Two Carat Diamond Ring Collection and Guide

How to choose a two carat diamond

It’s a total myth that bigger is better when it comes to diamonds. The right diamond isn’t based on just one single factor, but a combination of all 4 Cs of diamond quality-cut, carat, clarity and colour. When considering a diamond, focus on the quality that’s most important to you, then work to balance the remaining three.

If you’ve decided that you’re diamond has to be two carats, here’s how you can balance the remaining quality characteristics:

Cut:
A cut grade is exclusively given to round diamonds, so if you’re considering a round shape, you should absolutely prioritise a high cut grade given the carat weight of your diamond.  A well-cut diamond maximises the brilliance of the diamond, resulting in that sought-after sparkle and life that refracts light through its facets. We’d always advise looking for an excellent cut grade especially when considering a round diamond of one carat or higher.

Colour:
A diamond’s colour grade determines the level of colour present in a diamond. In fact, colour grade determines the absence of colour in a diamond. 

But it’s not what you’re thinking–you won’t literally see a coloured diamond. Grades D-J will appear white to the naked eye. The difference in colour grades are often imperceptible and our in-house team of Diamond Specialists twice-inspect every diamond to ensure each stone fits within our stringent standards.

With a diamond of a higher carat weight, considering higher colour grades will certainly impact the price point. It’s for this reason that we’d recommend considering anything in the ‘near-colourless’ range of G-H. This will allow you to assign more of your budget to quality characteristics like carat and cut which will have more of a prominent impact on your stone.

Of course, if colour quality is of great importance to you, opt for higher colour grades while being aware that this will command a price premium. 

Clarity:
As diamonds form deep in the earth, or in a laboratory, they develop birthmarks on their surface and internally–slight irregularities and features that are visible to a skilled grader under 10x magnification. These are collectively referred to as ‘clarity characteristics’ or ‘inclusions’

While an internally flawless diamond is incredibly rare, this doesn’t mean that diamonds with clarity grades beneath this will exhibit visible inclusions to the naked eye. A clarity grade of VS1 or VS2 is often a good choice as it strikes a sensible balance between clarity and price.

As always, each of the diamonds that we recommend are twice-inspected by our expert procurement team who will ensure any ‘clarity characteristics’ are not visible to the naked eye.

Carat weight:
The highly sought-after  two carat diamond possesses the power to enchant many and this means they carry a price premium. If you’re not tied to the exact carat weight, we’d always recommend considering carat weights just shy of a two carat, like a 1.9ct. These will look almost identical in size on the hand, but may well result in cost savings.

Certification:
Always purchase a diamond with a reputable grading report from a well-known laboratory such as GIA, IGI or GCal. This ensures that the diamond’s characteristics are accurately represented so you know you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for.

Lab-grown diamonds:
If you’ve considered all of the above and your preference is out of your price point, enter the lab grown diamond. Technically and chemically identical, lab grown diamonds differ in their origins and how they’re produced. Because diamond mining is nowhere near as cost efficient as lab grown diamond production, lab grown diamonds see a lower and more affordable price point–often 50-80% less than natural diamonds.

There are additional considerations to take into account like whether they’ll retain their value. Learn more about the differences between lab grown diamonds and natural, mined diamonds here.

Personal preference:
Diamonds are so innately special–it’s often said that you don’t choose the stone, the stone chooses you and sometimes upon first glance, there’s a feeling that it’s meant to be. Ultimately, you can strike the balance between price and quality so long as it aligns with your personal preferences.

Diamond shape affects pricing in a couple of ways. Firstly, certain shapes require more rough stone wastage during the cutting process, resulting in a lower price. Secondly, the demand for the classic round diamond tends to be higher, contributing to elevated prices.

When considering a two carat diamond ring, it’s important to note that a round diamond, being the most popular choice, will generally carry a price premium compared to other fancy shaped cuts. 

Among the various diamond cuts, other shapes typically come with a lower price compared to a round diamond of roughly the same weight and quality. For instance, a two carat pear or oval diamond ring may cost approximately 10-15% less than a round diamond, while a two carat cushion cut, princess cut, or emerald cut diamond ring could potentially be up to 20-25% less expensive.*

Here’s a general overview of the price ranges for a two carat diamond with specifications of G colour, VS1 clarity, and excellent cut grade, across various popular diamond shapes:

2 Carat Round Brilliant Cut Diamond: £25,000 – £35,000

2 Carat Princess Cut Diamond: £15,000 – £19,000 

2 Carat Emerald Cut Diamond: £18,000 – £22,000 

2 Carat Asscher Cut Diamond: £18,000 – £22,000  

2 Carat Radiant Cut Diamond: £16,500 – £19,500 

2 Carat Oval Cut Diamond: £20,500 – £27,500

2 Carat Marquise Cut Diamond: £22,500 – £29,000

2 Carat Pear Shape Diamond: £25,000 – £31,000

2 Carat Heart Shape Diamond: £20,000 – £23,000

*these are approximate price ranges accurate at time of publication – September 2023

Lab grown diamonds are a wonderful alternative to natural diamonds as they offer a lower price point. Of course, there are pros and cons to consider for both lab grown and natural diamonds and we feel it’s important to educate yourself on both so that you can make a choice that aligns with your personal preferences and values. Read more about both forms of diamonds here.