Market data and performance for 1 carat natural diamond prices. Easily compare diamond prices and performance across all shapes and sizes. (2024)

FAQs

Are natural diamond prices dropping? ›

Are diamond prices rising or falling? Over the past year, natural diamond prices have fallen by 24.13% to an average price of about $4,000 for 1 carat natural diamonds.

Yes, the average diamond price has increased from 1960 to today.

Carat weight is one of the four C's of diamond quality, along with cut, colour, and clarity. While all of these factors are important, carat weight can have a significant impact on a diamond's price. Typically, the larger the diamond, the more expensive it is.

The short answer is that most diamonds do not appreciate in value over time. Only an extremely small category of diamonds increase in value, which we will discuss later. There is a widespread misconception that diamonds are rare and become more valuable over time.

Diamond mining takes a major toll on our natural resources. And it's not just land! Mined diamonds produce more than 125 pounds of carbon for every single carat, whereas lab created diamonds produce just under 10 pounds.

The value of most natural diamonds will either increase or remain consistent over time because there is essentially a finite supply of the stones within the earth. So, if you buy a natural diamond at a fair price and keep it in good condition, it will generally increase in value over time.

While engagement rings can be purchased year-round, certain times of the year offer better deals than others. Typically, the best time to buy an engagement ring is during the holiday season, between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. During this time, many jewelers offer discounts and promotions to attract customers.

While diamonds will be at their most expensive during the late fall and early winter and are rarely discounted, many jewelry sellers offer sales on the cost of the setting during Black Friday, Cyber Monday if you're buying online, and other traditional holiday sales periods.

In most cases, the precise qualification is that the diamond be around since the 1930's. The value of a diamond is said to increase with age, so the older the diamond, the more expensive the diamond is said to be.

2.00 Carats

If you're looking for something big and noticeable, 2.00 cts will certainly make a statement. At this weight, a round diamond is a little over 8 mm in diameter (10 mm = 1 cm).

What is a premium size diamond? ›

Diamonds that fall within the weight range of 1.80 to 1.99 carats, 2.20 to 2.99 carats, 3.30 to 3.99 carats are rarer in quantity and supply by nature. They are referred to as premium sized diamonds and quite often, they are cut to a compromised level so to keep as much weight as possible due to market demand.

When it comes to diamond rings, many people assume that bigger automatically means better. But that's not always true. Opting for a 1 carat diamond ring is often the best choice for most couples — both in price and practicality. Even better: It's a classic, timeless style that'll never go out of fashion.

The estimates on markups are broad, but most of the reliable sources we've seen indicate that 300% is the usual markup. Your acquaintance who says he bought a $10,000 ring for $1,000 might be on the level. While a 1000% markup is not typical, it's not unheard-of. Diamonds also have no resale value.

Last year rough prices fell 15-20% according to the Zimnisky Global Rough Diamond Price Index. Prices are now down about 25% from their early 2022 high.

The average price of a 1 carat diamond is currently $4,186 (see price chart below). 1 carat diamonds can cost anywhere from $1,368 - $9,823 depending on the diamond's shape, color, clarity, and other factors. To see specific details on diamond pricing by shape see our 1 carat diamond prices table below.

The supply of natural diamonds is expected to decline (by approximately 1% CAGR over the next 10 years) as mines reach the end of their lives and restricted exploration budgets mean there's little in the way of significant new discoveries.

As with a natural diamond you can expect your lab grown diamonds to significantly drop in monetary value after purchase. Some estimate that lab grown diamonds can drop to 10% of their original price or lower, while more generous estimators put them nearer to natural diamonds at 30% of the original price.

Jewelers are anxiously looking forward a hotter engagement season after a tepid year of sales, with prices across all diamond categories plunging around 30% in 2023. For lower-quality and smaller diamonds, prices plunged to their lowest levels in about 10 years, according to Paul Zimnisky, a leading diamond analyst.

As I have written many times before, the price of lab grown diamonds continue their downward trajectory. Being at the end of the first quarter of 2024, now is a good time to reflect on what happened to lab grown prices in the first three months of 2024.