart, Marquise, Oval or Pear are certainly available, but as a general rule, it is the Round Brilliant that is currently most popular. Remember, for most expectant brides, only a diamond will do for an engagement ring.

$120 to $500
This is the lowest price level one can expect to get any diamond ring for. The carat will weigh between .15 and .25 at the top end. Usually there is no GIA Grading Report available for a gem at this price level so its quality will be unknown unless you choose to have it appraised. The setting can be expected to be either 10k or 14k yellow gold or white gold. Prices below this level need to be carefully scrutinized as the buyer may be receiving either a very poor diamond or there could be some other flaw present that they should be made known.

$500 to $750
At this point in the lower end of this Diamond Price Guide, the diamond may have a slightly higher carat, .20 to .37 at most. There is usually not a GIA Grading Report available for the diamond and while most settings will be 10k to 14k gold, there are sometimes 18k gold settings available.

$750 to $1,000
Carat weight for the diamond at this price point will be between .30 and .5, sometimes with a diamond certificate included. While 14k to 18k yellow or white gold settings are offered, platinum can also be a choice. 

$1,000 to $2,000
14k to 18k gold settings are common in this price range with platinum also being a potential choice. Not all diamonds in this range have a GIA Grading Report or other diamond certificate, but the carat weight should be between .58 to .75 for mid-level quality diamonds and .30 to .57 for high quality diamonds.

$2,000 to $3,500
This is the point in the Diamond Price Guide where one must be careful because while it is possible to get a 1 carat stone, most of these stones will have inclusions that affect the clarity of the diamond. Lower grade cuts, lackluster color and visible inclusions can all be found at this level. Maintain caution and choose a stone between .40 and .80 carat for the buyer who wants a stunning diamond and is willing to accept a lower carat. Platinum, 14k and 18k white or yellow gold are the most common settings.

$3,500 to $5,000
Between .50 and 1.50 are the common carat weights of these diamonds with many 1 carat stones appearing gorgeous to the naked eye. Settings will be 14k to 18k gold, either yellow or white, but Platinum is also a possibility at this price point.

$5,000 to $10,000
While carat weights can range from 1.00 to 2.50 for diamonds in this wider prince range, the values are going to be better at the medium part of the carat spectrum, especially for those who stick in the more modest 1 to 1.50 range. That range can offer a truly stunning diamond at a great price with very few of the flaws that can trouble diamonds at the higher end of the carat range. 18k white or yellow gold is the most common setting here, but platinum is another possibility.

$10,000 to $15,000
The show stopper diamonds in this range are generally going to be 1 carat stones, but some dazzling 2 carat stones can also be found. Typically, the higher end 3 carat stones are going to have lots of features, such as inclusions, that will lower their value. Platinum and 18k yellow or white gold are the most common settings for diamonds priced at this level.

$15,000 to $30,000
Again, 18k gold or Platinum is the typical setting for this price range, and the carats will also be 1 to 3 in weight. Keep in mind that 1 carat diamonds at this price point are going to be utterly stunning and some of the best on the market. Decent quality gems up to 2.5 carats are certainly possible, but above that weight there are often factors which lower the value of the stone.

$30,000 to $60,000
With a carat range of 2 to 3, this price range gives excellent diamonds up to about 2.8 carats. This end of the Diamond Price Guide can get spendy, but offers larger stones. After 2.8 carats, the stones are more rare so selection is going to be smaller. 18k gold or Platinum are the standard settings.

$60,000 and Higher
This is where high levels of customization come in, generally offering a variety of settings and diamonds larger than 3 carats. Those looking to impress can’t go wrong at this price range.

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