What To Consider When Buying a Rare and Unique 6 Carat Diamond Ring

Why a 6 Carat Diamond Ring?

A 6 carat diamond ring is large enough to showcase the unique properties of any diamond shape. A natural 6 carat diamond is also rare and makes a statement while also being very wearable. A 6 carat round diamond is roughly the size of a small grape with the same diameter as a nickel. A 6 carat diamond is also large enough to stand out regardless of the setting providing lots of opportunities for customization.

When shopping for a 6 carat diamond, Sotheby’s suggests looking for a natural diamond that has been expertly cut and has a high clarity and color rating. Sotheby’s jewelry specialists recommend only considering a diamond 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 6 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 6-carat diamond has no undertones of yellow or brown. These diamonds are extremely rare. As color and clarity improves, the price of the diamond also increases. 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 high quality 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 6 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 6 carat diamond ring. Additionally, you might want to consider a 6 carat Type IIa diamonds, which are the most chemically pure type of diamond and often have exceptional optical transparency.

A 6 carat diamond is very popular among celebrity buyers. Jennifer Lopez was proposed to by Ben Affleck in 2002 with a 6 carat pink diamond ring by Harry Winston. Justin Timberlake proposed to Jessica Biel, with a 6 carat square shaped ring in 2011. Also in 2011, Anne Hathaway was proposed to with a 6 carat diamond and platinum ring costing approximately $150K.

What 6 carat diamond ring shape is best?

There is no one perfect shape for a 6 carat diamond ring. Every diamond ring shape is extremely personal and based on individual style preferences. Some shapes are more common when it comes to cutting a natural 6 carat diamond, however, you can find any shape 6 carat diamond. We have provided some details on each of the popular shapes to help make your decision a little easier.

6 Carat Emerald Cut 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 6 carat emerald cut diamond 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. Anne Hathaway’s engagement ring is a 6 carat emerald cut diamond ring.

6 Carat Oval Diamond

An oval 6 carat 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.

6 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 6 carat pear shaped diamond ring is a choice that combines the best or a round and marquise cut diamond.

6 Carat Round Brilliant Cut Diamond

The round brilliant cut diamond has been the most popular since the 1900s and is most popular shape for a 6-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.

6 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 6-carat cushion cut stone, Sotheby's is happy to assist.

6 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 became 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 6 carat diamond ring and larger buyers, the princess cut is one of the least popular fancy cut diamonds.

6 Carat Marquise Diamond

The marquise diamond typically has 58 facets, similar to the round brilliant cut, which maximizes its brilliance and fire. The marquise diamond 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 6 carat diamond are also often looking for a unique shape that can be personalized in a one-of-a-kind setting.

6 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 unique and rare diamond rings in fancy colored diamonds. While the prices for fancy colored yellow diamond ring in VS2 clarity can start around $75,000, as the intensity of the color improves, the price can increase rapidly. Fancy pink and blue diamonds are much more rare, especially at 6 carats and the prices are significantly higher. Sotheby's sold a 6.01-carat fancy vivid blue and pink diamond ring for just over $10 million in a 2011 Hong Kong auction. If you are looking for a 6 carat fancy pink, blue or green diamond ring, a jewelry specialist or salon associate would be happy to assist.

6 Carat Diamond Price

The price of a 6 carat diamond ring depends on many factors. The starting price for a 6 carat diamond ring that is VS2 clarity and color starts around $80,000 to about $200,000 depending on the cut. Cut is the most important variable influencing the price of a 6 carat diamond ring. Other variables include the brand, provenance and the overall polish of the diamond. A 6 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. At the very top of the colored diamond quality scale, a faint pink natural 6 carat diamond price starts at around $250,000. The prices of 6 carat diamonds at the very high end of the quality scale can vary widely. Sotheby's recommends only purchasing a 6 carat diamond ring with a GIA certificate.

Buy a 6 Carat Diamond Ring At Sotheby's

Sotheby's often has impressive 6 carat diamond rings available at auction. Sotheby's also has a small selection of 6 carat diamond rings available for immediate purchase on marketplace. If you would like to view a 6 carat diamond ring, a salon specialist would be happy to assist. Sotheby's is also able to source 6 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 6 carat diamond

Trust our worldwide network of leading jewelry specialists from a globally renowned auction house with a 280-year history.