7 Carat Diamond Ring: How Much It’s Worth and Why
Diamond rings are deeply sentimental purchases that we hope to treasure forever. An exquisite 7-carat diamond ring is a large and eye-catching diamond to own, and thus, a serious investment.
There are many things to consider when buying a seven-carat diamond ring, including the cut, clarity, and color of the stone. You’ll also have to consider where and how you want to purchase it to guarantee authenticity and good value.
Luckily, we’re here to help! We’ve created the ultimate buying guide for 7-carat diamond rings, walking you through everything you need to know to get the perfect ring and great value for money.
7 Carat Diamond Ring Price
A seven-carat diamond ring is a rare piece of jewelry by anyone’s standards, so you can expect the price to match this exclusivity. The price of any diamond is impacted by the famous 4Cs—carat, cut, color, and clarity.
There are a few other aspects that will impact the cost, too. Its band metal and whether there are other stones in the settings, as well as where you purchase it from, can all play a part in the final price.
As a starting ballpark, expect to pay between $10,000 and $30,000 per carat. For a 7-carat diamond ring, you can expect the price to start between $70,000-$21,000 and increase from there. But it’s not as simple as that! So, let’s dive deeper into 7-carat diamond ring pricing.
The certification of the diamond in the ring will have a big impact on its price. Obviously, we have a fixed carat value here—you want a 7-carat ring. And cut has a present, but subtle, impact on the price (more on this in a moment) but is roughly comparable across similar shapes.
For the prices here, we’re talking about the most expensive, but also the most common, round-brilliant cut.
So, we’re left with color and clarity, which is where the real difference in cost will be determined. Each of these is assigned specific technical ratings, and we’ll be throwing some common combinations into the mix here. Don’t let it overwhelm you! We’ll break this down further later on.
One of the top color ratings you’ll find in diamonds is a D-color grading. This means a diamond with absolutely no hint of any color, so it’s very pricey.
However, this color scale is a very technical thing, and you will find beautiful pieces that appear just as clear in the G to I color grades, which is typically where you’ll find the very best balance of cost and quality. If you like the warmth of yellow gold, you can even slide that to a J color rating and have it look fantastic.
Likewise, the technical grading of clarity and what the eye actually sees visually, are quite different. So while the top-end FL rating is technically the very best, with IF a tiny step behind, you will find utterly exquisite pieces with no easily apparent flaws in the VSS1/2 and VS1/2 clarities.
For a true 7-carat, D-color, and FL-clarity ring, you can expect to pay just shy of a cool million. Ouch! But these diamond rings are so very rare to find, too, so you may not even see one.
On a practical level, you can call a D-color, VVS1-clarity ring a top-end purchase, and expect it to set you back a little north of $500,000. If we slide that color rating down just one rank—something that will be near indistinguishable to the eye—you will pay $350,000. A nice saving, right?
We typically recommend a G-color, VS1-clarity ring as an excellent balance of cost and quality. Here, you will be looking in the $220,000 range. A nice saving for very little loss of quality!
If you’re willing to step down to an I-color, VS1-clarity diamond—one that will still look great with a white gold or platinum band—you may find a 7-carat ring for as little as $140,000. And with a true gold band, a J-rated, VS1-clarity diamond will be around $110,000.
While these rings will have lost a tiny bit of the perfection of higher-rated rings, it’s a substantial price drop, and they will still be dazzling.
The lowest, good-quality 7-carat ring grade you will find is a K-rating with SI2 clarity. This could be as low as $90,000, but you are starting to approach quality issues that may impact the beauty of the diamond.
So, as you can see, you can often spend less and still get an exquisite diamond, just by making some sacrifices in grading categories that won’t look all that different to the eye. Now we’re going to explore these concepts in more detail so that you can decide exactly where your dream bling lies on the scale.
How Big Is a 7 Carat Diamond Ring?
Before we talk about physical size (we will, I promise), let’s dip into what a 7-carat diamond even means.
Carats are a standard system of weight applied to diamonds—but not to their physical size, which can vary by shape and other factors, like how much of the stone sits below the girdle in the setting of the ring.
Every carat is 200 mg in weight. So a 7-carat diamond weighs 1.4 g. Every carat can then be broken into “points,” with 100 points to a carat, for stones that are not exactly on a full carat. That weight seems small, but this is a big rock in the jewelry world!
Now, what does that mean to the eye? The average lady’s finger is 16.5 millimeters–17 millimeters wide. A round-cut 7-carat diamond will be about 12.34 millimeters across—or 75% of her finger size! Obviously, different stone shapes will affect the exact proportions.
In fact, jewelers often use elongated cuts—like the eye-shaped marquise—on high-carat diamonds to create a longer, but more slender, ring for wearers. However, this will be a very visually impressive diamond, no matter how it is cut.
Remember that some cuts appear “smaller” to the eye if a lot of the stone is under the girdle. You may or may not like that slimmed effect. 7-carat diamonds can also sit very “high,” away from the finger and ring, due to the stone size. So bear that in mind when buying them.
7 Carat Diamond Ring Shape and Color
Now you know more about what it really means to own a 7-carat diamond, let’s dig briefly into those 4Cs and how they impact its price. Although a matter of personal taste, any difference in grades or shapes can significantly impact a diamond’s overall cost, so you need to understand what you’re buying.
Shape (and Cut)
The shape of a diamond is how we refer to the actual, physical shape you see with the eye. We’ve already mentioned round and marquise in this guide!
The most popular shape for a diamond is the round, or brilliant, which gives you the classic diamond elegance. Anything else is called a “fancy” shape. There are a lot of them, from oval, pear, and heart, right through to square and rectangular shapes like princess, Asscher, and cushion. These are all called “fancy” shapes
So, what’s the “cut?” The cut that’s graded in the 4Cs refers to how scintillatingly sparkly a diamond is—an effect created by the facets, or flat cuts, made in the ring.
The GIA certification we’ve mentioned assesses how the polish and symmetry create that signature flair on round diamonds. While people use shape and cut interchangeably, they’re different things, as you now know.
Fancy shapes are slightly less stringent on cut, but will still offer a “cut” grading that talks about symmetry and the beauty of the effect.
Cut can affect how the diamond is graded, affecting its price. Shape can have a small impact too, for two reasons. Firstly, when you shape a diamond, you lose some of the raw material (makes sense, right). The more wasteful the cut, the higher the final cost. Round can waste a lot of rock—think 60%—while some square cuts will waste as little as 20%.
The second is trend, and honestly, it’s not worth chasing. Beautiful 7-carat diamond rings will all retain a solid value, so choose a beautiful shape and setting that you want to display to the world. Remember, while the 7-carat gem will be the showstopper, other precious gems or diamonds in the setting can also impact the cost.
Round | $112,719 |
Princess | $359,104 |
Emerald | $104,036 |
Asscher | $174,646 |
Cushion | $125,238 |
Marquise | $331,284 |
Radiant | $118,084 |
Oval | $93,499 |
Pear | $230,665 |
Heart | $431,482 |
Color
When we discuss the color of a diamond, we are usually referring to the lack of color the stone has. Neat flip, right?
A classic white diamond is evaluated by the absence of color, and this is determined by an assessor who inspects them under controlled lighting and in precise conditions. They’re also graded out of the setting, as the metal color can impact how we perceive colors.
The diamond is then given a grade from D to Z, depending on where it falls on this scale. Remember us mentioning this above?
The highest quality diamonds are transparent and look almost as if they are a drop of water, and these have the D rating. On the lower end of the scale, a Z-graded color diamond may have a brown or yellow tint, which can lessen its value. Any diamond of J or higher is a solid investment. Here’s the full scale
- D (colorless)
- G to J (near-colorless)
- K to M (faint)
- N to R (very light)
- S to Z (light)
Color does impact price. For example, a 7.01-carat round diamond with an E color rating is $227,082 while a 7.21-carat round diamond with an H color rating is $187,325.
What About Colored Diamonds?
There are colored diamonds available in pink, yellow, green, blue, and more. How do they get this color? It is because of the presence of trace elements of things like boron and nitrogen within the stone. Red diamonds are the rarest.
Colored diamonds are rated for vividness and consistency of color on a different scale—fancy-vivid to fancy-faint.
Clarity Rating for 7 Carat Diamond Rings
One of the most important aspects to consider when buying a diamond ring is the clarity of the diamond. Making up one of the 4 Cs, clarity is a qualitative metric used to determine the visual appearance of a diamond and whether it has any inclusions or blemishes.
This refers to tiny little “flaws” that are caused during its natural formation underground. They’re very difficult to spot with the naked eye, and jewelers use 10x magnification to grade diamonds. So, you have some wiggle room on the clarity scale.
Obviously, a diamond with no inclusions or blemishes will be of higher value and therefore, more expensive, but they’re rare and hard to find. On the other hand, a diamond with marks that are visible to the naked eye will be priced a lot cheaper.
An I-graded diamond features many inclusions, whereas an FL diamond is flawless, meaning that there are no inclusions or blemishes present. Here’s a little more about each grading level
- Flawless (FL): At this grade, there are no inclusions or blemishes when the diamond is viewed under magnification.
- Internally flawless (IF): This means there are no inclusions, but there are some blemishes noted by expert assessors only.
- Very, very slightly included (VVS1 and VVS2): Inclusions at this level are so minimal that they can only sometimes be seen by an expert grader.
- Very slightly included (VS1 and VS2): There are inclusions seen when viewed under 10x magnification, but they are minor.
- Slightly included (SI1 and SI2): The inclusions can be seen by most when looking under magnification, and may even be seen with the naked eye by some.
- Included (I1, I2, and I3): These inclusions are seen under magnification and by the naked eye. The transparency of the diamond will be affected even at first glance.
VS1 and VS2, and higher, are all quality diamonds.
IF | VVS1 | VVS2 | VS1 | VS2 | SI1 | SI2 | |
D | $420,680 | $274,314 | $240,183 | ||||
E | $576,492 | $359,273 | $227,082 | ||||
F | $476,371 | $336,286 | $339,368 | ||||
G | $299,860 | $241,384 | |||||
H | $289,564 | $187,325 | |||||
I | $251,768 | ||||||
J | $189,928 | $155,460 | $113,122 | ||||
K | $117,567 | $112,719 |
How to Choose the Best 7 Carat Diamond Ring
Buying a 7-carat diamond engagement or wedding ring can be challenging, but you now understand what goes into pricing them! Here’s a recap of the key aspects to consider when buying a diamond ring, and how they can impact the value and price.
For the best value, choose a 7-carat diamond with a G or H color rating and between a VS2-VVS1 clarity rating. The average price for this diamond is around $300,000.
Where to Buy a 7 Carat Diamond Ring
With a purchase as large as a 7-carat diamond ring, you want to ensure that you’re buying from a reputable jeweler. You will have the choice of buying from a brick-and-mortar jewelry store or an online jeweler.
Although there has been some hesitation in the past about buying diamonds online, there are now lots of reputable dealers who sell them. However, some people still prefer to make such a weighty purchase in person.
There are pros and cons that come with both of these options, so it will depend on your preference as to which you choose.
Online
An online jeweler often has access to more stock, and typically offers lower prices because they carry fewer overheads. Of course, you’ll need to use a reputable dealer and insist on certifications for anything you buy online. Online dealers can give you more variety, lower prices, and a wider chance to “shop around” without wasted time and energy.
If you are considering buying a 7-carat diamond ring online, we put together this list of our favorite vendors.
Ensure any jewelers that you use have secure payment options, a safe website, a thorough returns policy, and the ability to provide documentation and certification. Speak to the experts and look on Google to see what others are saying about the online jeweler so you can guarantee that they are the real deal.
Local Jewelry Stores
If online buying isn’t for you, a brick-and-mortar store is the safest bet. The reassurance of viewing and holding the seven-carat diamond ring in person could be important to you, especially when buying a diamond of this size and price.
The most significant benefit of shopping at a local jewelry store is this peace of mind, and it can offer a lot more than just a grading report. You’re buying from a real person, an expert jeweler, and you can look at the diamond for yourself, which many people prefer during the buying process.
However, the reassurance of being able to shop in-store and view your intended purchase comes at a price—quite literally! These diamond rings are usually more expensive to allow the seller to cover their increased costs and still make a profit. They might also have limited stock, especially on a rare large-carat size like this. Plus, some of the convenience factors are lacking.
Famous 7 Carat Diamond Engagement Rings
Some famous 7-carat diamond engagement rings have made the tabloids’ front page for their beauty and exclusivity, so read on to find out about the most celebrated ones. Who knows, you may find the perfect inspiration for yours!
- When George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal finally tied the knot, they chose a stunning 7-carat emerald cut diamond ring with ethically mined stones and two baguettes flanking the central diamond. The ring was reportedly worth $750,000—and looked to be worth every cent!
- Sofia Vergara, best known for her starring role in Modern Family, was given a stunning 7-carat cushion-cut diamond ring for her engagement to Joe Manganiello. With a halo setting and larger-than-life center stone, it’s no surprise to hear that the ring cost an estimated $500,000.
- Justin Bieber upset teenage girls everywhere when he proposed to Hailey Baldwin in 2018 after the pair’s whirlwind romance. However, the diamond ring that she now sports on her finger was gorgeous indeed. Reportedly, the stone is a 7-carat oval diamond that cost roughly $800,000 to have made, and was designed by famed jewelers Solow & Co.
- Ryan Reynolds is an actor who likes to do things differently, and that includes the engagement ring he chose for his future wife, Blake Lively. The rose gold engagement ring features a light pink, oval 7-carat diamond with an exquisite setting of pave diamonds surrounding it. This is not a basic 7-carat diamond though, as the ring’s estimated cost was a whopping $2.5 million!
7 Carats of Splendor
There are few rings as spectacular as those with a 7-carat diamond at their heart. There’s a lot to consider when buying these beauties, from personal preferences and your budget to the specifications you crave.
The rarity and exclusiveness of a seven-carat diamond make it a significant purchase but a lifetime investment that will always keep a solid worth. Now you know everything there is to know about making a smart, informed purchase, you’ll always be able to pick a winner!
Curious about how other carats stack up next to your bling? Check out these guides for other popular diamond rings:
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