A 1 carat diamond is an enduring and beautiful testimony to the depth of your affections. On an engagement ring, a 1 carat diamond sparkles, gleams, and unabashedly pronounces your love loudly to the world. But how much can you expect to pay for a 1 carat diamond?
As with everything else, the answer depends on a variety of factors. But not to fear! Below, we’ve broken down how much a 1 carat diamond usually costs and what to consider when you purchase one….read on to find out!
What is Carat Weight?
When discussing how much a 1 carat diamond costs, it is first important to go over just what we mean when we say carat weight. Essentially, carat weight is utilized to measure a diamond’s weight.
The term carat is actually derived from the Greek word keration which meant fruit of the carob. The carob seed was the first unit of measurement to weigh precious gemstones, as most seeds are uniform in weight and so were easy to standardize across countries.
One carat is equal to 0.2 grams, about the same size as a paperclip, and can be divided into 100 points. For example, a 50-point diamond would be equal to 0.5 carats.
Why Does Diamond Pricing Increase with Carat Size?
The bigger the carat weight of your diamond, the more expensive it becomes. This is because diamonds are rare materials that grow increasingly rare as their size increases.
When you’re looking for a diamond, it’s important to keep this in mind. The larger the diamond, the rarer it is—and, therefore, the more valuable it becomes.
Why Is a 1 Carat Diamond an Ideal Size?
A one carat diamond is an ideal size for everyone from diamond aficionados to newbies. 1 carats are perfect for everyday wear—they’re not too big, and they aren’t too small. They’re just right! And if you want your ring to look like it was made from magic (and we don’t blame you), then this is definitely the way to go!
How Much, On Average, is a 1 Carat Diamond?
When looking to purchase a one carat diamond engagement ring, be prepared to spend between $2,000-$16,000 for the diamond and even more for the engagement ring settings.
Of course, it is possible to find a 1 carat diamond for less than that amount… you just have to first understand the factors that cause a 1 carat diamond to receive its pricepoint.
What are the Factors that Affect the Pricing of a One Carat Diamond?
Of course, a one carat diamond isn’t just priced solely for its carat weight. There are a variety of factors that affect the price, and they can include the following:
The 4Cs
Diamond Cut Quality
Diamond cut is an incredibly important factor when it comes to pricing diamonds, as the cut affects the diamond’s brilliance and sparkle. A well-cut diamond will have more sparkle and brilliance than a diamond with a poor cut quality.
Clean Origin only offers diamonds that have received grades of Good and up to ensure the highest diamond quality.
Diamond Color Grade
Another diamond characteristic, the diamond color grade, is an indicator of how much color is naturally within a diamond. A colorless diamond is considered to be D or higher, and it indicates that there is very little or no color in the diamond.
The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has established grades for diamond color, ranging from D through Z. These grades are based on an internationally recognized system of grading diamonds that considers how much color is present in a given stone.
At Clean Origin, all of our stunning lab grown diamonds have received a score of D to K. This allows the best value for a stunning stone.
Diamond Clarity Grade
The clarity grade of a diamond is an important factor in determining its price. The clarity grade is a measure of how much internal and external flaws affect the appearance of the diamond. The more flaws there are, the lower the clarity grade.
Diamonds with higher clarity grades are more valuable than diamonds with lower clarity grades because they have fewer internal and external flaws. For example, a flawless diamond will have zero internal and external flaws, while a VVSI (or very very slightly included) diamond will have inclusions that are so small, only a trained jeweler can see them through 10x magnification. Want a better understanding of clarity? Check out our diamond clarity chart.
The Diamond Shape
It’s not just the 4Cs that are determining diamond prices– the shape can also increase the cost dramatically for a one carat diamond.
Why?
It goes back to the relative rarity of diamonds. In order to create a diamond shape, a diamond cutter has to chip away and sculpt the shape from a rough diamond. Some diamond shapes are able to utilize most of the rough diamonds; however, other shapes, like round diamonds, create a lot of diamond waste and, because of this, a higher price.
Fancy Shaped Diamonds vs. Round Diamonds
As we mentioned before, round diamonds create the most waste, but they are also the industry standard diamond shape (and the most popular diamond shape). Any diamond that is not considered a round brilliant diamond is called a fancy shaped diamond. These include Asscher-cut, pear-cut, emerald-cut, Marquise-cut, radiant-cut, oval-cut, heart-cut, and princess-cut diamonds.
Some fancy 1 carat diamonds will cost more per carat than other shapes. Again, this is thanks to diamond waste. As a general rule, the more diamond waste, the higher the diamond price.
Lab Grown Diamonds vs. Natural Diamonds
You’ve probably heard that a 1 carat diamond will be more expensive if it’s natural than if it’s lab created. It’s true!
When you buy a 1 carat diamond, you get to choose whether you want it to be natural or lab created. Natural diamonds are more expensive because they’ve been mined from the earth, which is an expensive process. Lab diamonds are manmade, so they don’t require any mining— just some very smart scientists.
And because lab created diamonds have a shorter supply chain, they are usually 20-40% more affordable than naturally mined diamonds, allowing you to be able to buy that 1 carat diamond engagement ring you’ve had your eye on for a while.
Diamond Industry Standards
Finally, a one-carat diamond price is dependent on the industry standards set by diamond dealers and the population demand for diamonds. If more and more people choose to purchase a diamond engagement ring, then demand for diamonds rises and so does the price.
Tips for Finding an Affordable 1 Carat Diamond
Now that you know everything about diamond carat size and what determines the overall cost of a 1 carat diamond, you may be wondering how to find the best value diamond. Fortunately, if you follow the tips below, you will find your affordable 1 carat diamond in no time at all.
Be Ready to Compromise
If you have your heart set on a 1 carat diamond but are concerned about the cost, it may be worth seeing if you can compromise on your diamond color and clarity grade. While both color and clarity can affect your diamond’s sparkle, many diamond shapes actually can serve to hide inclusions. Plus, certain precious metal colors can actually brighten the color of your diamond, like platinum or white gold.
Because of this, comprimising on a lower cut or clarity grade while going all out on carat weight is a great way to afford the 1 carat diamond engagement ring of your dreams.
Consider Purchasing a Diamond that is Slightly Below One Carat
A 1 carat diamond is one of the most popular diamond sizes available. However, when you compare a 0.95-carat diamond side by side with a 1 carat diamond, there is not that much of a size difference between them.
Yet despite looking nearly identical in size, the 0.95-carat diamond will be much more affordable. You can also create a diamond engagement ring that totals 1 carat by incorporating sparkly details like a 0.005-ct halo setting around your center stone. At the end of the day, purchasing just below a 1 carat diamond can be a win-win for everyone.
Buy a Lab Grown Diamond at Clean Origin
Save money by purchasing a lab grown 1 carat diamond instead of a naturally mined 1 carat diamond. As we mentioned before, because lab diamonds cut out much of the supply chain, you can expect to save between 20-40% on a 1 carat diamond engagement ring. And if that wasn’t enough, you can also rest easy knowing that your 1 carat diamond was ethically sourced and eco-friendly.
With a variety of stunning 1 carat diamond engagement rings in various diamond shapes and prices, Clean Origin is committed to providing you with the most beautiful and high quality engagement rings at the best prices.
