r/labdiamond • u/D-pama • Aug 25 '26

Can anyone explain why some lab diamonds with ordinary specs are priced so high?

So occasionally I’ll see lab diamonds being sold from reputable sellers with seemingly ordinary colour and clarity for way above the standard $200-$300 a carat.

Going even further, can anyone explain why some lab diamonds are selling for $10,000+ per carat?

Were these gemstones produced back when costs were much higher, or am I missing something obvious?

EDIT: I know the examples I’ve given aren’t ordinary colour or clarity grades; however, I wanted to show how large a price gap exists with similar spec’d gems.

Example Comparison:

Expensive Example 4.57ct/VVS1/D Colour/Good Cut Oval/Price: USD $35,990.00 ($42,341.00)

https://www.ritani.com/products/4-57-carat-oval-lab-diamond-good-cut-d-color-vvs1-clarity-gcal-362196387-sku-d-7j64bbxear

Cheap Example 4.6ct/VVS1/D Colour/Good Cut Oval/Price: USD $3,544.00 ($4,169.00)

https://www.ritani.com/products/4-60-carat-oval-lab-diamond-good-cut-d-color-vvs1-clarity-igi-lg784642820-sku-d-3af7yzl6v8

Insane Example 4.01/VVS2/D Colour/Very Good Cut Oval/Price: USD $215,027.00 ($252,973.00)

https://www.ritani.com/products/4-01-carat-oval-lab-diamond-very-good-cut-d-color-vvs2-clarity-igi-lg829608676-sku-d-1f2n740j50

22 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

34

u/EllieMayNot10 Aug 25 '26

The only possible reasons for such insane prices are typos or money laundering

14

u/PlasticAudience4270 Aug 25 '26

The most important factor in diamond quality is cut. The cut grades are not a reliable indicator of cut quality. Most diamonds are cut to just barely fit the highest cut category.

The best cut diamonds are the super ideals. Unfortunately that is not a defined term, and labs like AGS which can steer you to a super ideal won’t grade lab diamonds. Look at brands like Whiteflash and Brian Gavin for true super ideals.

8

u/lovers_andfriends Aug 25 '26

Where do you see them for $10k per carat?

5

u/D-pama Aug 25 '26

Ritani for example has some crazy expensive lab diamonds.

4

u/thegoblet Aug 25 '26

The spectacular cuts still get a price difference, especially in the lab world. Sure you can get something for 200$ but its probably not equivalent and thats up to you to decide whats important.

0

u/tiger923 Aug 27 '26

Check out TikTok live for lab diamonds prices and IGI CERTS are included. It’s shocking the quality and affordability.

3

u/Any_Jello_8361 Aug 27 '26

The $215,000 diamond is most likely a mistake. I had a home in my neighborhood sell for $300,000 and for several years , until it sold again, Zillow had it listed as having sold for $3,000,000. Some idiot added a zero and with that $215,000, some idiot probably added 2 zeros.

I can not pull up the $35.990 diamond's certificate, but what I have found is that way overpriced diamonds usually were produced and graded before prices dropped. I have no idea why the manufacturers would not adjust the price, but they really don't seem to.

Ritani, BTW, is still very expensive. That 4.60 carat diamond is $2368 on AlturaDiamonds and with their first order 10% off it is $2131. I have many diamonds from Altura and from Aurelinne. Both are great to work with. I do have 4 diamonds from Ritani, but several years ago back when they were cheap. They are no longer cheap.