The essentials
Lab-grown diamond prices: compare the stone, then the complete budget.
A practical guide to 1, 2 and 3 carat comparisons, “from” prices and the costs a loose-stone listing cannot answer.
The short answer
- There is no single meaningful price for “a 2 carat lab diamond” without specifications.
- Compare exact stones and quote inclusions, not headline discounts.
- Casta Diva EUR figures are provisional loose-stone budgets; final destination costs are confirmed separately.
In this guide
Make the comparison like-for-like
A price comparison becomes useful when it is attached to an identifiable stone. Record origin, shape, exact weight, measurements, colour, clarity, available cut information, polish, symmetry and the issuing report. Then add the date of the quotation and what the seller will deliver. Two identical-looking listing titles can conceal quite different specifications.
Do not substitute a colour or clarity range for a specific grade. A “D–F / VS1–VS2 from” guide may represent an F / VS2 option within the range. It does not promise a D / VS1 option at the same figure. Likewise, a collection guide across several shapes cannot be treated as a quote for a particular pear or Asscher.
Technical references: [1]
Comparing 1, 2 and 3 carats
Use three comparable selections rather than multiplying a 1 carat quotation by two or three. Weight is only one variable, and the visual result does not scale linearly with it. Ask the same questions at each weight: are the dimensions suitable, is the appearance acceptable, and is the additional spend improving the ring you actually want?
Keep the metal and setting budget separate while deciding on the centre stone. If a larger stone forces a more complex mount or changes the proportions of side stones, the finished-jewellery budget can change beyond the difference between the two centre-stone quotes. Confirm that design with the maker rather than assuming a fixed assembly price.
| For each candidate | What to record |
|---|---|
| Stone identity | Report number, origin, exact grades and measurements |
| Visual evidence | Actual-stone video and your observations in neutral light |
| Loose-stone quote | Currency, date, validity and any separate delivery charges |
| Finished-ring budget | Metal, manufacture, setting, side stones and services |
| Destination total | Who pays tax, clearance and delivery, and to whom |
Technical references: [2]
Price per carat: useful arithmetic, not a quality score
For a quotation covering the stone alone, divide its total by the exact carat weight to find the price per carat. An illustrative €800 stone weighing 1.25 ct is €640 per carat. Those numbers are a worked example, not a Casta Diva offer or a market benchmark.
Use the same basis on both sides. Dividing a delivered, tax-inclusive ring price by its centre-stone weight and comparing it with a tax-exclusive loose-stone quote produces a misleading result. Nor does a lower per-carat number compensate for an unwanted outline, poor visual performance or missing documentation.
How to read our European guide budgets
Our catalogue presents indicative EUR budgets for loose stones, not live inventory or fixed offers. The budget disclosure includes planning allowances around the stone. Read the current pricing guide and the expandable breakdown on the profile: the allowance method and review period are stated there, rather than silently assumed.
We are a Georgian business. The final written quote must identify the specific stone, destination, delivery arrangement and responsibility for import charges. A planning allowance is not proof that duties have been prepaid, and actual costs can be higher or lower. USA / USD and non-EU destinations receive individual quotations; an EU VAT allowance is not an American tax calculation.
Resolve uncertainty before payment
Ask the seller to write one intelligible total with clearly identified exclusions. If a charge is not yet known, identify who determines it and when. A quotation should not leave you discovering after arrival that a mounting fee, courier charge or destination cost was outside the advertised number.
The best value is the stone that satisfies the brief at an understandable total. Do not pay a premium solely because a label sounds impressive; equally, do not accept an unexplained bargain if the identity or treatment disclosure is missing. A documented shortlist is more useful than a universal “fair price” asserted without evidence.
Common questions
Can you quote an exact 2 carat price from this article?
No. Use the catalogue for current indicative budgets and request a quote for an actual stone. Shape, exact grades, appearance, availability and destination must be confirmed.
Does the guide include a gold engagement ring?
No. Our numeric stone guides do not include metal, a setting or jewellery manufacture. A finished design needs a separate, explicit scope and quotation.
Can delivery be combined for several stones?
Request a shipment-level quotation. Do not automatically add a single-stone delivery allowance to each item in a combined order.
Sources & editorial method
Prepared with AI assistance and checked against the primary references linked below. Our comparisons, worked examples and buying checklists are editorial guidance, not independent laboratory tests or a professional appraisal. Actual stone details and order terms require separate confirmation.
- IGI: how to read a laboratory-grown diamond report (opens in a new tab)
- GIA: diamond carat weight (opens in a new tab)
Technical sources checked on 5 October 2026. Laboratory services and report formats may change; the current issuing laboratory’s record takes precedence.