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4-Carat (4ct) Diamond: Everything You Need to Know

4-Carat (4ct) Diamond: Everything You Need to Know

Everyone has their personal preferences when it comes to the essential factors in a diamond. Some prefer to maximize color grade, others prefer to have the best possible cut grade – and there are always people who prioritize carat weight. 

Now, 4-carat diamonds are pretty big compared to 1-carat diamonds used in engagement rings. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the 4-carat (4ct) diamond. We will cover all the things you should keep in mind when purchasing your next big diamond. So, be sure to continue scrolling!

Diamond Carat Vs. Diamond Size

Diamond carat and diamond size are often mistakenly referred to as the same thing. However, diamond carat refers to the diamond’s weight, whereas diamond size refers to the physical size – how large the stone is.

A larger-sized stone doesn’t necessarily mean it has a more significant carat weight. The depth, table, and other shape features aren’t affected by its carat weight. Factors such as surface area and depth are dictated by the diamond’s shape and how the stone is cut, contributing to how large a gemstone appears.

So, review several options to determine which stones appeal to you the most regarding shape, carat weight, and size. With that said, let’s discuss 4-carat diamonds in particular.

How Big Is A 4-Carat Diamond?

The size of a 4-carat diamond is around 10.1mm (0.4 inches) across its surface or the stone’s diameter. That is assuming the stone is a round brilliant cut – since other diamond shapes often vary in diameter depending on their shape and length-to-width ratio.

Note that factors like the diamond’s depth and table can impact the exact measurements of the stone.

4-Carat Diamond Ring Shapes

Gorgeous 4-carat diamonds can be found in virtually any diamond shape. Your gemstone shape should be based primarily on personal style and preference.

If a more prominent appearance is something you value the most, it might be helpful to consider the surface area differences among diamond shapes. Depending on the diamond’s table size, a gem of a particular shape can appear bigger than another.

The chart below shows the surface areas for each shape of a 4ct diamond:

Diamond ShapeApproximate Table Surface Area
Round brilliant-cut diamond10.32×10.32×6.22 mm
Princess cut diamond8.75×8.75×6.3 mm
Emerald cut diamond10.61×7.86×5.11 mm
Radiant cut diamond9.17×9.17×5.87 mm
Asscher cut diamond8.91×8.91×5.79 mm
Oval-shaped diamond12.89×8.59×5.24 mm
Pear shaped diamond14.36×8.65×5.28 mm
Heart shaped diamond10.42×10.42×6.25 mm
Marquise cut diamond16.48×10.42×6.25 mm
Trillion cut diamond12.28×12.28×4.91 mm

4-Carat Diamond Ring Colors

Diamond color is graded on a GIA scale from D to Z. D color grade indicates the clearest diamonds, and Z color grade signifies stones that feature a noticeable yellow or brown tint.

The difference between each color grade is virtually unnoticeable. Most people find it extremely difficult to tell the difference between one grade of color to another. However, the difference in price can be significant.

Due to the minimal differences between each color grade, we suggest reviewing the diamond yourself to make sure it appears colorless. What you see is way more important than the color grade the gem is given.

You can often inspect diamonds up-close – even online with advanced photography – or ask a diamond expert to help you determine a diamond’s color.

Also, make sure the diamond appears white in relation to the ring setting. Whether you opt for yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, or platinum, a colorless gem will appear white in any setting.

On the other hand, a diamond graded K or lower will most likely only appear white with a darker ring setting – yellow or rose gold. While these diamonds do have a noticeable tint, the contrasts with the darker jewelry make them appear more clear and radiant.

As for 4-carat diamonds, we recommend gems in the nearly colorless range – between G and I. These gems appear white to the naked eye and will generally cost less than those in the higher color range.

Do note that a diamond’s cut is the most critical factor in a diamond’s appearance. When you have an exceptionally well-cut stone, it is harder to detect color. We suggest focusing more on the area of diamond cut rather than diamond color – no matter the carat weight of the stone.

Related Read: Diamond Color Vs. Clarity: What’s More Important?

Clarity Rating For 4-Carat Diamond Rings

As you already know, the diamond’s 4C’s impact the stone’s beauty and brilliance. The clarity, for example, indicates how void the stones are of blemishes, inclusions, and surface defects.

The GIA grades clarity on the following scale:

  • IF – Internally flawless
  • VVS1 – Very very small inclusions 1
  • VVS2 – Very very small inclusions 2 
  • VS1 – Very small inclusions 1
  • VS2 – Very small inclusions 2
  • SI1 – Small inclusions 1
  • SI2 – Small inclusions 2 
  • I1 – Inclusions 1
  • I2 – Inclusions 2

While it’s critical to review the diamond clarity grading from the GIA, you should also inspect the stone yourself to determine if any inclusions or blemishes are noticeable to the naked eye. 

Also, you can ask an expert to assist you so that you can avoid spending too much on a factor that could’ve gone unnoticed.

The differences between two clarity grades, like IF and VVS1, are extremely hard to notice with the naked eye, even though the price can differ drastically. An eye-clean gem graded lower than a flawless one will look almost identical – assuming every other factor is equal. The difference you’ll see is only in the price.

Because of the significant carat weight, we recommend a minimum of VS2 clarity grade for 4-carat diamonds. Most blemishes and inclusions remain invisible to the naked eye at this clarity grade. You may even stumble upon an S1 diamond with inclusions near the edges, meaning that once the stone is mounted in its setting, these imperfections could be hidden.

To stay within a reasonable price range clarity-grade-wise, the highest we generally recommend is a VVS2 diamond since no inclusions and blemishes will be detectable with the naked eye. Generally speaking, an eye-clean stone is what you should strive for here. Ask for the assistance of a diamond expert if you aren’t feeling confident in this area.

Price Of A 4-Carat Diamond Ring

On average, the price of a 4-carat diamond ring can range from $30,000 – and up to $250,00, depending on the gemstone’s cut quality, color, and clarity. 

In general, the higher the diamond’s quality, the higher its price is. As we’ve covered in our guide to the diamond 4Cs, a diamond’s carat weight is just one of four elements that impact the price, adding cut quality, color, and clarity to the equation.

Each of these factors substantially impacts the price of a diamond, especially when it’s a bigger stone – like a 4-carat diamond. That is due to the fact that aspects such as cut, clarity, and color can be more noticeable in a 4-carat diamond than in a stone of a smaller carat weight.

For example, a 4-carat, VS1 clarity, J color round diamond costs around $47,000. Meanwhile, a gem with identical cut quality, similar carat weight, and just one clarity grade lower costs around $104,700. At the highest clarity and color grades, a 4-carat gem can have about $250,000 – or even more – retail worth. 

In short, the exact price you are going to pay for a 4-carat diamond varies based on the three other Cs – color, clarity, and cut quality. We suggest sticking within the G-I color range and VS1 or VS2 clarity grade range to get the optimal value.

Furthermore, a fifth element can impact the 4-carat diamond’s price – its shape. The price of a stone can vary greatly based on its shape, with certain diamond shapes costing more per carat than others.

For instance, a 4-carat, VS2 clarity, E color round brilliant cut diamond costs around $104,700 – or approximately $26,000 per carat. If you change the shape to a pear shape and keep the other factors completely the same, that stone will cost around $82,300 or $20,400 per carat – quite a difference. 

And the same often goes for other fancy shapes.

4-Carat Diamonds: Pricing Overview

Here, we’ll discuss the technical elements that dictate the value of your 4-carat diamond. When we talk about 4ct diamonds, we’re talking about the diamond’s weight – and not its size. 

Oh, and by the way, 4 carats equals 0.8 grams or 800 milligrams. Keep in mind that all diamonds are priced per carat. For instance, a 4.5-carat stone may have a price of $24,000 per carat. The stone’s price would be $24,000 x 4.5, equaling $108,000.

Diamond prices per carat increase as the diamond weight category increases. For example, while a 3ct stone may be priced at $12,000 per carat, a similar 4ct diamond might be priced at $16,000 per carat.

The diamond price per carat increases exponentially with diamond weight due to the diamond’s higher weight value – and the higher price per carat within the diamond weight category.

It’s imperative to pay attention to the weight category because prices per carat don’t continually increase as the weight of the diamonds increase. Oh, and another thing: Remember that diamond prices are commonly driven more by emotion than reason.

While it might seem advantageous to search for a stone that’s just below a new diamond weight category, like a 3.90-3.99 carat diamond, in reality, that isn’t the case.

The search for an “almost 4ct diamond” or 5ct diamond has become incredibly popular. That, in turn, pushes up the price for those particular gems – making the cost savings minimal. 

No one’s saying that you can’t look for a 3.90-carat diamond, but we don’t recommend trying to find one specifically since you’re limiting your search potential – without actually saving anything.

For assistance with your 4-carat gem search, you can always seek help from diamond experts. You want to make sure that your purchase is the best possible one, after all. 

Learn More: Diamond Price List: How Much Is A 0.1 To 40 Carat Diamond Worth?

Getting The Best Value For A 4-Carat Diamond Ring

To ensure your 4-carat diamond is absolutely stunning, follow these recommendations:

  • Shape: Choose the shape of the diamond that’s most appealing to you. Even more so, select a ring setting that boosts the appearance of the stone and provides stability for it.
  • Cut: Select diamonds with an Excellent cut grade on the GIA scale. An exceptionally well-cut gem maximizes the brilliance and fire more than any other aspect of the stone.
  • Color: Consider diamonds in the almost colorless range from G to I. These stones will appear colorless to the naked eye and will cost much less compared to diamonds in the D to F color range.
  • Clarity: Search for diamonds of either VS1 or VS2 clarity grade. That’ll provide you with the best value for what can be detected by the naked eye. Inclusions and blemishes are undetectable by the naked eye at these clarity grades.

Bottom Line

Looking to purchase a diamond can be tricky – especially if you’re searching for one that weighs more such as a 4-carat (4ct) diamond. Be sure to follow the recommendations covered in this article to get the best value for your next 4-carat diamond purchase. 

Keep in mind that the cut of a diamond is the most crucial factor. After that, color and clarity are next in line regarding how they affect the diamond’s quality and appearance. Finally, don’t forget to get a suitable setting that will further enhance the radiance of your 4-carat diamond!