4 Carat Diamond Rings: The Master Buying Guide

A 4-carat diamond ring is a perfect gift for your loved one. It has the extraordinary capacity to make them feel special and bring out their best features with its sparkly brilliance, the fiery surface reflecting light like no other stone can do! When you go about buying, be sure that these guidelines are followed, so they get an eye-catching yet beautiful piece of jewelry without breaking the bank.

How much is a 4-carat diamond ring?

The cost of a 4-carat diamond ranges from $30,000 to $200,000 or more. As we've covered in our guide to the 4 Cs, a diamond's carat weight guide is only one factor that affects its price. The other three are cut quality, color, and clarity - with each having a significant impact on how much they will cost you for something like a 4-carat diamond ring! 

​​The search for an "almost" 4 Carat Diamond or 5-Carat Diamond has become incredibly popular. These shoppers are onto something - buying shy of your desired carat weight can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars. So if you are interested in a 4-carat diamond, look for diamonds in the 3.8-3.9-carat range. They will appear identical in size to a 4-carat diamond.

Lab-grown diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds that are created in a laboratory, rather than being formed by the earth and mined. These diamonds are real diamonds; you can't tell apart a lab diamond and a natural diamond, and lab-grown diamonds will test as a diamond with a diamond tester. The benefit of lab-grown diamonds is that they can cost up to 50% less than a natural diamond. By choosing a lab-grown stone instead, you can get your dream 4-carat diamond without breaking the bank. Ritani's inventory of 4-carat lab-grown diamonds starts at $4,300.

DISCOVER 4-CARAT LAB DIAMONDS

So, Where Can You Buy A 4 Carat Diamond Ring?

4 carat diamonds are a rare and valuable gemstone, so you’ll likely find more options online than in-stores. You can find an extraordinary ring at an excellent price point online by looking through reputable vendors. In fact, buying a diamond ring online versus in-store can help you save 30-40%.   

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIAMOND CARAT AND DIAMOND SIZE

Diamond size and carat weight are often mistaken as meaning the same thing. Carat refers to its weight--whereas diamond size points out how large it appears. Not all 4-carat diamonds appear the same size. A diamond’s shape and cut grade can affect how large it looks. Diamond shapes like the Asscher-cut or cushion-cut appear smaller than diamonds of the same carat weight because most of their weight lies beneath the stone’s girdle. 

If you want a diamond that appears even larger than other diamonds of the same carat weight, choose an oval-cut, pear-cut, or marquise-cut diamond. These elongated shapes have a larger surface area, making them appear even bigger.

Always choose the best cut grade for your diamond. For round-cut diamonds, that’s an ideal-cut, and for fancy shapes, that’s a Very Good cut. Make sure your diamond has excellent polish and symmetry. A diamond with a poor cut grade will have subpar proportions, making it appear even smaller than it is. A diamond that is cut too deep will carry most of its weight below the girdle. However, you also don’t want a diamond that is too shallow or it won’t sparkle as much.

How to Get the Most Bang for Your Buck for a 4-Carat Diamond Ring

We're here to help you find the perfect diamond for your budget. We'll work with what matters most and scale back on areas that don't matter as much!

Buying a 4 carat diamond ring is not an insignificant matter, and it's essential to do your homework before you get going. There are many options for buying the perfect gift: from engagement rings with blue sapphires or yellow diamonds; wedding bands in platinum- but make sure that whatever decision you make will be one which suits both parties' tastes as well; as finances! The four Cs of diamonds can help buyers find exactly what they're looking for.

Carat

The first C has already been discussed, and that is the carat weight. As previously outlined, the carat is the preferred weight of measurement for diamonds and other precious gemstones, and it simply refers to the weight of the stone, in this case, a full 4 carats.

Cut

The raw diamonds that come out of the ground bear little resemblance to the stunning rocks that will soon be adorning your significant other's finger. Skilled jewelers can vastly increase the value of the raw stone with a gorgeous cut, which is essential for a sparkling and brilliant diamond. The cut is often considered the most important factor in a diamond since it influences how much (or how little) it will sparkle. Cut can also impact diamond visual size - a diamond that isn't cut well will appear smaller than well-cut diamonds of the same carat weight.

Choose the best cut grade possible for a beautiful, sparkling diamond - choose an Ideal cut for round-cut diamonds and a Very Good cut grade for fancy shapes. You should also choose a stone with excellent polish and excellent symmetry.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is a crucial factor in determining its value, and it is essential to understand how this factor is measured. Virtually every diamond in existence has at least a few flaws - internal characteristics known as inclusions and external ones known as blemishes. The clearer the diamond, the greater its clarity. The higher the clarity, the greater the value of the stone.

Since larger stones will make any inclusions more obvious and noticeable, you’ll want to choose a better clarity grade for your 4-carat diamond. Choose a diamond with a VS2 clarity grade or better. Always make sure to view HD imagery and/or videos of your diamond before making a purchase. 

Color

The final C of the diamond buying game is color, which is more nuanced than you realize. To the untrained eye, most diamonds may look alike, with the same shiny color and the same eye appeal, but to the trained observer, the subtle variations in shading can make all the difference in the world.

Any yellowness in your diamond will be more obvious with a larger stone. Choose a minimum color grade of H or better. Near-colorless diamonds will still face up as white and help you save hundreds of dollars in the long run.

HOW BIG IS A 4-CARAT DIAMOND?

The average 4-carat round-cut diamond will measure 10x10 millimeters, or 0.4 inches across its surface (the size of the diameter). Keep in mind that diamonds can vary in visual size based on their shape and length-to-width ratio.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Buying a 4-carat diamond ring is not an easy decision. With over 20 years of experience looking at thousands upon thousands of high-quality stones, we're confident enough to say which ones are worth your time and investment. So, don't hesitate another moment before reaching out today if you have any more questions because waiting will only make things worse.

We have helped many of our readers find the perfect engagement ring within their budget while still having everything they've wanted in a ring. If you're unsure about carat weight, we also have buying guides for 1 Carat Diamond Rings and 3 Carat Diamond Rings.