three carat engagement rings

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Are you looking for a stunning, eye-catching engagement ring to make your upcoming wedding extra special? Read our comprehensive guide and browse our collection of rare and unique 3 carat diamond engagement rings.

Stockton ring. Around 1880

$55,000
Chelsea ring

$41,000
Tournus ring

$28,500
Holbrook ring. Around 1920

$35,000
3.63 carat Montreal ring

$45,000
olive ring

$52,000
Glen Ridge Ring

SOLD
Cascais ring

$35,000
Almada ring

$5,200
Bloomington ring. Around 1900

SOLD
Roseland ring

$4,000
Marbury ring

$110,000

3 carat diamond ring guide

Our collection of rare 3 carat engagement rings has been curated by our experts over the past 35 years. Are you looking for a gift for someone special or would you like to add a new piece to your collection? We’re confident you’ll find your next treasure among our curated rings. Here are some of our favorite designs, past and present.

* Please note that not all of our 3 carat engagement rings are posted online. If you would like to inquire about our entire collection of 3 carat engagement rings or are looking for a specific size, setting, colour, or design, please contact our showroom.

Why choose a 3 carat engagement ring?

The vintage 3 carat diamond engagement rings are a popular choice for those with a sophisticated taste in fine jewelry. One of the biggest advantages of the 3.00ct – 3.99ct range is its size. A three-carat diamond is big enough to be dominant and bold, but not too big to be overly conspicuous or get in the way. As the supply of high quality 3 carat diamonds is very limited and there are not many boutiques that collect them, customers tend to gravitate towards the few collectors who have them in their collection.

Please note that we have not listed all of our 3 carat rings on our website. If you want to see more rings, please tell us the diamond size or color you want.

How much does a 3 carat diamond cost?

It would be difficult to determine the cost of a 3 carat diamond (excluding the setting) without knowing more information about the diamond’s details. Here is a general guide:

AD color, IF clarity and a 3.00 carat round diamond should cost around $240,000.
An E, F, or G color, VS2 clarity, and a 3.00 carat round diamond should cost around $65,000 to $90,000
An H or I color, VS2 clarity, and a 3.00 carat round diamond should cost around $45,000 to $55,000.
AJ color, VS2 clarity, and a 3.00 carat round diamond should cost around $35,000.

Obviously there are many other factors that can cause the price to go up or down. The list above should give you a general idea of how much a three carat diamond is worth.

How to lower the cost of your 3 carat diamond

There are many situations where two very similar diamonds have very different prices. Here are some of the big factors that can affect a diamond’s price:

The color. The whiter the diamond, the more it is worth. The color scale ranges along a gradation from D to Z. D color = colorless, K color = slight yellow tinge and Z color = very yellow.
The carat. The bigger the diamond (or more correctly the weight), the better.
The clarity. The fewer inclusions the 3 carat diamond has, the more it will be worth.
The caliber of the diamond cut. More perfect cuts require a higher premium.
The presence of strong fluorescence lowers the premium many times over.
The type of diamond cut. The round cut usually costs more than the other cuts. For example: Around 3.00 carats, J color and VS2 clarity = $37,500. Pillow 3.00 carat, J color and VS2 clarity = $28,500.
face up. Some diamonds, despite their certified color, have a more white appearance and fetch a slight premium.

If you want a 3 carat diamond but can’t afford the asking price, talk to your jeweler. Discover which aspects of the diamond you want and which you don’t want to compromise on. You might not have a problem with having a diamond with strong fluorescence, which can bring your price down significantly.

Market value prices of 3 carat diamonds

Below is a price table for 3.00 carat diamonds (of good quality, round cut). You can expect the price to fluctuate a bit, but not too much. The more expensive and rarer the diamond, the higher the premium. Diamonds that are D and Flawless usually sell for a lot more than what is shown on the diamond charts.

color range	SI1 Clarity	VS2 Clarity	IF clarity
K color	$27,000	$30,000	$40,500
J color	$33,000	$37,500	$48,000
i color	$37,500	$45,000	$61,500
H color	$43,500	$55,500	$81,000
G color	$51,000	$67,500	$109,500
F color	$55,500	$81,000	$141,000
E color	$61,500	$88,500	$163,500
D color	$67,500	$99,000	$243,000

What are the dimensions of a 3 carat diamond?

Depending on the quality of the diamond cut and the type of cut, the dimensions vary greatly. Assuming the cut quality is very high, we have compiled a list of 3 carat diamond dimensions.

Round cut diamond: 9.50mm x 9.50mm x 5.70mm
Asscher cut diamond: 7.8mm x 7.8mm x 5.3mm
Emerald cut diamond: 10mm x 7mm x 4.7mm
Cushion cut square diamond*: 8.38mm x 8.38mm x 5.50mm
Princess cut diamond: 8.05mm x 8.05mm x 5.80mm

*Because pillow cuts vary in size, we can only give approximate measurements of a very square pillow cut. Most pillow cuts are rectangular and would therefore have very different dimensions.

What does a 3 carat diamond ring look like on my finger?

The image below shows how big a 3 carat ring might look on your hand. The model’s finger shown is a size 5.5, which is slightly smaller than the average finger.

The left image shows a 3 carat diamond ring with a ring of diamonds surrounding it. The image on the right shows a 3 carat diamond solitaire ring with diamonds along the shoulders. The greater illusion presented by the halo of diamonds is quite convincing.

Shoulder design and filigree can also make your ring appear larger, but it’s usually not as effective as the diamond halo design.

It’s important to remember that the 3 carat diamond will already look impressive and remarkable and probably doesn’t need a halo for reinforcement.

How can I buy a 3 carat engagement ring?

As previously mentioned, there aren’t many jewelry stores that stock a collection of 3 carat diamond rings. Estate Diamond Jewelry has been curating a collection of 3 carat diamond rings for over 35 years. Our collection consists of 3 carat diamonds in rare vintage rings, fine handmade settings and even signed settings from major jewelery houses.

Before buying a 3 carat engagement ring, we recommend asking the jeweler a few questions:

All information about the diamond. Don’t settle for ambiguity. Make sure you have all diamond specifications such as carat, color, grading, cut and age.
Make sure the diamond is antique and/or ethically sourced
Request documentation for the diamond
Make sure you have jewelry insurance. Jewelry insurance is highly recommended for any jewelry over $1,000
Research the jewelry store’s reputation online because you don’t want to discover its reputation when it’s too late

At Estate Diamond Jewelry, our dedicated staff can provide you with all the necessary details about each diamond. If it is a vintage ring they will also try to provide historical anecdotes behind the piece you are interested in.

contact form

You can reach us directly in our showroom during business hours at (212) 265-3868. You can also email us at info@estatediamondjewelry.com. Let our team help you choose an elegant 3 carat ring today.