Have you seen a friend recently boasting her new 4 carat diamond ring and been a little curious about it? Perhaps it has you thinking about the cost. The price of a 4 carat diamond may be less than you expect–especially if you choose a lab grown diamond.
Here is a guide on the general prices of 4 carat diamonds. With this in hand, you can drop a hint to your partner about a large diamond for your engagement ring. Or you can just learn more about the different diamond options.
How Big Is a 4 Carat Diamond?
A 4 carat round diamond has a diameter of about 10.4 mm or 0.4 in. While this may seem small, a 4 carat diamond is one of the larger diamonds available in jewelry.
When you look at a four carat diamond ring on someone’s finger, the diamond truly stands out and appears large. It will certainly fit across most of your finger. It can also look different depending on the exact shape of the diamond.
Diamonds that are two carats and larger have a significant carat weight. Maybe they don’t compare to the largest diamonds in the world at 100+ carats, but in the modern world, they are truly rare.
The Difference Between Diamond Carat Weight and Diamond Size
Carat weight is a common term you’ll encounter when talking about diamonds. A carat, not a carrot, is a unit of weight and equals one fifth of a gram. Seems small, right?
Diamonds are so precious that a smaller scale needs to be used to measure them. In modern jewelry, diamonds will be priced by carat weight and referred to based on their carat weight. That’s why you see “4 carat diamond” instead of “1 inch diamond” or “5 millimeter diamond.” “Carat” just sounds better!
Diamonds come in all shapes and sizes, so measuring them on a carat weight scale helps keep things consistent. Generally, carat weight will equate to size. But you should note that this isn’t always 100% true.
Size estimates for diamonds of different carat weights are only ranges and aren’t exact. The exact size will depend on how the diamond was individually cut and polished, which varies from diamond to diamond.
4 Carat Diamond Ring Shapes
Different shapes have features that each stand out in their own unique way. These features let you have fun shopping for custom diamond shapes that totally match your vibe.
Two diamonds with the same carat weight but different shapes will look different on your finger. Some diamond shapes naturally appear larger than other shapes. Choosing one of these is a great way to make your diamond appear larger when it really isn’t.
Round Diamonds
The round diamond shape is the most popular one. Many people choose to go for this shiny and lustrous diamond shape.
Many engagement rings feature a stunning round cut diamond as the center stone and use a solitaire setting.
Oval Cut Diamonds
If you want a more dainty look, an oval cut diamond is the way to stand out from the crowd and show off your sparkly accessory.
Oval cut diamonds are often a popular choice for women who wear an engagement ring with a larger diamond. Oval diamonds naturally elongate your fingers, so a large oval diamond has an even bigger slimming effect.
For women who want to slim their fingers or prefer elongated stones, an oval cut diamond is a great shape for a diamond ring.
Emerald Cut Diamond
An emerald cut diamond is another elongated shape that gives you long, slim fingers. It is also a very regal and elegant diamond shape.
This diamond has a rectangular shape with rounded corners, so it appears softer. The emerald is a diamond shape that makes you feel like royalty, thanks to its tasteful and dignified aura.
Radiant Cut Diamonds
Recently, radiant cut diamonds have grown in popularity because they combine the things everyone loves about different shapes of diamonds. Radiant cut diamonds have a rectangular shape like an emerald cut diamond, but instead of a step cut, they have a radiant cut.
Radiant cut diamonds are cut in a way that maximizes the reflections of the diamond to make them as shiny as possible. This gives the radiant cut diamond sharper angles and straighter lines compared to the soft facets of an emerald diamond.
This diamond shape suits a larger diamond because it will make the stone stand out with its brilliance and fire.
How Much Does a 4 Carat Diamond Cost?
It is hard to price diamonds because there are many factors that determine the exact price of each individual diamond. Therefore, we can’t say “Every 4 carat diamond is this price.”
The following figure is a rough range of the price of a 4 carat mined diamond. Keep in mind that this is an estimate because the cost of a diamond depends on so many other factors: $10,000 – $100,000.
At he lower end of this range will be very poor quality diamonds. They will be large, but they will likely have some of the lowest ratings in terms of cut, color, and clarity.
The upper end includes 100%, absolutely perfect diamonds. These diamonds have a perfect cut, are flawless, and are colorless. This may seem desirable, but it’s more common to buy a diamond with a mid to upper grade in these qualities because they appear the exact same as a perfect diamond.
It’s best to look somewhere in the middle of the range for a reasonable diamond price.
Lab Grown Diamonds
If you’re in the market for a four carat diamond, you should consider lab grown diamonds. Lab grown diamonds are an ethical and more affordable alternative.
Seeing the price tag of a four carat diamond may be an unpleasant surprise. You’ll find them listed for multiple tens of thousands of dollars. We know this may not be in everyone’s budget, so lab grown diamonds are a way to get a larger diamond without the larger pricetag.
Price of 4 Carat Lab Grown Diamond vs Mined Diamond
We found a radiant cut lab grown diamond that has a carat weight of 4.06, a color grade of I, a clarity grade of VS1 and is $3,122.
We also found a radiant cut mined diamond that has a carat weight of 4.06, a color grade of I, a clarity grade of VS1 and is $45,000.
That is a tremendous difference! Pricing is only one of many reasons to choose lab grown diamonds.
How to Choose a 4 Carat Diamond Using the Four Cs
Whether you choose a mined diamond or lab grown diamond, you can’t ignore the 4Cs.
The 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight) are the major factors that go into diamond quality. It is helpful to know the 4Cs when shopping for a diamond.
Cut
Diamond cut quality refers to how well the diamond was cut and polished. Cut quality depends on the craftsmanship of the jeweler and has the greatest effect on the overall brilliance and sparkle of a diamond.
Color
Diamond color grade judges a diamond on how much or how little color the diamond has. A colorless diamond is the rarest and most sought-after.
Clarity
The clarity grade describes how many imperfections or blemishes a diamond has and also rates the severity of them. Most of the time, blemishes can’t be seen by the naked eye. But they are still judged and included in the diamond quality report. Learn more about clarity with this diamond clarity chart.
Carat Weight
We talked about carat weight earlier, but it’s also part of the 4C’ because of how vital it is. Knowing a diamond’s carat weight allows you to compare it to other diamonds and figure out the price of it, something we all care about!
Where to Buy a 4 Carat Diamond Ring
Nowadays, online retailers let you customize your ring in the comfort of your own home and have it shipped fast and free. You can also go to a store to look at rings in person before deciding on the one you want to buy.
Keep in mind that you want to find a retailer that can set your diamond in an engagement ring setting to flawlessly combine the perfect diamond and band. Consider a white gold or yellow gold setting to complement the lovely diamond.
If you want to shop from an ethical, responsible brand, consider Clean Origin diamonds. Clean Origin is committed to selling responsibly sourced and 100% conflict-free lab grown diamonds. When you purchase with us, you can feel good about your jewelry.
