Diamond Price Index
Current average diamond prices based on real-time market data from 500,000+ certified diamonds
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How to cite: The Diamond Price. (2026). Diamond Price Index [Data set]. Retrieved from https://thediamondprice.com/data/diamond-price-index
Quick Answer: What Does a Diamond Cost Right Now?
The median price for a 1-carat natural diamond (VS2/G/Excellent cut) is $5,350. The median price for a 1-carat lab-grown diamond of the same quality is $2,150 — a 60% savings. Prices below are based on our 90-day rolling median across all tracked retailers.
Table of Contents
1. Natural Diamond Prices by Carat Weight
Average prices for GIA/AGS certified natural diamonds with Good-Excellent quality (VS2 clarity, G color, Very Good-Excellent cut).
| Carat | Low | Median | High | Avg $/ct | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.50 ct | $850 | $1,250 | $1,800 | $2,500/ct | 8,412 |
| 0.70 ct | $1,600 | $2,450 | $3,400 | $3,500/ct | 6,238 |
| 1.00 ct | $4,200 | $5,350 | $6,500 | $5,350/ct | 12,847 |
| 1.25 ct | $5,800 | $7,400 | $9,200 | $5,920/ct | 4,156 |
| 1.50 ct | $8,500 | $10,800 | $13,500 | $7,200/ct | 5,723 |
| 2.00 ct | $15,000 | $19,500 | $24,000 | $9,750/ct | 3,891 |
| 3.00 ct | $32,000 | $42,500 | $55,000 | $14,167/ct | 1,204 |
Source: TheDiamondPrice.com Price Index — 90-day rolling median, VS2/G/VG+ quality, GIA/AGS certified. Updated Feb 11, 2026.
Key Takeaway
Price per carat increases exponentially — a 2-carat diamond costs 3.6x more than a 1-carat diamond (not 2x) because larger rough diamonds are significantly rarer. Buying just under "magic sizes" (e.g., 0.95ct instead of 1.00ct) can save 10-15%.
2. Lab-Grown Diamond Prices by Carat Weight
Average prices for IGI/GIA certified lab-grown diamonds with Good-Excellent quality (VS2 clarity, G color, Very Good-Excellent cut).
| Carat | Low | Median | High | Avg $/ct | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.50 ct | $320 | $480 | $650 | $960/ct | 5,621 |
| 0.70 ct | $550 | $850 | $1,150 | $1,214/ct | 4,310 |
| 1.00 ct | $1,400 | $2,150 | $2,800 | $2,150/ct | 9,834 |
| 1.50 ct | $2,800 | $3,900 | $5,200 | $2,600/ct | 4,127 |
| 2.00 ct | $4,200 | $5,800 | $7,500 | $2,900/ct | 2,956 |
| 3.00 ct | $7,500 | $10,200 | $14,000 | $3,400/ct | 987 |
Source: TheDiamondPrice.com Price Index — 90-day rolling median, VS2/G/VG+ quality, IGI/GIA certified lab-grown. Updated Feb 11, 2026.
Key Takeaway
Lab-grown diamond prices have decreased 2-4% year-over-year as production capacity expands. The price-per-carat curve is much flatter than natural diamonds — a 2ct lab-grown costs 2.7x a 1ct (vs 3.6x for natural), making larger sizes a particularly strong value proposition.
3. Average Price by Diamond Shape
Median price for 1-carat diamonds (VS2/G) across the 10 most popular shapes. Round commands the highest premium due to superior light performance and highest demand.
| Shape | Natural (Median) | Lab-Grown (Median) | vs Round Premium | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | $5,350 | $2,150 | Baseline | Standard |
| Oval | $4,200 | $1,700 | −21% | Great Value |
| Princess | $3,800 | $1,550 | −29% | Great Value |
| Cushion | $3,600 | $1,500 | −33% | Great Value |
| Emerald | $3,900 | $1,600 | −27% | Great Value |
| Pear | $4,100 | $1,650 | −23% | Great Value |
| Radiant | $3,500 | $1,450 | −35% | Best Value |
| Asscher | $3,700 | $1,500 | −31% | Great Value |
| Marquise | $3,400 | $1,400 | −36% | Best Value |
| Heart | $3,600 | $1,450 | −33% | Great Value |
Source: TheDiamondPrice.com Price Index — 1ct VS2/G median, 90-day rolling average. Updated Feb 11, 2026.
Key Takeaway
Fancy shapes (non-round) cost 21-36% less than round diamonds. Marquise and radiant shapes offer the best value, while oval diamonds provide the best balance of value (−21%) and visual size (ovals appear 10-15% larger than rounds of the same carat weight).
4. Price Impact of Color Grade
How color grade affects price for a 1-carat natural round diamond (VS2 clarity, Excellent cut).
| Color | Grade | Median Price | vs G Color | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | Colorless | $7,800 | +46% | Undetectable to untrained eye |
| E | Colorless | $6,900 | +29% | Undetectable to untrained eye |
| F | Colorless | $6,200 | +16% | Undetectable to untrained eye |
| G ⭐ | Near-Colorless | $5,350 | Baseline | Best Value / Invisible |
| H | Near-Colorless | $4,800 | −10% | Invisible when set in ring |
| I | Near-Colorless | $4,200 | −21% | Slight warmth, visible side-by-side |
| J | Faint | $3,700 | −31% | Noticeable warmth in white gold/platinum |
| K | Faint | $3,200 | −40% | Visible yellow tint; suits yellow gold |
Source: TheDiamondPrice.com Price Index — 1ct VS2/Excellent Round, natural. Updated Feb 11, 2026.
Expert Recommendation
G-H color offers the best value. The color difference between D and G is undetectable to the untrained eye when the diamond is set in a ring, yet D color costs 46% more. For yellow or rose gold settings, I-J color can save 20-30% with minimal visual impact.
5. Price Impact of Clarity Grade
How clarity affects price for a 1-carat natural round diamond (G color, Excellent cut).
| Clarity | Description | Median Price | vs VS2 | Eye-Clean? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL | Flawless | $9,200 | +72% | Yes |
| IF | Internally Flawless | $8,100 | +51% | Yes |
| VVS1 | Very Very Slightly Included | $7,200 | +35% | Yes |
| VVS2 | Very Very Slightly Included | $6,400 | +20% | Yes |
| VS1 | Very Slightly Included | $5,800 | +8% | Yes |
| VS2 ⭐ | Very Slightly Included | $5,350 | Baseline | Best Value / Eye-Clean |
| SI1 | Slightly Included | $4,650 | −13% | Usually (90%+) |
| SI2 | Slightly Included | $4,100 | −23% | Sometimes (60%) |
Source: TheDiamondPrice.com Price Index — 1ct G/Excellent Round, natural. Updated Feb 11, 2026.
Expert Recommendation
VS2 clarity is the sweet spot. All grades VS2 and above are "eye-clean" — inclusions invisible to the naked eye. Flawless costs 72% more with zero visible difference. For budget-conscious buyers, SI1 clarity saves 13% and is eye-clean 90% of the time.
6. Natural vs. Lab-Grown Price Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of median prices for identical specifications (VS2/G/Excellent cut, GIA or IGI certified).
| Carat | Natural | Lab-Grown | Savings | Savings % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.50 ct | $1,250 | $480 | $770 | 62% less |
| 1.00 ct | $5,350 | $2,150 | $3,200 | 60% less |
| 1.50 ct | $10,800 | $3,900 | $6,900 | 64% less |
| 2.00 ct | $19,500 | $5,800 | $13,700 | 70% less |
| 3.00 ct | $42,500 | $10,200 | $32,300 | 76% less |
Source: TheDiamondPrice.com Price Index — VS2/G/Excellent, 90-day median. Updated Feb 11, 2026.
Key Takeaway
The lab-grown discount increases with carat size: 60% savings at 1ct grows to 76% at 3ct. This is because natural diamond rarity increases exponentially with size, while lab-grown production costs scale more linearly. For buyers prioritizing size over origin, lab-grown offers dramatically more diamond per dollar.
7. Key Market Insights — February 2026
Natural Diamond Trends
- Natural diamond prices up 3.2% year-over-year, in line with historical average of 3-5%
- Round diamonds experienced the highest appreciation (+4.1%), driven by engagement ring demand
- 1-carat diamonds remain the most traded category (25% of all searches)
- GIA-certified diamonds command a 3-5% premium over IGI for natural stones
Lab-Grown Diamond Trends
- Lab-grown prices declined 3.8% year-over-year as production capacity expands
- Lab-grown now represents 38% of all engagement diamond searches, up from 29% last year
- Larger sizes (1.5ct+) are seeing fastest adoption as the savings become most dramatic
- IGI is the dominant certification lab for lab-grown (85%+ of certified lab-grown diamonds)
Market-Wide Observations
- Price dispersion across retailers averages 22% for identical specifications — price comparison saves the average buyer $1,200
- Oval and cushion shapes growing fastest in popularity (+12% search volume YoY)
- Demand for diamonds in the $3,000-$5,000 range is strongest
- G color, VS2 clarity remains the most searched quality combination
8. How to Use This Data
For Buyers
Use these median prices as your fair market value benchmark. When shopping for a diamond:
- Find your target carat, color, and clarity in the tables above
- Note the median price — this is what you should expect to pay
- Use our Diamond Search Tool to find diamonds below the median
- Diamonds rated 5 stars ("Best Deal") are 15%+ below these median prices
For Researchers & Journalists
You are welcome to cite this data with attribution:
"TheDiamondPrice.com Diamond Price Index (February 2026). Based on 500,000+ certified diamonds from 50+ retailers. Available at: https://thediamondprice.com/data/diamond-price-index"
For press inquiries or custom data requests: [email protected]
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