For 4.00 carat weight diamonds, we recommend only considering diamonds with an ideal cut or an Excellent grade cut on the GIA scale. Choose a diamond that is G-I on the color scale and VS1 or VS2 on the Clarity scale. Purchase your stone from a prominent diamond dealer that offers GIA or AGS certifications with every diamond. Because of its significant carat weight, a 4.00 carat diamond has extraordinary capacity for brilliance, sparkle and fire. A stunning 4.00 carat diamond that's well cut gives you the 'wow' factor and makes your loved one feel extra special.
But buying any 4.00 carat diamond will not get you the results you want. You could buy a Poorly cut 4.00 carat diamond that appears dull, or one that will turn heads. Diamonds of the same carat weight differ dramatically in their overall appeal and brilliance. When we talk about 4.00 carat diamonds, we're discussing the weight of the diamond, not its size. 4.00 carat is equal to 0.8 grams or 800 milligrams.
Round cut diamond sizes (Diamond images are for reference only).
All diamonds are priced per carat. For example, a 3.50 carat diamond might be priced at $16,500 per carat. The diamond's price would be $16,500 x 3.50, equaling $57,750.
Diamond prices per carat also increase as the weight 'categories' increase. For instance, a 2.00 carat diamond might be priced at $7,400 per carat, while a similar 3.00 carat diamond might be $9,900 per carat. The price per carat increases exponentially with weight because of the diamond's higher weight value but also the higher price per carat within the weight category.
It's important to pay attention to weight 'category,' as prices per carat don't continually increase as weight increases. Diamond prices are often driven more by emotion than reason.
While it may seem advantageous to look for a diamond that's just below a new weight category, such as a 3.90-3.99 carat diamond, that really isn't the case. Diamond cutters have become more efficient at their job. In fact, it's incredibly rare to find a well cut 3.90 carat diamond.
In addition, the search for an "almost" 4.00 carat diamond or "almost" 5.00 carat diamond has become incredibly popular. This popularity pushes up the price for those particular diamonds making the cost savings minimal. Ultimately, you can search for a 3.90 ct+ diamond, but we suggest not trying to find one specifically, as you're severely limiting your search potential without really saving anything.
If you're looking for a 4.00 carat diamond, read this guide to learn how to select a remarkable diamond instead of a dud. Understanding a few basics will provide you with incredible payoff with the overall beauty and value of your stone.
If you're looking for a 4.00 carat diamond, The time it takes to understand a few basics will payoff tremendously with your final purchase.
Because of their scarcity, 4.00 carat diamonds are rarely found in shops. If you do find a 4.00 carat diamond in a jewellery shop, it's likely to be cut poorly greatly impacting the overall brilliance and beauty of the diamond.
By looking online you have a tremendous chance of finding an extraordinary 4.00 carat diamond at an excellent price point.
When using these diamond dealers or others, follow these expert recommendations:
Only consider diamonds with an ideal cut or GIA grade quality of Excellent. Diamond cut is the largest indicator of a diamond's brilliance, fire and beauty.
A GIA or AGS certificate should accompany any 4.00 carat diamond you're considering.
Look at comparable diamonds across dealers to ensure an excellent price.
Ask for a diamond expert's help in reviewing and searching for beautiful 4.00 carat diamonds.
Diamond size and diamond carat are often mistaken as meaning the same thing. Diamond carat refers to the weight of the diamond whereas diamond size refers to visual appearance (how large it appears). A larger sized diamond does not mean it has a larger carat weight. The table surface area, depth, and other shape features are not impacted by carat weight. Aspects like surface area and depth depend on diamond shape and how the diamond is cut both of which contribute to how big a diamond appears.
For example, a 4.00 carat pear shaped diamond ring will likely appear larger than a 4.00 carat round brilliant diamond ring. The size of the stones appear different even though the carat weight is the same. When it comes to shape, size and carat weight, review several options to determine which diamonds appeal to you the most.
The 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat) of a diamond impact its beauty and brilliance. Clarity, for instance, indicates how void the diamond is of blemishes, surface defects and inclusions.
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 it's important to review the clarity grading from the GIA or AGS, you should also look closely at the diamond yourself to determine if any imperfections are visible to the naked eye. You can also have an expert assist you, helping you to avoid spending too much on a characteristic that will go unnoticed.
The differences between two grades, such as VVS1 and IF, are rarely noticed by the naked eye although the price can differ significantly. 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.
Due to their significant carat weight, we suggest a minimum of a VS2 clarity for 4.00 carat diamonds. Most inclusions and blemishes are invisible to the naked eye at this grade. You may be able to find an S1, though, with inclusions close to the edge, meaning that once the diamond is in its setting, these inclusions may be hidden.
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 example, for a H VS1 asscher, to maintain a reasonable spend on clarity, the highest we usually recommend is a VVS2 diamond, as no blemishes or inclusions will be visible to the naked eye. Overall, an eye-clean diamond is what you should be looking for. Ask for the help of an expert if you're not confident in this area.
Stunning 4.00 carat diamonds can be found in almost any diamond shape. Your diamond shape should be based primarily on personal preference and style.
If a larger size appearance is important to you and the wearer, it may be helpful to consider the surface area differences among shapes. Depending on the table size (the top, flat surface of a diamond), a diamond of a certain shape may appear larger than another.
The chart below lists the surface areas for each diamond shape:
| Diamond Shape | Approximate Table Surface For 4.00 Carat |
|---|---|
| Round Brilliant Cut | 10.32 x 10.32mm |
| Princess Cut | 8.75 x 8.75mm |
| Emerald Cut | 10.61 x 7.86mm |
| Asscher Cut | 8.91 x 8.91mm |
| Radiant Cut | 9.17 x 9.17mm |
| Cushion Cut | 9.25 x 9.25mm |
| Oval Cut | 12.89 x 8.59mm |
| Pear Cut | 14.36 x 8.65mm |
| Heart Cut | 10.42 x 10.42mm |
| Marquise Cut | 16.48 x 8.24mm |
4.00 carat surface area differences among diamond shapes.
Diamond color, one of the 4Cs, is graded by the GIA on a scale from D to Z. D indicates the most clear, colorless diamonds and Z signifies diamonds that carry a noticeable yellow or brown tint.
The difference between each single grade is primarily unnoticeable. Most people find it very difficult (if not impossible) to tell the difference from one color grade to another. The difference in price can be significant, though.
Because of the minimal differences between color grades, we recommend reviewing the diamond yourself to ensure the diamond appears colorless. What you see with the naked eye is more important than the color grade the diamond is given. You can often review diamonds up-close even online with advanced photography. You can also ask a diamond expert to help you evaluate a diamond's color.
Be sure the diamond also appears white in relation to its setting. A colorless G graded diamond will appear white in any setting: yellow gold, white gold, rose gold or platinum.
On the other hand, a K diamond will likely only appear white with a darker setting in yellow gold solitaire setting. While K color diamonds have a noticeable tint, the contrast with the jewellery makes it appear clear and radiant.
For 4.00 carat diamonds, we recommend stones in the nearly colorless range of G to I. These diamonds appear colorless to the naked eye and will cost much less than those in the D to F range.
Remember that diamond cut is the most important element of a diamond's beauty. When you have an exceptionally well cut diamond, the harder it is to notice color. We recommend spending more in the area of diamond cut than diamond color, no matter the carat weight.
Our goal is to help you find the most exceptional 4.00 carat diamond at an excellent price. We want you to spend your budget where it will matter and scale back in the areas that will go unnoticed.
Most importantly, we recommend reviewing every 4.00 carat diamond yourself or having an expert assist you.
You should also ensure that your diamond comes with a certificate from a reputable source like the GIA or AGS. If a seller is suggesting you purchase a diamond from a different grading entity, it's best to steer clear, especially with 4.00 carat diamonds. No matter what their lab report claims, the actual quality of the diamond is far less than what the certificate states.
To ensure your 4.00 carat diamond is radiant and brilliant, and will maintain its value, follow our recommendations:
Shape: Select the diamond shape that's most appealing to you and the wearer. Choose a setting that provides stability for your stone.
Cut: Choose diamonds of an ideal cut or an Excellent grade on the GIA scale. An exceptionally cut diamond optimizes the brilliance and fire of the diamond more than any other factor.
Clarity: Look for diamonds of either VS1 and VS2 clarity grade. This will offer you the greatest value for what can be seen with the naked eye. Blemishes and inclusions are unnoticeable at these grades.
Color: Consider diamonds in the nearly colorless range of G to I. These diamonds will appear clear to the naked eye and cost much less than diamonds in the D to F categories.
Diamond Dealer: Select a diamond from a premier diamond seller with high quality cuts and years of expertise.
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 the search for a 4.00 carat diamond ring easier and less stressful by using our guide above.
