Luxury Guide to Buying an Extraordinary 4 Carat Diamond Ring

W ithin the luxury engagement ring market, a 4 carat diamond is considered the starting point for buyers looking for a large and rare diamond. Learn more about what to consider when buying a 4 carat diamond ring.

Why a 4 Carat Diamond Ring?

The popularity of a 4 carat diamond ring for luxury engagement ring buyers is a combination of size, price and rarity. A 4 carat diamond is large enough to display any shape's brilliance and sparkle, especially the most popular cut, the emerald cut diamond. At 4 carats, the unique qualities of natural diamonds and the expertise required to create each shape takes center stage in a way not possible with smaller stones. Additionally the availability of high quality 4 carat diamonds under $100,000 also makes it accessible to most luxury buyers. Prices start to climb quickly as the size of the diamond increases above 4 carats at the high end of the diamond grade scale for cut, color and clarity. A 4 carat diamond weighs about 800 mg and a well cut round diamond is about 10.2 mm in diameter.

When shopping for a 4 carat diamond ring, Sotheby's recommends only considering a diamond with a minimum clarity grade of VS2 or higher. VS2 stands for ‘very slightly included’, the inclusions are the small lesions that can be seen within the diamond. The best clarity is an ‘FL diamond’, which stands for flawless. The highest color rating is D for colorless. As the clarity improves, the price also increases due to rarity. Color is also an important consideration when buying a high quality 4 carat diamond ring. We recommend a minimum of H color which is at the top of the Near Colorless range for white diamonds. Finally cut is the final factor to consider. 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. Less than 1% of diamonds are over 4 carats and the available supply continues to decline as the quality improves. The premium for a D Flawless 4 carat diamond ring is material and something to consider if you are looking a truly exceptional and rare diamond but not a necessity for purchasing a beautiful high quality 4 carat diamond ring.

The opportunity to showcase a 4 carat diamond in a unique setting is also an important consideration for luxury buyers. While a 4 carat high quality diamond is always stunning on a simple platinum or 18 carat gold band, the size allows the opportunity to customize with complimentary side stones and even colored stones without taking attention away from the center stone.

What 4 Carat Diamond Ring Shape is Best?

The best diamond cut for a 4 carat diamond ring is a matter of personal preference. We have provided more details on the most popular diamond shapes for 4 carat diamonds.

Emerald Cut

The most popular cut for a 4 carat diamond according to search data is a 4 carat emerald diamond ring. 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 4 carat emerald cut diamond ring is a popular choice for someone looking for a diamond that is more 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.

Oval Cut

The second most popular cut for a 4 carat diamond is a 4 carat oval diamond ring. A 4 carat oval diamond ring is a nice alternative to round brilliant and will also look bigger because of the shape and cut. The modern oval cut 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 cut 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 cut diamonds are the second most expensive diamond shape after around due to retaining more carat weight during cutting. Demand for oval has also caused the prices to rise recently.

Pear Shaped

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 4 carat pear cut diamond ring is a choice that combines the best of a round and marquise cut diamond.

Round Brilliant Cut

The round brilliant cut diamond has been the most popular since the 1900s but is less popular for luxury buyers looking for a 4 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. Round brilliant cut diamonds are generally the most expensive shape because of the highest demand and the most waste is created when cutting this shape.

Cushion Cut

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 4 carat cushion cut stone, Sotheby's is happy to assist.

4 Carat Colored Diamond Ring

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 also discover unbelievably unique and rare 4 carat diamond rings in fancy colored diamonds. While the prices for fancy colored yellow diamond ring in VS2 clarity starts around $65,000, similar to white diamonds, other colors like pink and blue are much higher. Fancy pink and blue diamonds are much more rare and the prices are significantly higher. Sotheby's sold a cushion modified brilliant cut Fancy Pink diamond weighing 3.71 carats for almost $600,000 in 2022. If you are looking for a 4 carat fancy pink, blue or green diamond ring, a jewelry specialist or salon associate would be happy to assist.

How Much is a 4 Carat Diamond Ring

How much is a 4 carat diamond ring depends on many factors. The starting price for a 4 carat diamond ring that is VS2 clarity and H color starts around $50,000 to $70,000. The starting price range for a 4 carat diamond ring VS2 and H is around $70,000 to $90,000. Variables that influence the price include the brand, provenance and the overall polish and cut of the diamond. A 4 carat fancy colored diamond in a similar clarity is generally significantly more depending the the color of the diamond and the overall rarity and quality of the diamond. The setting can also factor into the price of the 4 carat diamond ring. A Toi et Moi ring could be twice as expensive if both diamonds are 4 carats. At the very top of the diamond quality scale, a D Flawless 4 carat diamond price starts at around $200,000 to $275,000 depending on the cut of diamond. Sotheby's recommends only purchasing a 4 carat diamond ring with a GIA certificate.

Buying a 4 Carat Diamond Ring at Sotheby's

Sotheby's sells natural 4 carat diamond rings on its marketplace, available for immediate shipping. Along with high quality diamond rings VS clarity and H color or better, Sotheby's also sells 4 carat diamond rings from top luxury brands including Harry Winston, Tiffany, Cartier and more. Sotheby's also sells 4 carat diamond rings at auctions in New York, London, Switzerland, Paris and Hong Kong. You can also contact a Client Advisor in New York or Bucherer in Zurich to learn more about Sotheby's engagement rings. In addition to the available 4-carat diamond rings listed on marketplace or available at auction, Sotheby's is also able to source a 4 carat diamond engagement ring from its global supplier network. Browse our curated selection online and reach out to a Salon associate to schedule a viewing.