If you want an engagement ring that stands out, a five-carat diamond is certainly the way to go. A 5-carat diamond ring emanates an air of luxury that’s impossible to miss. As long as you don’t compromise too much on the quality of a stone of that size, your engagement ring will be an absolute showstopper. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about buying a five-carat diamond ring.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty about the price of 5-carat diamonds, we would first like to explain how the size of these stones is measured.
First, it is important to note that carat is a weight measurement. One carat is roughly equal to 0.2 grams. Thus, a 5-carat diamond weighs approximately 1 gram. Diamonds can also be measured according to size.
Many people mistake a diamond’s carat weight for its size, but they are not the same thing. While diamond carat refers to the weight of a given stone, diamond size refers to how big it appears (i.e., its surface area). This means that diamonds with a large carat weight do not necessarily have a larger perceived size.
The two factors that impact a diamond’s size the most are the cut quality and shape of the stone. A poorly-cut diamond will usually appear smaller in comparison to a well-cut diamond, even though the carat weights are almost the same. Likewise, round diamonds can look smaller than diamonds with elongated shapes, such as emerald, oval, and marquise cut diamonds.
When it comes to selecting the size, shape, and carat weight of your diamond, compare several options to find the diamond that is most appealing to you.
At the time of writing, you could buy a beautiful diamond ring with a 5-carat round center stone for between $100,000 and $120,000.
Diamonds are priced per carat. Prices per carat increase exponentially as you move up to higher weight categories. In other words, the heavier a diamond is, the higher the total amount you’ll pay per carat.
Note, however, that prices per carat do not continue to rise as carat weight increases. This is because diamond pricing is often subjective and driven more by emotion than logic.
Another thing that influences diamond prices is demand. You’ll find that round diamonds are the most expensive due to their popularity, while other diamond shapes tend to be cheaper.
Before you decide to buy an engagement ring with a stunning diamond of considerable weight, there are several things you need to take into account.
Because buying large diamonds comes at a much higher price and carries significantly more risk than smaller diamonds, you need to ensure that your 5-carat center stone, as well as any side stones, come with the proper documentation.
Ideally, they should come with a certificate issued by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The GIA is the most respected and trustworthy institution for issuing diamond grading reports. This report is your guarantee that you are getting what you paid for.
The report will also tell you about your diamond’s origins. This is important, especially when it comes to larger diamonds, because you want to ensure that the diamond you are interested in is conflict-free. As a bonus, it gives you a great story to tell about where your diamond comes from.
The next thing you need to consider when buying a 5-carat diamond ring is insurance. Obviously, a stone of that size is quite a significant investment and, as with any other type of jewelry, there is always the risk of damage or loss. Rings, in particular, are more prone to breakage because they are exposed to a lot of wear and tear, especially when they are worn daily.
There is also the risk of the ring snagging, which, in some cases, can loosen the diamond in its setting, making it more likely to pop out and get lost. All of these factors underpin the need for a good insurance policy for your 5-carat diamond ring.
While you may be eager to buy the best diamond out there, you need to be careful where you buy it from. Even if you are approaching a local jeweler instead of buying online, it is still critical to make sure that the vendor you choose is a reputable one.
This brings us to the following section.
Given that finding gem-quality rough diamond in large sizes is extremely rare in nature, 5-carat diamonds are few and far between. This means that they are rarely found in local jewelry stores. And if you do happen to find one, there’s a good chance it’ll be poorly cut-greatly reducing its overall sparkle and beauty.
An exception to brick-and-mortar stores is the highly reputable vendor Abe Mor Diamonds in New York City. Abe Mor is a specialist in large diamonds and usually has a selection of exquisite 5-carat diamonds.
Of course, you can also find reputable online vendors that sell beautiful 5-carat diamonds at exceptional prices. James Allen and Brian Gavin, for example, often stock a selection of bigger diamonds.
If you’re looking for the best diamond cuts at the most competitive prices, these are the vendors we recommend:
Abe Mor is a diamond wholesaler based in New York City that specializes in larger stones. While not a traditional retailer, Abe Mor offers customers a unique, personalized experience. If you live near New York City or have the opportunity to travel there, Abe Mor is an excellent choice.
With its signature Hearts & Arrows collection, Brian Gavin is one of your best options when it comes to finding a large diamond from an online vendor. All of their diamonds come with a high-quality certification from a reputable diamond grading entity (GIA or AGS). In addition, as you move up in carat weight, the extra sparkle of a Brian Gavin Signature Black diamond becomes truly apparent.
Offering the biggest online catalog of diamonds and jewelry settings, you’re spoiled for choice at Blue Nile. Each diamond comes with a high-quality certification from the GIA.
James Allen is one of the leading online vendors for diamonds and fine jewelry. Along with world-class customer service, they offer exceptional prices and amazing diamond imagery. Each diamond is sold with a high-quality certification from the GIA or AGS.
When choosing a diamond from a vendor, keep the following recommendations in mind:
When purchasing a 5-carat diamond, there are some steps you can take to save money. This will ensure that you do not end up overpaying for qualities you can’t see. That being said, blemishes and inclusions tend to be more visible in bigger diamonds, so buying a quality stone should be your main priority.
We suggest carefully reviewing every 5-carat diamond yourself or requesting an expert’s assistance. You can also follow our expert tips below to help you buy the perfect diamond at an exceptional price.
Internally Flawless (IF) 5-carat diamonds are incredibly rare and therefore command premium prices. But all you really need to look for is an eye-clean stone. This means finding a diamond that looks clear to the naked eye. For the best value, look for a 5-carat diamond in the VS1 or VS2 clarity grades.
If the diamond’s clarity grade is very important to you, but you still want to save money, consider buying a lab-grown diamond. Lab diamonds are exactly the same as natural mined diamonds in every respect except the environment in which they are formed. There is also a significant difference in cost. Furthermore, lab diamonds tend to be flawless.
This is the one area that you should never skimp on, especially when buying a 5-carat diamond. This is because a stone’s cut quality makes a huge difference to its visual appearance. And because big diamonds can emphasize any kind of flaw, you’ll want to make sure that you only buy a 5-carat diamond with a cut grade of Excellent on the GIA scale. This will ensure that you get the maximum amount of sparkle for your diamond ring.
Note that only round diamonds are graded for cut quality according to a set of industry standards. If you are considering a fancy-shaped diamond (i.e., any other shape besides the round brilliant), verifying the cut quality becomes a little trickier. You might want to ask a professional to help you in this regard.
A diamond’s color grade can also affect its overall price. You could pay tens of thousands of dollars for a diamond in the completely colorless grades (D-F). A good money-saving tip, therefore, is to look for a diamond in the nearly-colorless (G-I) range. Diamonds in these color grades have a slight yellow tint that is imperceptible to the naked eye and typically cost a lot less than diamonds in the colorless range.
As mentioned above, some diamond shapes are cheaper than others. A princess cut diamond, for example, will be more affordable than a round brilliant cut diamond of the same carat weight and clarity grade. By choosing a cheaper diamond cut, you can spend the additional money on areas that have a bigger impact on the visual appearance of the stone.
Whether you’re buying a 5-carat diamond or a stone with a lower carat weight, it’s important to verify that the diamond comes with a report from a reputable diamond grading entity (GIA). If a dealer suggests you buy a diamond from a different source, it’s best to steer clear – especially with 5-carat diamonds. This is because the actual quality of the diamond may be far less than what the report claims. With a certification from the GIA, you can be sure you are getting your money’s worth.
While the center stone and side stones are typically the main focus of an engagement ring, the setting is what holds everything in place. The setting also impacts the overall ‘look’ and cost of the ring. Some settings feature platinum prongs that hold the diamond in place, while others feature yellow gold, rose gold, or white gold. With a diamond as big as five carats, you’ll want to ensure that the setting complements the stone while holding it securely in place.
A lot of famous personalities have 5-carat diamond engagement rings. They are a good source of inspiration to see how various shapes and styles would look in real life.
Kelly Clarkson wears a 5-carat yellow diamond in her engagement ring. Carry Underwood also wears a 5-carat yellow diamond engagement ring.
Katie Holmes was known to have worn a 5-carat diamond ring given to her by Tom Cruise. Jennifer Lawrence is also believed to have received an engagement ring featuring a 5-carat diamond.
Also on the list of 5-carat diamond celebrities are Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Bar Refaeli, Mila Kunis, and Salma Hayek. One of Christina Aguilera’s engagement rings from a previous marriage was also a 5-carat diamond ring.
When you consider that the average size of a diamond engagement ring is one carat, you realize that a five-carat diamond is much larger than your typical diamond. Furthermore, five-carat diamonds are considered luxury items, and it’s not uncommon to see celebrities sporting diamonds of this size.
With a diamond as large as five carats, you have the option to explore more elaborate settings that would otherwise overpower much smaller diamonds. Of course, you can always opt for a classic solitaire or halo setting. But you can also go big and go bold with an intricate vintage or antique-style setting, or a three-stone ring with two 2-carat diamonds flanking the center stone.
There is a significant price difference between natural mined diamonds and lab diamonds. While a natural round brilliant 5-carat diamond might cost you upwards of $100,000, a lab-grown diamond with the same specifications will cost around $20,000.
It is absolutely possible to buy a high-quality diamond at the five-carat mark from an online dealer. If you do decide to go the online route, just be sure to only buy from a reputable vendor.
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