2 Carat Diamond Price & Buying Guide
Get the perfect 2 carat diamond ring at the perfect price
Get the perfect 2 carat diamond ring at the perfect price
If you’re looking for a 2 carat diamond ring, several key components must be examined. Well-cut diamonds of this carat are hard to come by and require extra attention during the search process. The selection of a diamond, ring, and seller should be considerably detailed. To get the best value for your money, you’ll need to know how to evaluate the 4cs of diamonds. These basics will help you choose a diamond that is exceptionally brilliant and full of life.
Why you should trust us
How much does a 2 carat diamond ring cost?
How large is a 2 carat diamond?
Where should I buy a 2 carat diamond engagement ring from?
What are some quick tips when buying a 2 carat diamond?
FAQs about 2 carat diamond rings
Should I get a 1 carat or 2 carat diamond?
Bottom line recommendation
2 Carat Diamond Price Chart (H VS2 quality)- Updated for October 2024
Round: $13,900
Princess: $11,600
Oval: $15,000
2 Carat Lab-Grown Diamond Price Chart (H VS2 quality) – Updated for october 2024
Round: $2,000
Princess: $2,200
Oval: $2,500
With the price of lab-grown diamonds dropping the last couple of years, a 2 carat (like this beautiful H VS1) are now in reach to people with budgets $3,000. Because no two diamonds are exactly the same, we recommend evaluating the 4cs of diamond quality for each stone you look at. Focusing on quality over specific carat weight will get you the most beauty for your budget, especially for a larger stone like a 2 carat diamond.
In terms of pricing, diamonds are all priced per carat on the wholesale level. For example, a 0.50 carat diamond may have a price of $1,400 per carat. The diamond’s price for the stone would be $1,400 x 0.50, equaling $700.
If you want to understand how supply and demand, as well as the 4C’s of the diamond, impact diamond pricing in general, check out our article on historical diamond pricing.
2 carat equals 400 milligrams or 0.4 grams. To put it in perspective, a 2 carat diamond weighs roughly the same as half of a raisin. A 2 carat (or two carat) diamond simply refers to the weight of the diamond. A round 2 carat diamond should be around 8.10mm in diameter. For scale, here are all the diamond shapes compared to a quarter.
A 2 carat engagement ring is quite impressive. The average engagement ring in America is usually around 1 carat. By comparison, a 2 carat diamond will look quite impressive.
Pro Tip: With the increasing popularity of Lab Grown Diamonds sales of 2 carat diamonds have increased dramatically. According to industry expert Beryl Raff “The 2-carat lab-grown diamond has become “the new 1-carat mined diamond.”
Diamonds are cut by carat weight, not by size. However, there is a surface area difference among diamond shapes — which can impact how big a diamond looks. Depending on the table size (the top leveled surface of a diamond), 2 carat diamonds can appear larger in certain shapes.
Our chart below gives you the surface area sizes for 2 carat diamond shapes. The sizes are measured in millimeters, not inches.
Diamond Shape | Approximate Table Surface for 2 Carat |
---|---|
Round brilliant cut | 8.10×8.10mm |
Princess cut | 7.00×7.00mm |
Emerald cut | 8.50×6.00mm |
Asscher cut | 7.00×7.00mm |
Radiant cut | 7.50×7.00mm |
Cushion cut | 8.00×7.00mm |
Oval diamond | 10.50×7.00mm |
Pear shaped diamond | 11.0×7.00mm |
Heart shaped diamond | 8.30×8.30mm |
Marquise diamond | 13.00×6.50mm |
Trillion diamond | 9.75×9.75mm |
For some people, a 2 carat diamond is huge and for others, it’s not big enough. It’s all subjective. However, choosing the right setting can do a lot. As shown on Jodie Sweetin’s engagement ring, a halo style setting can make a 2ct diamond look MUCH bigger than you would think.
In addition, diamond prices per carat increase as you reach higher weight categories. Diamond prices increase exponentially with weight because of the diamond’s higher weight value and the higher price per carat for the increased weight category. For example, a 2 carat diamond like this one might be $6,820 per carat, while a similar 3 carat diamond may be priced at $13,681 per carat.
We stress categories, as prices per carat do not continually increase as weight is increased. Diamonds are retail products driven by emotion more than reason.
It may seem advantageous to look for a diamond that’s just below a new weight category, such as a 1.90-1.99 carat diamond. That really isn’t the case, though. Diamond cutters have become more efficient at their job, and the search for an “almost” 2 carat diamond has become increasingly popular. This influx props up the price for those particular diamonds—making the cost savings minimal.
While ultimately you can search for a 1.90ct+ diamond, we suggest not trying to find one specifically. You’ll severely limit your search potential without really saving anything.
With a 2 carat diamond ring, you have increased flexibility and options because of a larger budget and carat weight. While Blue Nile and James Allen still have amazing advantages built into their business model, other factors come into play with the increased budget.
By looking online, you have a great chance of finding an extraordinary 2 carat diamond at an excellent price point. We have an article discussing the best places to buy an engagement ring in 2024 based on our secret shopping.
If you’re feeling lucky you can try hunting for a diamond in the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. In May 2021 Christian Liden stumbled upon a 2.2 carat diamond and according to Today used this to build a custom engagement ring.
If you’re in the market to purchase a diamond of considerable carat weight, quality should be more important than anything else–even if you need to slightly reduce your carat weight to stay within your ring budget. The increased brilliance, fire, and overall radiance of a high-quality diamond in a lesser carat will outweigh and outshine any money spent on a poorly cut 2 carat diamond.
To ensure your diamond is exactly what the diamond dealer is stating, ensure the diamond comes with a GIA certificate. The GIA laboratory is a renowned and well-respected diamond grading entity that issues accurate and consistent reports for diamonds. Although certification isn’t one of the 4cs of diamonds, it is extremely important. You can check out our article where we dig deep into the different diamond certifications.
If a diamond seller is trying to convince you to purchase a diamond with any other lab grading entity, politely decline their invitation. The actual quality of those diamonds is much less than what they’re portraying to be “true.”
To select exquisite 2 carat diamond rings at an exceptional value, follow our expert recommendations:
We get asked a lot of questions about 2 carat diamond engagement rings. Here our experts answer top questions from our readers.
The average carat weight for a diamond engagement ring is about 0.9 carat, meaning a 2 carat diamond is definitely considered big. With 2 carat engagement rings, the diamond is noticeable and eye-catching. If you select a stunning stone that’s well-cut, your ring will definitely attract attention.
Recently we have been seeing interest in 2 carat diamonds from readers considering lab-created diamonds. This observation is backed up with data as reported in this March 2022 article on diamonds.net which quoted Beryl Raff as saying “The 2-carat lab-grown diamond has become the new 1-carat mined diamond”. While we are not the biggest fans of LCDs, we do have an article discussing this topic and how it pertains specifically to lab-created diamonds. In this article, we discuss the issues we have with LCDs as well as advice on how to get the best LCD diamond if you decide to go that route.
You can definitely buy a high-quality two carat ring online without stress. Make sure to purchase from a reputable retailer (like the ones recommended above) that have a full refund policy. We talk about this more in our article comparing buying a diamond online vs in a physical retailer.
As we’ve covered before, the price of a diamond increases exponentially as the carat weight of the stone increases. As you get into the higher carat weight categories, the price per carat for a diamond increases suddenly. 2 carat diamonds are certainly impressive, and this adds a premium to the price.
We’ve explained how this phenomenon works more in our guide to how much diamonds are worth. This is due to several factors, the biggest of which is that larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds and, as such, are priced at a premium per carat.
This is a difficult question to answer, at least for someone. Every person’s needs, tastes, and budget are different, meaning that while a 1 carat diamond ring might be the best choice for some, a 2 carat diamond might be a better choice for others.
Let’s start by looking at the advantages of buying a 1 carat diamond ring. First, the 1 carat diamond price is significantly less per carat than what you would get for a 2 carat stone.
This 2.02 carat diamond from James Allen is $14,200 making it more than four times as expensive as a similar 1 carat diamond of the same cut quality, color, and clarity. While it will certainly stand out more and attract more attention for its size, its higher cost makes the 1 carat stone a better choice if you’re on a budget.
Now, let’s look at the advantages of the 2 carat diamond. First, it’s a bigger stone, with a larger surface area than the 1 carat stone. This means that it will attract much more attention to your fiancé-to-be’s finger and have a far stronger wow factor.
Second, the extra size can make the beauty of the diamond easier to appreciate, although this is a subjective factor.
Ultimately, it’s best to choose the diamond that best suits you and your fiancé-to-be’s budget, tastes, and preferences. If you’re not sure how much you can afford to spend, we recommend reading our guide to setting your budget for an engagement ring.
Finding a remarkable 2 carat diamond ring is done best by focusing on the elements that offer maximum beauty and value–along with buying from a well-respected online dealer. Keep this guide handy during your diamond search and feel free to reach out to us with any questions.
We’re happy to help you navigate the rocky waters of diamond buying. Contact us today and we’ll help you review and search for high-quality diamond engagement rings.
High-quality 2 carat engagement rings dazzle, shine, and show off their brilliance. When purchasing such a large diamond, even the smallest issues can lead to big problems.
Before you buy a diamond, get personal buying advice from industry veterans. We'll help you get the best diamond for the money.
DISCLAIMER: We don't use your email for marketing. Period.
A diamonds’ price is determined primarily by the 4 Cs of the diamond. On the wholesale level, diamond prices are first based on a diamond shape and
Buying an engagement ring is often one of the first major purchases in a person's life. The process can be fraught with tension as there are so m
A wide range of 1 carat diamonds exist both in online markets and local diamond jewelry stores. Not only are there significant differences in beauty
Please enter your email address to receive your 25% off coupon code:
Here is your coupon code: GFDSF3GF