Sorting through the price of diamonds is something like trying to find a good movie. There are so many factors that you need to consider, and no one will outweigh the other. With movies, you can have a great actor in a really poorly written film. All in all, it takes many elements working together to create a really good movie, and there are many elements that all need to be considered when comparing the price of diamonds. No one element can completely outweigh of offset the others.



How the Four C's Stack Up

The four C's of diamonds are of course cut, color, clarity and carats. They are all considered when a retailer or wholesaler sets the price of diamonds and diamond jewelry. There is no such thing as "the most important one" when it comes to pricing, although you may want to sacrifice one for another depending on why you're purchasing a diamond. For example, if you just want a diamond to look good, you will want the best cut and clarity, but may not care about the actual carats, which refers to the diamond's weight. The specific reason you're purchasing a diamond and what is most important to you is important when considering the price of diamonds, as there may be two that look identical to the naked eye but that are way off on pricing.

The price of diamonds is usually set at a per carat basis, for example, diamonds of a particular overall grade may cost $10,000 per carat whereas one with a lower grade may be $1,000 per carat. This is why that ten-carat ring on a celebrity's finger is going to cost more than the ten-carat ring your aunt wears. Chances are the price of diamonds the celebrities own are higher since the stones are more valuable per carat. This also means that a two-carat ring will not automatically cost double the amount of a one-carat ring.

The cut also great affects the price of diamonds. Diamond cutting is an art and still typically done by hand. A diamond with an ideal cut will have a price that is up to 30% higher than one with just an average or good cut. This is because diamonds are desired for their sparkle and brilliance, and the right cut will show that off much better than just an average cut. While a less than ideal cut will make the price of diamonds go down, you don't want to simply settle for one of these simply because you can afford it.

Colorless is the most valuable of diamonds, and they are quite rare. The closer to being colorless, the more valuable a diamond will be per carat. Remember this when considering the price of diamonds, because a stone of the same cut and carat that is graded better on the color scale may see a significant increase in price per carat. And of course clarity refers to the inclusions or internal flaws that a diamond will have. As with color, the same cut and color but with better clarity will also affect the price of diamonds.