For 3.00 carat diamonds, only consider those of an ideal cut or an Excellent grade cut on the GIA scale. Choose a clarity of VS1 or VS2, and between a G-I on the color scale. Choose from a prominent diamond dealer that offers GIA or AGS certifications with every diamond. A well cut, stunning 3.00 carat diamond will capture the heart of the receiver and all those who view it. Because of its significant carat weight, a 3.00 carat diamond offers extraordinary capacity for brilliance, sparkle and fire.
But buying any 3.00 carat diamond will not get you the results you want. You could buy a Poorly cut 3.00 carat diamond. Diamonds of the same carat weight differ dramatically in their overall appeal and brilliance. When referring to 3.00 carat diamonds, we are specifically discussing the weight. 3.00 carat is equal to 600 milligrams, or 0.6 grams.
Round cut diamond sizes (Diamond images are for reference only).
Diamonds are all priced per carat. As an example, a 2.50 carat diamond may have a price of $12,300 per carat. The diamond's price would be $12,300 x 2.50, equaling $30,750.
Diamond prices per carat also increase with higher weight 'categories.' For example, a 2.00 carat diamond might be priced at $8,400 per carat, while a similar 3.00 carat diamond is $10,900 per carat. The price increases exponentially with weight due to the diamond's higher weight value and higher price per carat within the weight category.
Weight 'category' should be noted, as prices per carat do not continually increase as weight increases. Diamond prices are often driven more by emotion than reason.
While it may seem advantageous to search for a diamond that's just below a new weight category, such as a 2.90-2.99carat diamond, that really isn't the case.
The search for an "almost" 3.00 carat diamond has become quite popular. This popularity props up the price of those specific diamonds making cost savings minimal. In addition, diamond cutters have become more efficient at their job, and it's incredibly rare to find a well cut 2.90 carat diamond.
Ultimately, you can search for a 2.90 ct+ diamond, but we suggest not trying to find one specifically, as you'll severely limit your search potential without really saving anything.
If you're looking for a 3.00 carat diamond, The time it takes to understand a few basics will payoff tremendously with your final purchase.
As the diamond size goes up and the number of options narrows. With a 3.00 carat diamond ring, you have increased flexibility and options because of a larger budget and carat weight.
By looking online you have a tremendous chance of finding an extraordinary 3.00 carat diamond at an excellent price point.
When using these diamond dealers or others, follow these expert recommendations:
A GIA or AGS certificate should accompany any 3.00 carat diamond you are considering.
Look at comparable diamonds across online dealers to ensure an excellent price.
Only consider diamonds that are of an ideal cut or GIA grade quality of Excellent. Diamond cut is the largest indicator of a diamond's brilliance, beauty and fire.
Ask for the help of a diamond expert with reviewing and searching for high quality 3.00 carat diamonds. Missing one minor detail can be very costly when purchasing a diamond of that size.
Diamond size and diamond carat are often mistaken as meaning the same thing. Diamond carat, however, refers to the weight of the diamond whereas diamond size refers to the visual appearance. A larger sized diamond does not mean it is of a larger carat. The table surface area, depth and other shape features are not impacted by the diamond's carat weight. These aspects are dependent on diamond shape and how the diamond is cut both of which contribute to how big a diamond appears.
As an example, a 3.00 carat oval shaped diamond ring will likely appear larger than a 3.00 carat round brilliant cut in a solitaire setting. Both are stunning choices, but the size appearance differs even though the carat weight is the same. When it comes to carat weight and size, review several options and diamond shapes to determine which diamonds are most appealing to you.
A diamond's 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat) impact its beauty and brilliance in varying ways. Clarity indicates how void the diamond is of imperfections. When reviewing a diamond for clarity, we are looking for surface defects, blemishes, inclusions and any extra facets that are present in the diamond.
The GIA grades clarity on the following clarity chart from best to worst:
| Clarity | Clarity Description |
|---|---|
| FL | Flawless: No inclusions under 10x. A stone that is completely flawless. This is an extremely rare find. |
| IF | Internally Flawless: No internal imperfections. A stone that has no internal flaws at all but does have surface flaws. Also, an extremely rare find. |
| VVS1-VVS2 | Very Very Slightly Included: A stone with very minute internal inclusions that are extremely difficult to see under a 10X magnification. |
| VS1-VS2 | Very Slightly Included: A stone with very minor internal inclusions that range from difficult to somehwat easy see under a 10X magnification. |
| SI1-SI2 | Slightly Included: A stone that has imperfections visible under X10 magnification and may be visible with the unaided eye. |
| I1-I3 | Included: A stone that has significant inclusions most often visible with the naked eye. Inclusions of this level drastically bring down the diamonds value. |
The GIA clarity chart.
While the GIA grade carries validity and consistency, it's not the only element that should be considered in regard to a diamond's clarity.
The differences between two grades, such as VVS2 and VS1 are rarely noticeable to the naked eye yet the price can differ significantly. For example, an eye-clean diamond that's graded lower than a flawless diamond will look identical assuming all else is equal. The difference you'll notice is just in the price.
That's why we recommend reviewing the diamond yourself or having an expert assist you. We can help you avoid spending too much on a feature that will go unnoticed to the naked eye.
Properly reviewing diamond clarity can sometimes be challenging when looking through online inventories. For this reason, we recommend using reputable online jewellers as they offer sufficiently high quality images on all of their diamonds.
For 3.00 carat diamonds, our general recommendation is a minimum of a VS2 for clarity. Most blemishes and inclusions are invisible to the naked eye at this grade. It is possible, though, to find an S1 with inclusions close to the edges. Once the diamond is placed in a setting, these inclusions may be hidden.
To maintain a reasonable spend in the area of clarity, the highest we usually recommend is a VVS2, as there are no blemishes or inclusions visible to the naked eye. Most importantly, an eye-clean diamond is what you should be looking for. Enlist the help of an expert if you're not confident in this area.
An exquisite 3.00 carat diamond can be found in any diamond shape. Based primarily on personal preference and style, Diamond shape is often the first decision to make.
If size appearance is important to you or the receiver, it may be helpful to note the surface area difference amongst 3.00 carat diamonds of different shapes. Depending on table size (the top, flat surface of a diamond), a certain shape may appear larger.
The chart below shares the different surface areas based on diamond shape:
| Diamond Shape | Approximate Table Surface For 3.00 Carat |
|---|---|
| Round Brilliant Cut | 9.37 x 9.37mm |
| Princess Cut | 7.95 x 7.95mm |
| Emerald Cut | 9.64 x 7.14mm |
| Asscher Cut | 8.1 x 8.1mm |
| Radiant Cut | 8.33 x 8.33mm |
| Cushion Cut | 8.4 x 8.4mm |
| Oval Cut | 11.7 x 7.8mm |
| Pear Cut | 13.05 x 7.86mm |
| Heart Cut | 9.46 x 9.46mm |
| Marquise Cut | 14.98 x 7.49mm |
3.00 carat surface area differences among diamond shapes.
Diamond color is graded from D to Z by the GIA. D grade signifies the most clear, colorless diamonds and Z indicates a diamond with easily noticed brown or yellow tint.
It's important to note that the difference between each single grade is largely unnoticeable. Most people find it very difficult (if not impossible) to tell the difference from one color grade to another. The difference in price, though, may be quite significant.
Because of the minute differences between color grades, we recommend reviewing the diamond yourself. What you see with the naked eye is more important than the GIA grading. Most online diamond dealers will offer detailed pictures and videos for this purpose. You can also ask a diamond expert for assistance if you're not entirely confident.
When looking at a 3.00 carat diamond's color, be sure the diamond appears white in relation to its setting. A beautifully colorless G graded diamond like this will maintain its white appearance in a yellow gold, white gold or platinum setting.
On the other hand, a K color diamond will likely only appear white in darker settings. Usually K color diamonds have noticeable yellow tint, but the contrast with the jewellery makes it appear clear and radiant.
Remember that a diamond's cut is the most important element of a diamond's beauty and value. When you have an exceptionally cut diamond, the harder it is to notice color. We always recommend spending more in the area of diamond cut than diamond color.
Our general recommendation is to consider 3.00 carat diamonds in the nearly colorless range of G to I grading. These diamonds will appear colorless to the naked eye and will cost much less than those in the D to F range.
Our goal is for you to find the most exceptional 3.00 carat diamond at a price that's excellent within the market. We want you to spend in the areas that greatly affect a diamond's beauty, and scale back in the areas that won't be noticed by the naked eye.
Above all, we recommend reviewing the diamond yourself or having an expert assist you. We also advocate that all diamonds you are considering have either a GIA or AGS certificate. This ensures that what is stated is validated by an esteemed grading entity.
If a seller is suggesting you purchase a diamond with a different grading entity, it's best to steer clear. No matter what the lab report states, the actual quality of the diamond is far less than what they are stating.
To ensure your 3.00 carat diamond is radiant and brilliant, and will maintain its value, follow our recommendations:
Shape: Choose the diamond shape that is most appealing to you and the wearer. Shape is primarily decided on personal style. Pick a setting that provides stability to the Shape you choose.
Cut: Be certain your diamond is an ideal cut or an Excellent grade on the GIA scale. An exceptionally cut diamond will maximize the fire and brilliance above any other feature.
Clarity: Narrow your search to diamonds of VS1 and VS2 clarity grade. They offer the greatest value for what can be seen by the naked eye. At these grades, blemishes and inclusions will go unnoticed.
Color: Consider diamonds in the nearly colorless range of G to I. To the naked eye, these diamonds will appear just as clear as diamonds in the D to F range but will cost much less.
Diamond Seller: Select only a well respected diamond dealer with high quality certificates and years of experience.
You can see how different diamond carat sizes look on a hand below. When shopping, consider her hand size as well as her finger size. Keep in mind that most fancy diamond shapes like emerald, oval and pear will look larger on the hand than a round diamond of the same carat weight. Consider that once set within a ring, the diamond carat weight can look even larger, depending on ring style.
Below are round diamonds that measure 0.25 ct, 0.50 ct, 0.75 ct, 1.00 ct, 2.00 ct, 3.00 ct, 4.00 ct and 5.00 ct respectively.
0.25 ct
0.50 ct
0.75 ct
1.00 ct
2.00 ct
3.00 ct
4.00 ct
5.00 ct
Select Carat Weight
Diamond carat sizes on hand. (Diamond images are for reference only.)
Make your search for a 3.00 carat diamond ring easier with the information in this guide. With a 3.00 carat diamond, your options expand.
