Expert Luxury Guide To Buying a 7 Carat Diamond Ring
The essential tips for choosing the best 7 carat diamond
Why a 7 carat Diamond Ring?
The benefit of larger diamonds is the ability to really showcase the unique properties of the diamond cut and shape. A natural 7 carat diamond ring makes a statement while being appropriate for every day wear. The size of a 7 carat round diamond is approximately 12.2 millimeters in diameter, which is comparable to a small cherry. A 7 carat diamond offers endless opportunities to personalize the setting but also allows the center diamond to remain the focus. A high quality 7 carat diamond is also very rare which is another important driver for luxury engagement ring buyers. It may take longer to source a few 7 carat diamond shape options but this process adds to the appeal for many buyers.
When shopping for a 7 carat diamond Sothebys suggests looking for a natural diamond with a high clarity, color, and cut rating. Sotheby's jewelry specialists are sourcing 7 carat diamonds that meet the highest standards within the luxury market. If you are considering a diamond at this large of a carat weight, Sotheby’s recommends only considering diamonds with a clarity grade of VS2 or higher. VS2 stands for ‘very slightly included’, the inclusions are small lesions visible within the diamonds. The highest clarity is ‘FL diamond’, which stands for flawless. A flawless 7 carat diamond will have no visible inclusions to the naked eye or through a loop. The best color for a diamond is a D color diamond. A D color 7 carat diamond has no undertones of yellow or brown. These diamonds are incredible rare. As color and clarity go up, so does the price of a diamond. We recommend only considering diamonds on the color scale ranging from D-G color, these are the best color grades for white diamonds. Cut is also a very important aspect of choosing a 7 carat diamond. The cut directly influences the brilliance of the stone. For a round stone, we recommend looking for a diamond that has an Excellent cut grade and fancy-shaped diamonds Very Good cut stone or better. The premium for a D Flawless 7 carat diamond ring is material and something to consider if you are looking for a truly exceptional and rare diamond but not a necessity for purchasing a beautiful high quality 7 carat diamond ring. Additionally, at the 7 carat diamond size, some luxury buyers are looking for Type IIa diamonds, which are the most chemically pure type of diamond and often have exceptional optical transparency.
Celebrity buyers often opt for a 7 carat diamond ring. George Clooney proposed to Amal Clooney with a 7 carat emerald cut diamond ring in 2014. Her ring is estimated to cost around $750,000. Amal Clooney’s ring features two baguette diamonds on either side of the emerald cut 7 carat diamond. Sofia Vergara received a 7 carat square shaped diamond surrounded by a halo of diamonds in 2014. Socialite, Blac Chayna, received a 7 carat round diamond from her fiance, Rob Kardashian. The Victoria's Secret model, Jasmine Tookes, received a dazzling 7 carat oval diamond engagement ring set in simple yellow gold band. While a 7 carat diamond is very rare, it is a popular size for celebrity engagement rings.
7 Carat Emerald Cut & Asscher Cut
The emerald cut diamond is one of the oldest shapes dating back to the 1500s and was originally used for cutting emeralds. The emerald cut diamond became popular during the Art Deco era of the 1920s to 1930s. A 7 carat emerald cut diamond is a popular choice for someone looking for a diamond that is both sleek and modern. The stepped facets and open table emphasize clarity and inclusions will be more visible in this cut. Emerald cut diamonds also appear larger than the same size round stone due to the weight of the stone being more on the surface. An emerald cut diamond, like the oval and cushion cut diamond also come in a range of ratios that allow for more variability. An Asscher cut diamond is similar to emerald but is square with deeply trimmed corners. The Asscher cut was developed by the Royal Asscher Diamond Company in Amsterdam in 1902 and first gained popularity during the Art Deco era and then experienced a resurgence in the early 2000s.
7 Carat Oval Diamond Ring
An 7 carat oval diamond ring is a nice alternative to a round brilliant and will also look bigger because of the shape and cut. The modern oval diamond was invented by Lazare Kaplan in 1957. Since an oval diamond is elongated and the cut is more shallow the weight of the stone is more distributed making the stone look bigger. An oval diamond has 58 facets and has a similar brilliance as a round brilliant cut diamond. Oval diamonds can exhibit shadows called the "bow tie effect" based on the cut and something to consider when comparing stones. Oval diamonds are also priced lower than the equivalent round brilliant stone.
7 Carat Pear Shaped Diamond
The pear shaped diamond is also referred to as the teardrop and was invented in 1475 by Lodewyk van Bercken. The pear shaped diamond has 58 facets and can appear larger than the same carat weight round diamond. While the best proportions for a pear shaped diamond is in part personal, some cuts can result in light leakage or a bow tie effect in the center of the stone. This unique shape can be set in multiple ways and stands out as a unique choice. A 7 carat pear shaped diamond ring is a choice that combines the best or a round and marquise diamond.
7 Carat Round Cut Diamond
The round cut diamond has been the most popular diamond shape since the 1900s and is one of the most popular shapes for a 7 carat diamond ring. It has 52 facets and is the most classic choice mounted on a simple platinum band. The round brilliant cut diamond is also versatile with many different settings and wedding bands. All other cut diamonds are collectively called fancy cut diamonds. The modern round brilliant cut diamond as we know it began to take shape in the early 20th century. The use of mathematical principles to optimize light performance was pioneered by Marcel Tolkowsky, a mathematician and diamond cutter. Marcel Tolkowsky published his seminal work, "Diamond Design: A Study of the Reflection and Refraction of Light in Diamond." He calculated the ideal proportions for a diamond to achieve maximum brilliance and fire. Tolkowsky's ideal cut included 58 facets: 33 on the crown (top) and 25 on the pavilion (bottom). The introduction of advanced diamond cutting machines and computer-aided design (CAD) further refined the precision and consistency of the round brilliant cut. These technologies allowed cutters to achieve Tolkowsky's ideal proportions with greater accuracy.
Continuous improvements in cutting technology, including laser cutting and 3D modeling, have enabled even finer precision and creativity in diamond cutting. The round brilliant cut remains the most popular and sought-after diamond shape, accounting for over 70% of all diamonds sold.
7 Carat Cushion Cut Diamond
The cushion cut diamond has rounded corners and is often referred to as the "old new classic" based on its origins. The cushion cut diamond's origins are based on the Old Mine cut, which dates back to the 1700s. The Old Mine cut was the most common diamond shape until the early 1900s. The modern cushion cut diamond typically has 64 facets versus only 58 facets for the Old Mine cut. A rectangular cushion cut often appears larger than a square stone at the same carat weight, so this shape is often preferred by engagement ring buyers. While it can take longer to source a high quality rectangle 7 carat cushion cut stone, Sotheby's is happy to assist.
7 Carat Princess Cut
The princess cut has been popular since the 1980s, and historians believe the term princess cut was first used in the 1960s. The princess cut diamond evolved from the French Cut as diamond cutters become more sophisticated in facet placement to optimize light. The overall appearance of a princess cut diamond will look smaller than the round since the diamond is cut deeper so more carat weight is below the surface area. The square shape is popular for being more modern than the round but still provides plenty of sparkle. Depending on the setting, the princess cut can be more prone to chipping due to the sharp corners. For 7 carat diamond buyers, the princess cut is one of the least popular fancy cut diamonds.
7 Carat Marquise Diamond
The marquise diamond typically has 58 facets, similar to the round brilliant cut, which maximizes its brilliance and fire. The cut’s elongated shape and pointed ends require precise symmetry and proportions to ensure optimal light performance and avoid a "bow-tie" effect, a dark area that can appear across the center of the diamond. While the marquise diamond is less popular in the mass market today, luxury buyers that are looking for a 7 carat diamond are also often looking for a unique shape that can be personalized in a one-of-a-kind setting.
7 Carat Colored Diamond
Only about 1 in 10,000 diamonds is a natural fancy colored diamond. Colors include yellow being the most common while red is the rarest and most expensive. Luxury buyers are increasingly interested in fancy colored pink, blue and green diamonds as engagement rings. On Sotheby's marketplace, you can often find rare and 7 carat diamond rings in fancy colored diamonds. While the prices for fancy colored yellow diamond rings in VS2 clarity can start around $140,000, as the intensity of the color improves, the price can increase rapidly. Fancy pink and blue diamonds are much more rare, especially at 7 carats and the prices are significantly higher. Sotheby's sold a 7 carat fancy intense pink diamond ring for $3.3M in a 2020 Geneva auction. If you are looking for a 7 carat fancy pink, blue or green diamond ring, a jewelry specialist or salon associate would be happy to assist since these colored diamonds are likely to take some time to source.
7 Carat Diamond Price
The price of a 7 carat diamond ring depends on many factors. The starting price for a 7 carat solitaire diamond ring that is G color and VS1 clarity starts around $170,000 to about $270,000 depending on the cut. Cut is the most important variable influencing the price of a 7 carat diamond ring. Other variables include the brand, provenance and the overall polish of the diamond. A 7 carat fancy colored diamond in a similar clarity is generally significantly more depending the color of the diamond and the overall rarity and quality of the diamond. At the very top of the colored diamond quality scale, a fancy intense pink 7 carat diamond price starts at around $750k. The prices of 7 carat diamonds at the very high end of the quality scale can vary widely. Sotheby's recommends only purchasing a 7 carat diamond ring with a GIA certificate.
Buy a 7 Carat Diamond Ring At Sotheby's
Sotheby's often has impressive 7 carat diamond rings available at auction. Sotheby's also has a small selection of 7 carat diamond rings available for immediate purchase on marketplace. If you would like to view a a 7 carat diamond ring, a salon specialist would be happy to assist. Sotheby's is also able to source 7 carat diamond ring from its global supplier network.
- Explore upcoming jewelry at auctions in New York, London, Switzerland, Paris, and Hong Kong.
- Speak to a Salon Associate in New York, Zurich or Hong Kong to schedule an appointment
- Speak to Jewelry Specialist about selling a 7 carat diamond
Trust our worldwide network of leading jewelry specialists from a globally renowned auction house with a 280-year history.
