Talk to a diamond expert to online for personalized guidance
1 Carat Diamond Rings: A Price Guide And Where To Buy GIA Certified Diamond
Looking for a 1-carat diamond engagement ring? You are not alone. One-carat diamond engagement rings are among the most popular among prospective brides.
In this tutorial, we'll show you how big a 1 carat diamond looks on different hand sizes, go over 1 carat diamond costs by shape, and help you decide which color grade is best for a 1 carat diamond. We will also discuss the most popular 1 carat diamond engagement ring styles and provide a 1 carat diamond size chart.
How Much Does a 1 Carat Diamond Ring Cost?
According to market prices, a 1 carat diamond costs between $1,800 and $12,000 (depending on current market conditions). The price of a diamond is determined by its cut quality, clarity, color, and shape. The cut quality of a 1 carat diamond is the most important factor in determining its value and beauty. Diamond prices for one carat round diamonds range from $6,800 to $8,500 for natural diamonds and less for lab-grown diamonds.
This was the cheapest one-carat diamond I found on URSH Diamond; it does not appear to be anything you would want to wear on your finger. On the other hand, URSH Diamond has a 1 carat diamond for sale that is as perfect as it gets.
1.00 Carat Diamond Price Chart – Updated May 2024
|
| Round | $12,000 | $3570 | $2,650 |
| Princess | $9,450 | $2750 | $2,090 |
| Cushion | $7,200 | $2340 | $1,780 |
| Emerald | $6,900 | $2710 | $1,960 |
| Oval | $8,800 | $3190 | $2,000 |
| Pear | $8,490 | $2610 | $2,250 |
| Marquise | $8,550 | $3690 | $2,900 |
| Asscher | $9,470 | $3590 | $2,350 |
| Radiant | $7,500 | $3020 | $1,660 |
Each 1 carat diamond price tag comes down to more factors, as mentioned above, which determine the beauty of the diamond. But size is a huge driver of diamond price, and although carat is not explicitly a measurement of size, it is correlated.
Carat simply refers to the weight of the diamond. 1 carat equals 200 milligrams, or 0.2 grams. To put it in perspective, a 1 carat diamond weighs roughly the same as a quarter of a raisin.
All diamonds are priced per carat. For example, a 1/2 carat diamond may have a price of $1,400 per carat. The diamond’s price for the stone would be $1,400 x 0.50, equaling $700.
How Big Is a 1 Carat Diamond?
The size of a diamond depends on its shape. For example, a 1.00 carat round diamond cut to ideal proportions is approximately 6.5mm in diameter. Other diamond shapes may have a larger or smaller surface area. Oval, pear, and marquise diamonds have a larger surface area, while princess and Asscher cut diamonds are smaller, with just around 5.5mm table size.
| Diamond Shape | Approximate Table Surface for 1 Carat |
|---|---|
| Round Brillant Cut | 6.40×6.40mm |
| Princess Cut | 5.50×5.50mm |
| Emerald Cut | 6.50×5.00mm |
| Asscher Cut | 5.50×5.50mm |
| Radiant Cut | 6.00×5.50mm |
| Cushion Cut | 6.50×5.50mm |
| Oval Cut | 8.00×5.50mm |
| Pear cut | 8.50×5.50mm |
| Heart Cut | 6.70×6.70mm |
| Marquise Cut | 10.50×5.00mm |
| Trillion Cut |
7.74×7.74mm |
1.00 Carat Diamond Table Surface by Shape
Remember that carat is a measurement of weight, rather than size. So two diamonds of identical carat and shape may not be the exact same size. Depending on how the diamond is cut, its proportions, and thus its visible size, may be slightly different to another despite being the same carat.
Where To Buy a 1 Carat Diamond Ring
The world of diamond sellers is huge, so don't be intimidated. Many high-quality and trustworthy diamond jewelry sellers may be discovered both online and in-store.
For a 1 carat diamond ring, we recommend locating an internet supplier because they typically offer a bigger selection of high-quality 1 carat diamonds than local stores. They will also provide stunning settings composed of 18K or 14K white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, or platinum. The online option gives you a better possibility of obtaining an excellent diamond at an incredible price.
Tips When Selecting a Jeweler
- Only purchase diamonds that come with a GIA Certified.
- Run comparisons for price and beauty across various websites before purchasing.
- Ensure that the diamond cut is an ideal cut, or a GIA grade quality of Excellent. This level of cut maximizes the sparkle, brilliance and fire of your diamond. Diamond cut is the single greatest element that impacts a diamond’s overall beauty and sparkle.
- Opt for a high-quality setting for your engagement ring, like one made of 14K White gold, yellow gold and rose gold
- Consider asking a Diamond Expert to help you review diamonds or aid in your search for high-quality 1 carat diamond rings.
Clarity Rating For 1 Carat Diamonds
When looking at the 4 C’s (cut, color, clarity and carat weight) of a 1 carat diamond, an important area to consider is diamond clarity. This factor dictates how many inclusions, surface defects (or blemishes) and extra facets are present in the diamond.
Similar to our recommendations for diamond color, we suggest reviewing the clarity of a diamond yourself or asking for assistance from an expert. What the naked eye can see is more important than simply a GIA grade rating.
For a 1 carat diamond, we generally recommend a minimum of a SI1 grade (or a really nice SI2), as most inclusions and blemishes will be invisible to the naked eye. You may be able to find an SI1 with inclusions near the edges of the diamond–that, depending on shape, may be covered by the setting prongs.
The maximum rating on the Diamond clarity chart, within a reasonable budget, will usually be a VVS2, which provides no inclusions or blemishes to the naked eye.
Eye-Cleanliness is Paramount
In our opinion, a consumer's goal should be to find the cheapest (in terms of clarity; other aspects are also important) "eye-clean" diamond available. We use "eye-clean" to describe diamonds that may have inclusions when examined with a magnifying glass (or microscope or loupe), but the average person cannot see the inclusion with their naked eye.
1 Carat Diamond Shapes
A well-cut one-carat diamond with a nicely designed setting will look lovely in any diamond shape. As a result, diamond shape is mostly chosen based on personal desire and style.
For individuals concerned about the size appearance of the diamond, there is a variance in surface area between 1 carat diamond shapes. Depending on their table sizes (the top, flat leveled surface of a diamond), 1 carat may appear larger.
You can also look at this image, which offers you a better understanding of the 1ct diamond sizes compared to a US quarter and each other.
How To Get The Best Value For a 1 Carat Diamond
Our main goal is to help people find radiant, high-quality diamonds at exceptional value. We want you to find a stunning diamond engagement ring without paying more than you should.
To ensure your diamond is exactly what the diamond dealer is stating, ensure the diamond comes with a GIA certificate. The GIA laboratory is a renowned and well-respected diamond grading entity that issues accurate and consistent reports for diamonds.
If a diamond seller is trying to convince you to purchase a diamond with a different lab grading entity, politely decline their invitation. The actual quality of those diamonds is much less than what they’re portraying to be “true.”
To select an exquisite 1 carat diamond ring at the best value, follow our expert recommendations:
- Diamond cut: Maximize the fire and brilliance of your diamond by choosing only an Excellent cut diamond. Cut is the number one factor of a diamond’s beauty and value.
- Diamond color: Choose a diamond in the nearly colorless G-I range, as to the naked eye, it will appear just as colorless as diamonds in the D-F range (and cost far less).
- Diamond clarity: Diamonds with a VS1 and VS2 clarity grade offer the best value for what can be seen with the naked eye. Most inclusions and blemishes will be unnoticeable in these grades.
- Diamond shape: Select a diamond shape that is personally and aesthetically appealing. Ensure the type of setting you want is complementary and physically secure for the shape.