A 3-carat diamond ring is a dream size for diamond lovers. It covers the finger perfectly with amazing sparkle. The size is suitable for everyday wear. Buying a 3-carat diamond ring is a challenging task because it is not only a financial investment but also an emotional purchase. A suitable ring can boost your loved one to say yes! Don’t worry, we are here with a guide that will help you to reveal the insights to purchase a 3-carat diamond ring and to avoid costly mistakes.
What is a 3 Carat Diamond Stone?
The carat means the weight, not the size of the diamond. The weight affects the physical appearance but other factors like diamond cut and shape play an important role. An oval-shaped 3-carat diamond will look larger than 3 carats brilliant round diamond.
The weight of a 3-carat diamond is 600 milligrams. The face-up area of a 3 carat round brilliant cut diamond is 9.1mm. It is quite a big size and relatively rare in nature.
How Much is a 3 Carat Diamond Ring Cost?
The price of a diamond increases, as the weight increases. Typically, the price of a 3-carat diamond ring is between $20,000 to $200,000. A big difference, right?
The cost mainly depends on the Cut quality, Clarity, Color, and Shape of the diamond. Cut quality greatly affects the price and beauty of the diamond. As the size of a 3-carat diamond is big and prominent, you cannot compromise on cut quality. If you do, it will lose its brilliance.
Compromising on other factors like color and clarity can help you to save your wallet. We will discuss all the 4 C factors of a 3-carat diamond in detail later in the article.
Where is the Best Place to Buy 3 Carat Diamond Ring?
Online Store is the best option to buy fine jewelry. You must be thinking about how an online shop is better than a physical store? As the big diamonds are rare in nature. It is difficult to find them in a physical store.
Everyone has some specific design or shape of their dream diamond in the back of their head. But if you go to a physical store and ask the jeweler to show you exact specifications. He won’t be able to do that. And if by chance he has a 3-carat diamond, it will be available in one or two designs only.
If you go through some authentic online stores, you will see a variety of options. You will see a different stone with variable color and clarity combinations. This will help you to choose the finest diamond within your budget. Here is a list of some best online options available to purchase a 3-carat diamond.
- James Allen- If you visit James Allen’s website, you will see hundreds of options available for a 3-carat diamond. You can spend hours choosing your favorite diamond by sitting comfortably at your home.
Each diamond comes with high-quality video and images. The website provides you the accurate data about the cut quality. You don’t need to guess anything about the diamonds. All the facts are mentioned. What else you can wish for?
- Blue Nile- Blue Nile is another reliable online option available for you. They have 17+ years of experience. Most of their diamonds are certified by the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gem Society.
You cannot take your eyes off the finest quality diamonds. You can get assistance from a customer service representative that is available on the website 24/7. There are no shipping charges plus they offer you a lifetime warranty of their products.
They provide you with free cleaning, polishing, stone tightening, and rhodium plating 2 times a year. If you are unhappy with your diamond ring, you can return it to them within 30 days of your purchase and get your money back.
- Brian Gavin- It is another name of the trust. You will find a high-quality heart and arrow collection on the website.
Brian Gavin is one of the best diamond cutters in the whole world. If you are looking for something incredibly beautiful, Brian Gavin is the site.
You can customize your order by telling your preferences. All the diamonds come with a certificate from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society (AGS).
As the bigger size of the diamond limits, the available options, never compromise on the grading report of your stone. Making a significant purchase without keen research can be a big loss for you.
Understanding the 4Cs of a 3 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring
4 Cs of a diamond are 4 grades that ensure radiance, beauty, and sparkle. Read on to understand each one of them. This will greatly help you to purchase your 3-carat diamond engagement ring.
- Cut- It is one of the most important factors that determines how effectively your diamond handles light. The light handling capability refers to brilliance, fire, and sparkle.A poor cut quality doesn’t work with a 3-carat diamond.
Different shapes of diamonds demand different cuts and expert know-how to maximize the brilliance. Cut simply means how it was created from coarse. If you have two diamonds with a 3-carat weight for each. The one with a fine cut will be expensive than the other.
- Color- It is easier to notice the color or hue present in a bigger diamond. But it doesn’t mean that you must choose a D color grade diamond for an engagement ring. Choose from G to I color grade diamonds for platinum or white gold setting. G color grade is usually looking flawless with white metals.
If you go for lower grades like H or I, then choose a yellow gold or rose gold to set your diamond. It will help to mask the yellowish color of the diamond.
- Clarity- Only 1% of diamonds are flawless in the whole world. No two diamonds have the same clarity grade. The lesser the inclusions, the higher the price.
As you are looking for a big diamond, you must be aware that a 3-carat stone is susceptible to imperfections due to its size. And you don’t want your fiancé to notice that.
To prevent embarrassment, choose an eye-clean diamond with VS2 or higher clarity grades. The term “Eye Clean” means the inclusions are not visible to the naked eye.
- Carat- The fourth C is the carat that means the weight of the diamond. As we are talking about a 3-carat stone, its weight details are already mentioned earlier in this article.
The Shapes of a 3 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring
A 3-carat stone can be available in any shape you can dream of. We cannot tell you a single shape that is loved by all. It mainly depends on the choice and preferences of a recipient. We are here to tell you about some amazing shapes that will enhance the beauty of a 3-carat diamond.
3 Carat Round Engagement Ring
This is one of the most popular shapes for all carat weights. A 3-carat diamond is not an exception.
It provides flexibility regarding color, clarity, and cut. It means if you select a low grade for any of the C factors of the diamond, it will cover it up without lowering the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond. But I repeat, don’t go too low on cut quality.
3 Carat Cushion Diamond Engagement Ring
A cushion cut diamond is a wonderful choice that gained popularity in recent years. It is mostly used in a halo setting.
Due to the large face-up it cannot hide color in it. Choose an H color grade or higher. The lower clarity grade doesn’t work with the cushion cut. So, you have to pay some extra amount for a pretty cushion cut diamond.
3 Carat Emerald Diamond Engagement Ring
This is a beautiful rectangular shape that looks good in different styles and settings. It has a large surface table and long step cuts that offer bountiful reflections of white and colored light.
An emerald-cut diamond looks incredible in pave setting. You can detect inclusions easily due to the large surface table. Choose at least a VS2 clarity grade diamond. Color is another factor that is noticeable in emerald-shaped stones.
If you choose J color grade for your diamond, then set it in yellow gold or rose gold to mask the yellow tint. Select G, H, or I color grade diamond with platinum or white gold setting.
3 Carat Heart Diamond Engagement Ring
A unique and attractive heart-shaped diamond looks glorious in a ring. A 3-carat weight is ideal for this shape. It was first created in the 16th century.
Due to its distinctive shape, cut quality cannot be neglected. It can make or break it. Always examine it carefully and read the GIA report before purchasing a 3-carat heart diamond engagement ring.
A heart-shaped diamond with SI1 clarity grade or better looks flawless with no visible inclusions. It is a modified form of a round brilliant cut and reflects plenty of light.
You can hardly notice any color in it. So, you don’t need to choose a D color grade for your heart diamond engagement ring. H color grade looks better with platinum and white gold. A J color grade is okay with yellow gold and rose gold.
3 Carat Princess Engagement Ring
This is another amazing and popular shape of diamond for a 3-carat stone. It is a square shape with sharp ends. It first appeared in the 1960s.
The fire and brilliance of a princess cut diamond are matchless. It is cheaper than a round brilliant cut diamond. The lowest color grade you can go for a princess cut is J, I, H, or G.
This amazing cut hides inclusions perfectly. SI1, VS2, and VS1 are good clarity grades for princess cut diamonds.
If you are interested to buy a 3-carat princess diamond ring, make sure that the corners are protected by V-prongs. It looks perfect in any kind of setting. Princess cut Halo Engagement Ring is popular for years.
3 Carat Radiant Diamond Engagement Ring
It is nothing less than a round brilliant cut. This 70 facets square elongated shape offers striking brilliance and fire. Due to the larger face-up, it looks a lot bigger than its carat weight.
It has smooth and oblique corners that make it less susceptible to chipping. 3-carat radiant diamond looks so classy and elegant. As it has many angles and facets, you can compromise on clarity grade. Inclusions are hardly visible in it.
Likewise, it can hide a low color grade as well. So, you can spend a little more on cut quality to enhance its brilliance.
Best Settings and Styles for a 3 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring
As you have selected a 3-carat stone, the next most important step is the setting. It enhances the overall beauty of your engagement ring. A bigger diamond doesn’t look pretty with every random setting. Don’t worry we have gathered information regarding popular and suitable settings for a 3-carat stone.
The Halo Setting
A 3-carat diamond is already a substantial size and you can add more life to it by choosing a halo setting.
In this setting, smaller diamonds encircle the larger diamond and make it look more attractive and bigger.
Rose gold and yellow gold is more preferable to white gold because they will highlight the smaller diamonds. If you want a breathtaking and classy look, the halo setting is the perfect fit.
The Pave Setting
This is another beautiful setting for a 3-carat stone in which a larger diamond is adjusted in the center with prongs. The whole band is covered with smaller diamonds.
The pave setting is a perfect setting to flaunt the cut, shine, and sparkle of the diamond. It makes it appear larger. Platinum or white gold is suitable for the setting.
You can modify the setting according to your fiancé’s choice. But one thing is for sure, it is the only setting that showcases the diamond at its brilliance.
3 Stone Setting
The third ideal setting for a 3-carat diamond is a 3 stone setting. The two side stones complement the central diamond.
It is not necessary to choose the same shape for all three diamonds. The purpose of side stones is to enhance the overall beauty and brilliance.
Choose 1 carat or 1.5-carat weight for smaller diamonds. Don’t compromise on the cut quality of any of the three stones. Their color grade should be matching. It will add charm and sparkle to your 3-carat diamond engagement ring.
Princess Shaped 3 Stone Channel Setting
This is quite similar to 3 stone setting. The only difference is all the 3 stones have a princess cut and the band has a channel of small diamonds.
Platinum or white gold looks marvelous with this setting. The 2-side princess cut diamonds flaunt the central diamond. Channel boosts sparkle and attracts everybody’s attention to it.
Sapphire Bezel Solitaire Setting
In this setting, a 3-carat diamond is present in the center of a floral crown. The round brilliant cut is suitable for the setting to show off the larger size. 6 prongs are usually used to grasp or protect the stone. The setting looks incredible with platinum or 14k white gold.
3 Carat Radiant Cut Diamond with Side Stones
The radiant cut is the symbol of elegance, sophistication, and affection. In this setting, a 3-carat diamond is set with 4 prongs in the center. Tinnier stones cover half of the band and increase the shine and sparkle.
Astonishing, charming, and fascinating setting that highlights the central stone is perfect to convince her to say Yes!
The Tulip Setting
This is a timeless and classy setting suitable for people who like vintage style. Four prongs shoot from the band and clutch the 3-carat diamond. This is one of the most secure settings for diamond engagement rings.
The band is covered with pretty little diamonds that add beauty and radiance to the overall look of the diamond engagement ring. 14k yellow gold or rose gold highlights the diamonds and compliments your relationship perfectly.
3 Carat Diamond Ring VS 2 Carat Diamond Ring
A 2-carat diamond is quite more affordable than a 3-carat diamond. There is no definite price for a 2-carat diamond engagement ring, but it usually falls between the range of $5000-$60,000 whereas the price of a 3-carat diamond ring is around $20,000-$200,000.
As the price doesn’t only depend on a carat weight but the other 3 factors as well. If you are on a low budget, select a good quality cut with a 2-carat diamond. Purchasing a poor-quality 3-carat diamond is a huge loss.
3 Carat Diamond Ring VS 2.5 Carat Diamond Ring
A 2.5-carat diamond is large enough to make an impression. Its price ranges from $10,000-$75,000 depending upon the quality of diamond you choose.
If you want a big diamond for your loved one with a slightly low budget, then a 2.5-carat diamond is a good investment for you. Choose a shallow stone, that gives an illusion of a bigger diamond.
Setting plays an important role. Choose a halo setting with a 2.5-carat stone and it will be hard enough to distinguish it from a 3-carat stone.
3 Carat Diamond Ring VS 3.5 Carat Diamond Ring
If you wanted a 4-carat and your budget is tight, you can go for a 3.5-carat diamond becomes a wonderful solution. Finding this carat weight is not that easy.
Always make sure that the cut quality is very good. The price of a 3-carat stone ranges from $70,000-$110,000 per carat. Create a balance among the 4 C factors of a diamond to ensure the brilliance and sparkle of your 3.5-carat diamond engagement ring.
choose a 3-carat round brilliant cut diamond with a halo or pave setting to give an impression of a bigger look.
3 Carat Diamond Ring VS 4 Carat Diamond Ring
The price exponentially increases with carat weight. Finding an inclusion-free 4-carat diamond is another difficult task. The weight is 0.8 grams or 800 milligrams. The average diameter of a 4-carat diamond is 10.1mm-10.3mm. The price is between the range of $30,000-$250,000 or even more.
It is more difficult to find a 4-carat stone than a 3-carat diamond at a physical store. Online purchase is the best option.
A reasonably good quality 4-carat diamond will cost around $65,000. If you can afford it, go for it. You will find many impressive designs on an online authentic jewelry store. On the other hand, you can spend a little more on the setting of a 3-carat stone to impress your loved one.
Certification
There are lab diamonds available in the market that have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds. How you can get to know that you are purchasing a natural diamond? A certificate is the assurance of its authenticity.
There are many labs in the world but only a few have a good reputation. 2 of them are the Gemological Institute of America and the American Gem Society. Their certification is considered the most reliable around the world.
Conclusion
With all the information we have provided, you can now search the world of 3-carat diamond rings. You can compromise on the color and clarity grade of the diamond but never the cut. Online Stores are the best option to make a significant purchase. Not every random online store is authentic. Always check the certification and read the policies patiently.
The bigger size like the 3-carat stone expands your options. The shape of the diamond enhances its brilliance and sparkle. Setting plays another important role. A poor setting can make your 3-carat diamond worthless. Understand how the diamonds are priced so you don’t have to overpay for the features you don’t see.
A 3-carat number is a magical number to the 3-letter word, you really want to hear, Yes!