Education
What a lab-grown diamond actually costs
Most price guides estimate. This one counts. Every figure below is taken from the 10,979 certified stones listed on this site right now, and changes when they do.
Updated 15 October 2026 · 10,979 stones
The answer
Price by carat weight
The lowest and highest price we currently list in each band, and the middle of the range. Two stones of the same weight can sit at either end — the next section explains why.
| Carat weight | Stones listed | Lowest | Typical | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 – 1.24ct | 1,150 | $200 | $275 | $650 |
| 1.25 – 1.49ct | 484 | $200 | $300 | $600 |
| 1.50 – 1.99ct | 877 | $275 | $400 | $925 |
| 2.00 – 2.49ct | 1,887 | $400 | $550 | $1,425 |
| 2.50 – 2.99ct | 1,648 | $425 | $800 | $1,825 |
| 3.00 – 3.99ct | 1,649 | $550 | $1,100 | $3,050 |
| 4.00 – 4.99ct | 383 | $675 | $1,300 | $3,850 |
| 5.00ct and above | 1,040 | $875 | $2,575 | $10,400 |
These are prices for the diamond alone. A finished ring is the stone plus a setting, and our settings start at $850. Browse the stones.
The honest part
Why one carat can mean two very different prices
Carat is weight, not quality. Two stones can weigh exactly the same and be priced far apart, because weight is only one of four things being graded. The others are colour, clarity and cut.
Colour runs from D, which is completely colourless, down through the alphabet as a faint warmth appears. Clarity describes the tiny inclusions formed as the stone grew — from flawless down to inclusions a trained eye finds under magnification. Cut is the only one made by a person rather than found, and it is the one that decides how much light the stone throws back.
Most of the price gap inside a single carat band comes from clarity and cut. A stone at the bottom of a band is not a worse diamond so much as a differently graded one, and at these sizes the differences are frequently invisible without a loupe.
Our advice, for what it is worth: choose cut first, then carat, then clarity, then colour. Cut is the thing you see across a room. The full 4Cs guide goes through each one.
Where the money goes
Price by clarity, at one carat
All stones between 1.00 and 1.49 carats, grouped by clarity grade, so the comparison is like for like.
| Clarity | Stones | Lowest | Typical | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IF | 74 | $250 | $375 | $650 |
| VVS1 | 1,230 | $200 | $275 | $450 |
| VVS2 | 245 | $200 | $275 | $350 |
| VS1 | 64 | $200 | $250 | $325 |
| VS2 | 11 | $200 | $225 | $275 |
Shape
Price by shape, at one carat
Round costs the most per carat to produce, because more of the rough crystal is lost reaching that outline. Everything else is, in the trade's phrase, a fancy shape, and generally cheaper for the same weight. These are the shapes we currently hold at this size.
| Shape | Stones | From | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pear | 428 | $200 | $250 |
| Cushion | 257 | $200 | $275 |
| Emerald | 205 | $225 | $275 |
| Radiant | 216 | $200 | $275 |
| Heart | 224 | $250 | $300 |
| Marquise | 149 | $225 | $300 |
| Oval | 35 | $275 | $300 |
| Princess | 120 | $225 | $300 |
Shape changes how large a stone looks as much as what it costs — an elongated oval or marquise reads bigger than a round of the same weight. How each shape behaves.
Context
Why lab-grown prices keep falling
A lab-grown diamond is a diamond. Same carbon, same crystal structure, same hardness, graded by the same laboratories against the same scales. What differs is where it formed.
Growing capacity has risen sharply, and the technology has improved at the same time, so stones that were scarce a few years ago are routine now. Prices have followed. That is the whole explanation, and it is worth understanding because it cuts both ways: a lab-grown diamond is a remarkable amount of stone for the money, and it is not an investment.
We think that is the right trade for an engagement ring. You are buying something to wear and pass on, not something to resell. More on how they are made and graded.
Our pricing
How we arrive at a price
Every stone is priced from what it costs us, with a margin that falls as the stone gets dearer. A modest stone carries a higher percentage than a large one, because a flat percentage on a five-figure diamond would be indefensible.
We do not run sales on diamonds, and there is no list price with a line through it. The number you see is the number.
Every stone is independently certified by GIA, IGI or GCAL, and the certificate is linked on each stone's page. You are not taking our word for the grade.
Questions
Common questions
How much is a 1 carat lab grown diamond?
Between $200 and $650 for the stone alone, with the typical one at $275. That is across 1,150 certified stones we currently list between 1.00 and 1.24 carats. The spread comes from clarity, cut and shape.
How much is a 2 carat lab grown diamond?
Between $400 and $1,425, typically $550, across 1,887 stones between 2.00 and 2.49 carats.
How much is a 3 carat lab grown diamond?
Between $550 and $3,050, typically $1,100, across 1,649 stones between 3.00 and 3.99 carats.
Why are your prices lower than other sites quote?
Because most published guides estimate rather than count, and many are written by retailers carrying a larger markup. Our figures are read directly from the stones listed on this site, and our margin falls as the stone gets dearer.
Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. Chemically, physically and optically identical to a mined diamond, and graded by the same laboratories against the same scales. The difference is origin, not substance.
Do lab-grown diamonds hold their value?
No, and nobody should tell you otherwise. Growing capacity is rising and prices are falling. An engagement ring is something to wear and pass on rather than an investment — on that basis a lab-grown stone is extraordinary value.
What does the price include?
The price shown is for the loose diamond. A finished ring is that stone plus a setting, and our settings start at $850. Shipping within the USA is free, and qualifying engagement rings include one complimentary resizing within six months.
See the stones behind the numbers
Every figure on this page comes from diamonds you can filter, compare in 360° video, and buy today.
