So, how much should you pay for your diamond or diamond engagement ring? When it comes to diamonds prices vary greatly from retailer to retailer. Whether you are planning to buy a loose diamond and get it set yourself (a money saving option) or buy a ready made engagement ring, you should use a diamond price guide to make sure you are getting the best possible value for your money, or hopefully even a diamond discount.
No two diamonds are identical, and there are so many possible variations in the 4Cs of carats, cut,clarity and color, that any diamond price guide can only serve as an outline. Using our many years of experience in the diamond and jewelry sectors, we have designed the following guide to help you save most money when buying a diamond or diamond jewelry online. We provide some examples of some beautiful diamonds that you can buy online, and also some online jewelry stores that suit your budget. Whether you choose the traditional round or square cut diamonds prices also vary due to many other factors, so please take that into account when using this guide.
To see our recommendations for rings, diamonds, engagement rings or jewelry to suit your price range, please click on Diamonds for your Budget, Engagement Rings etc, or find your budget range below.
Here is our guide of what you expect to get for your money:
Under $250
For a budget of under $250, you could see what is available on popular jewelry auction website Bidz.com (they also features more expensive items, but they certainly provide opportunities to find a bargain. There is also the option of choosing a gemstone other than diamonds in this price range – it is well worth checking out Angara’s New Arrivals - they have beautiful ruby and sapphire rings on offer.
For a budget of $250-$350 you should be able to find:
- A GIA-certified marquise shape diamond weighing from 0.3 carats to 0.38 carats, of a color ranging from E to G, of clarity ranging from I1 to VS2, and of a fair or good cut.
Szul has some great value diamonds in this category and price range. While price checking, we found a lovely 0.38 Carat Marquise Diamond, G-cut, E-color, and SI1-clarity, accompanied with a diamond grading report from GIA from Szul for exactly$350. This stone probably is no longer available, but if they have restocked with a very similar stone you might be able to find it here: 0.38 Carat Marquise Diamond.
- A GIA-certified oval shape diamond weighing from 0.3 carats to 0.32 carats, of a color ranging from E to F, of clarity ranging from SI1 to VS2, and of a fair, good or very good cut.
For this type of diamond, we like the choices at Mondera.com . In particular, they have available a 0.31 carat, E color, VS2 clarity, Ideal cut diamond accompanied by a grading report by GIA for just $357! (A perfect diamond for a budget of $350 – well, at least we think it is well worth the extra $7 investment.)
- A GIA-certified pear shape diamond weighing 0.45 carats of a D color of clarity I1, and of a fair or good cut.
We found this quite gorgeous 14K White Gold Diamond Pave Ring at B2C on offer suiting these characteristics.
- A GIA-certified princess shape diamond weighing from 0.31 carats to 0.58 carats, of a color ranging from I to M, of clarity ranging from I1 to VVS1, and of a very good or excellent cut.
For this type of diamond we loved ShopDI.com’s diamond engagement rings.
For a budget of $350-$500 you could get:
- A GIA-certified round shape diamond weighing from 0.3 carats to 0.45 carats, of a color ranging from D to L, of clarity ranging from I1 to VVS2, and of a good or excellent cut.
Mondera.com offers some lovely diamonds suiting these characteristics.
- A GIA-certified princess shape diamond weighing from 0.38 carats to 0.74 carats, of a color ranging from D to L, of clarity ranging from I2 to VVS2, and of a fair, good, very good or excellent cut.
We found round diamonds in this price range and with these characteristics in the ready-set diamond jewelry selection at ShopDI.com’s website.
- You might be able to find a GIA-certified oval shape diamond weighing from 0.3 carats to 0.5 carats, of a color ranging from D to J, of clarity ranging from I1 to VS2, and of a fair, good, very good or excellent cut.
We checked out the offerings at Szul and found some great value oval diamonds there. For example, a 0.4 carat, E color stone with clarity SI1.
- Also in these diamonds prices range are Marquise diamonds weighing from 0.3 carats to 0.4 carats, of a color ranging from D to F, of clarity ranging from I1 to VS2, and of a fair or good cut.
- When it comes to a pear shaped diamond, the weight for this price range is 0.3 -0.5 carats with a color ranging from D to J, of I1 to V VS2 clarity of a fair, good or very good cut.
We found this lovely 0.30 Carat E-SI1 Premium Cut Marquise Diamond at www.Jamesallen.com.
For this type of stone, we recommend Szul or Bidz.com – though on Bidz.com you need to get lucky since this is an auction website.
- You might also be able to find a radiant cut diamond weighing 0.4 -0.5 carats of a color ranging from H to L, of VS1 to VS2 clarity of a fair or good cut.
Our next installment, coming soon, will cover budgets of over $500.
