Wondering whether to purchase a 5-carat diamond ring? Look no further!
In this informative Twirl Weddings guide, I will provide you with all the essential information on buying a 5-carat diamond ring, without requiring you to visit a jewelry store.
Furthermore, I will address common inquiries about 5-carat rings, such as:
- The value of a 5-carat diamond ring
- Places to buy a 5-carat diamond ring
- The recommended clarity for a 5-carat diamond ring
Best Places to Buy a 5-Carat Diamond Ring
Finding diamond engagement rings with a 5 carat center diamond can be quite challenging at physical jewelry stores. While this isn’t the case for every store, many require a down payment before allowing you to view it in person.
However, online jewelry retailers offer a different experience. Here are our top recommendations for purchasing a 5 carat diamond ring:
1. James Allen
2. Blue Nile
3. Brilliant Earth
4. Leibish & Co.
Each of these companies has its own strengths and weaknesses, but we believe they all offer significant options for engagement rings. Some retailers even provide alternatives like lab-grown diamonds, fancy colored diamonds, and colored gemstones.
Exploring Different Carat Weights
In addition to 5 carat diamond rings, we have also reviewed other popular carat weights for diamond rings. Check out the following guides:
1. 2 Carat Diamond Ring Buying Guide
2. 4 Carat Diamond Cost Buying Guide
Understanding a 5-Carat Diamond Engagement Ring
A 5 carat diamond ring encompasses various aspects, but don’t worry—I’m here to explain everything you need to know before making a purchase. If you require further information on any section below, feel free to follow the provided links or recommended articles within the text.
Decoding Carats
Carats (also spelled karats in the UK) serve as the unit of measurement for diamonds. Colored gemstones may also be measured in carats, but millimeters are more commonly used. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams or 1/5 of a gram. Therefore, a 5 carat diamond weighs one gram.
Carat Size vs. Carat Weight
One of the most confusing concepts in diamond buying is the misconception that carat weight and carat size are the same. Surprisingly, they are not. Carat weight refers to the weight of a diamond piece after it has been cut and faceted by a diamond cutter.
The carat weight does not represent the overall size of the diamond. The visual size of a 5 carat diamond ring can vary depending on the diamond’s shape. Shapes like emerald cut, oval cut, radiant cut, princess cut, and elongated cushion cut have a larger surface area than a round cut diamond due to their elongated shapes.
On the other hand, carat size refers to the measurement of the diamond’s face-up view. A round diamond may have a smaller face-up view, causing other fancy shapes with the same carat weight to appear larger. Although all these diamonds are 5 carats, the weight distribution among different shapes is distinct.
The 5-Carat Center Stone
Finding the perfect 5 carat diamond may feel like a treasure hunt, especially if you restrict your search to local jewelry stores. It’s important to note that a high-quality 5 carat diamond is both expensive and rare, especially if it’s a natural diamond. Opting for a lab-created 5 carat diamond can save you some money, but it’s still a significant investment.
Elusive Gems in Neighborhood Stores
Don’t expect to come across many 5 carat diamond rings in the display cases of chain jewelry retailers like Zales or Kay. These stores often encourage customers to wait for special events to bring in such large diamonds. In fact, it’s common for larger stones to require a down payment before they can even be brought into the store. These diamonds are highly valuable and come with a hefty price tag.
The Online Advantage
Your best bet for finding a 5 carat center stone is to explore online options. Retailers on the internet have no risk in showcasing these diamonds on their websites. They provide handy filters to help you narrow down your specifications, and there are diamond experts available at a click’s distance, ready to assist you without pressuring you.
5-Carat Total Weight Considerations
Locally, it may be quite difficult to find a single diamond weighing exactly 5 carats unless you consult with a specialized jeweler who can source one for you. However, searching for a 5 carat total diamond weight (TDW) might prove to be easier.
Understanding the Markings
When you come across price tags or online descriptions with markings like TDW, TW, DWT, CTTW, or CTW alongside the number 5, it’s important to realize that these do not indicate a 5 carat center stone on a solitaire setting. Instead, they refer to the total diamond weight of all the stones in the setting. If it’s a solitaire ring, the center stone itself would typically be 5 carats, unless there are additional hidden diamonds, which is common in modern solitaire styles.
How Much Does A 5 Carat Diamond Ring Cost?
It’s no joke, a 5 carat diamond is quite expensive. The average person wouldn’t be able to afford it. However, if you’re fortunate enough or considering a lab-created diamond to save money, it’s important to understand how the cost of a 5 carat diamond ring is calculated and some tips to make the most of your purchase.
The value of diamonds is determined by various factors, with some having a bigger impact than others. The Gemological Institute of America introduced a system called the 4Cs, which assesses the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight of a diamond to determine its overall quality.
The price of a 5 carat diamond ring depends on many factors, and it’s not solely based on the carat weight. The quality and value of a diamond are evaluated based on other factors as well. The 4Cs system plays a significant role in assessing the quality of a diamond, including its cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
Cut Quality
When determining the price of a 5 carat diamond ring, there are additional factors to consider, such as the diamond’s cut, clarity, color, shape, brand, and setting. Cut quality is an important factor, and it refers to both the shape of the diamond and the quality of its cut. While round diamonds have official cut grades, other fancy shapes like cushion or princess cuts are considered ideal within a specific range rather than exact symmetry.
The grading system for diamond cuts is determined using a specific scale.
To achieve an excellent, ideal, or very good cut grade for a round diamond, the diamond cutter needs to use their skills to facet, cut, and polish it to perfection. They carefully select the diamond rough, discarding those with too many imperfections, and smooth out any rough surfaces.
The cut quality of a diamond greatly affects its overall beauty. A well-cut 5 carat diamond ring will display unparalleled brilliance and fire, surpassing other colorless gemstones, without being overwhelming.
If you’re investing in a beautiful diamond engagement ring, it’s best to avoid diamonds with a good or fair cut. Fair cut round diamonds are harder to come by, but if you find them, they will be significantly less expensive than higher cut grades.
However, when compared to a very good or excellent cut diamond, a fair cut diamond will lack the same level of beauty. In fact, you might notice a noticeable dullness in a diamond ring with a good or fair cut grade.
Additionally, poorly cut diamonds can make your diamond appear misshapen, unbalanced, and more susceptible to chipping if it gets struck.
Clarity Grade
If you’re looking to save money on a 5 carat diamond ring, you have more flexibility with the clarity grades. However, since a 5 carat diamond is much larger than the average 1.5 carat diamond, it’s advisable not to go too low on the clarity scale.
Diamond clarity primarily affects the appearance rather than the durability of the diamond. Certain flaws within the crystal can make the diamond more susceptible to chipping, but this is mainly found in poorly cut diamonds and specific surface blemishes.
Internal flaws, on the other hand, are natural and acceptable in diamonds. These may include small inclusions or tiny bits of other minerals that got trapped in the diamond during its formation, whether in the earth or a lab.
Contrary to popular belief, lab-grown diamonds can also have inclusions. The types of inclusions in a diamond can vary, but most of them are visible. The higher a 5 carat diamond ranks on the clarity scale, the less noticeable the inclusions are. Here is the diamond clarity scale.
A gemological laboratory assigns the clarity grade on a diamond certificate.
Clarity refers to the presence of natural inclusions and surface blemishes in a diamond. The higher the clarity grade, the clearer the diamond looks to the naked eye. When a diamond is referred to as “eye-clean,” it means that its inclusions cannot be seen without magnification.
Read More: Types of Diamond Inclusions
Color Grade
It’s common for people to mix up color grades with fancy colored diamonds, but they are actually separate aspects of diamonds. The color grade mentioned on a grading report specifically applies to colorless diamonds and not diamonds that are intended to have different colors.
Here is the official color grade scale for colorless diamonds established by the GIA. 5 carat diamonds with DEF color grades fall within the colorless range, while GHIJ color grades are considered near colorless. Diamonds graded KLM are categorized as faint yellow. It’s less likely to find diamonds graded N-Z at larger online retailers.
- Diamond Shape
The shape of a 5 carat diamond ring plays a significant role in determining its overall cost. Different diamond shapes can result in varying price ranges, even if all other diamond qualities are the same.
For instance, step cut diamonds like the emerald cut and Asscher cut diamonds are generally less expensive compared to brilliant cut shapes. However, step cut shapes may require higher clarity or color grades due to their cutting style.
Among the different shapes, a round brilliant cut diamond is the most expensive for a 5 carat diamond ring. It not only offers the best sparkle but also requires more effort to facet. Diamond cutters face challenges in obtaining an eye-clean diamond of such size from the diamond rough. On average, approximately 60% of the diamond rough used for round diamonds is discarded, which contributes to higher costs.
Read More: What is an Eye Clean Diamond? (7 Questions Answered)
- Diamond Brand
The brand of the ring setting can often increase the overall cost. Additionally, certain specialty diamonds can also affect the price. For instance, Whiteflash diamonds are renowned for their exceptional light performance due to their super ideal cut. However, these diamonds come with a premium price compared to a standard ideal cut diamond with similar grades.
Engagement Ring Setting
The choice of engagement ring setting for your 5 carat diamond ring will significantly impact its cost. Typically, the cost of the setting will be lower compared to the diamond itself, which is the main expense.
Settings that involve intricate metalwork and accent diamonds will generally cost more than a 5 carat diamond engagement ring from a classic solitaire collection.
Moreover, branded ring settings tend to be more expensive than settings from unbranded collections.
How Big is a 5-Carat Diamond Ring?
Remember our previous discussion about how the weight distribution of diamonds varies depending on their shape, even if they have the same carat weight? Well, this results in certain shapes appearing larger than others when it comes to 5-carat diamonds.
The Resale Value of a 5-Carat Diamond Ring
I’m unable to provide an exact value for reselling a 5 carat diamond ring. However, there are a few things you should know about selling diamonds.
In general, most diamonds aren’t considered worthwhile investments unless they are natural fancy colored diamonds. While a 5 carat diamond ring can certainly fetch a significant amount of money when sold, you shouldn’t expect to recoup anywhere near the original purchase price.
Obtaining the Best Value when Purchasing a 5 Carat Engagement Ring
It’s no secret that a 5 carat diamond engagement ring comes with a hefty price tag. When seeking the best value, it’s important to save money without compromising on quality. As the carat weight increases, the visibility of inclusions and yellow tint in the diamond becomes more apparent. You may find it necessary to consider diamonds from a higher clarity and color range compared to a one carat diamond ring to ensure optimal quality.
Color Grade
Diamond color is a personal preference and can be subjective. According to quality standards, higher color ranges are considered more valuable. However, the perception of yellow tint in a diamond depends on the viewer’s eyes.
If you are not particularly sensitive to color differences, you may not notice a significant distinction between an E color diamond from the colorless range and an H color diamond from the near colorless range. However, the price difference will be noticeable, even if all other diamond grades are the same.
Furthermore, the color of a diamond is a visual characteristic that does not affect its sparkle or durability. Many people may not be able to distinguish between a J color diamond and an I color diamond, but J color diamonds are typically more affordable.
Clarity Grade
A 5-carat diamond is much heavier than the average diamond center stone, which is around 1.2 carats. Depending on the shape you choose, the required clarity grades may be higher compared to smaller diamonds. However, this is not always the case for all 5-carat diamonds, as variations in other grades can affect prices.
Typically, a clarity grade of VS2 is considered an excellent choice. It is the first grade where the diamond is considered eye-clean. However, in a 5-carat diamond, very slight inclusions may appear more noticeable. To address this, you might need to consider diamonds with inclusions located closer to the diamond’s edge, where a prong could cover them.
The best way to accomplish this is by taking your time to browse through a selection of loose diamonds and utilizing the 360˚ viewer available. This allows you to carefully examine the diamonds from all angles and make an informed decision.
Ring Metal
Not only does the type of engagement ring setting affect the price of your 5 carat diamond ring, but the choice of ring metal also plays a significant role. Traditionally, engagement rings are crafted using 14K gold, but when shopping online, you’ll find a wider range of options available, including 18K gold and platinum.
Read More: Platinum vs White Gold: What is the Difference?
Final Thoughts – The 5-Carat Diamond Ring
Before making a decision on a 5 carat diamond engagement ring, there are several important factors to consider, known as the 4Cs. Carat weight is already covered, but the other three Cs have the most impact on cost.
Diamond cut should not be compromised, but diamond clarity and color are subjective. Opting for lower grades in these areas can lead to a less expensive 5 carat engagement ring. However, the visual appearance of the diamond may not meet your personal preferences.
When purchasing, it is important to conduct your own research and avoid buying solely from online retailers. It is advisable to explore various articles on different engagement ring companies. Don’t solely focus on the retailer offering the best diamond prices, as a low-priced 5 carat engagement ring from an unreliable laboratory certification may result in paying more for a diamond with inferior grades.
All the mentioned retailers are legitimate with return policies of at least 30 days, allowing you to return the 5 carat engagement ring if you are not satisfied with your choice.
This guide aims to help you consider the key aspects when buying a 5 carat engagement ring and make the most of the diamond prices.