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This table presents the prices per carat of U.S. cut round diamonds categorized by weight, color, and clarity for the year 2021. It provides representative price points for three periods within the year—January, June, and December—allowing for an assessment of market trends over time. This data is crucial for stakeholders in the diamond industry, including miners, cutters, jewelers, and investors, as it reflects the economic value of diamonds based on their size and quality. Understanding these price variations helps in forecasting market demand, setting pricing strategies, and evaluating the overall health of the diamond sector within the U.S. economy.
Analysis of the 2021 data reveals relative price stability for smaller diamonds (0.25 and 0.5 carats) across all quality grades, with prices remaining constant throughout the year. For example, 0.25-carat diamonds with a G color and VS1 clarity consistently held a price of $1,600 per carat. However, larger diamonds, particularly those weighing 1 carat and above, exhibited notable price increases mid-year. A 1-carat G color, VS1 clarity diamond rose from $6,200 per carat in January to $7,260 by June, maintaining that level through December. Similarly, 2-carat diamonds showed mixed trends; while G color, VS1 clarity stones saw a modest increase from $12,480 to $12,600 per carat, SI1 clarity diamonds experienced a significant price drop from $9,550 in June to $6,550 by December. These fluctuations suggest shifting demand dynamics and possibly inventory adjustments in higher-quality, larger stones during 2021.
| TABLE 2 | ||||||||||
| PRICES PER CARAT OF U.S. CUT ROUND DIAMONDS, BY SIZE AND QUALITY IN 2021 | ||||||||||
| Weight | Representative price per carat | |||||||||
| (carats) | Color1 | Clarity2 | January3 | June4 | December5 | |||||
| 0.25 | G | VS1 | 1600 | 1600 | 1600 | |||||
| Do. | do. | VS2 | 1525 | 1525 | 1525 | |||||
| Do. | do. | SI1 | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 | |||||
| Do. | H | VS1 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | |||||
| Do. | do. | VS2 | 1420 | 1420 | 1420 | |||||
| Do. | do. | SI1 | 1200 | 1200 | 1200 | |||||
| 0.5 | G | VS1 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | |||||
| Do. | do. | VS2 | 2765 | 2765 | 2765 | |||||
| Do. | do. | SI1 | 2300 | 2300 | 2300 | |||||
| Do. | H | VS1 | 2700 | 2700 | 2700 | |||||
| Do. | do. | VS2 | 2685 | 2685 | 2685 | |||||
| Do. | do. | SI1 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 | |||||
| 1 | G | VS1 | 6200 | 7260 | 7260 | |||||
| Do. | do. | VS2 | 5900 | 6320 | 6320 | |||||
| Do. | do. | SI1 | 5400 | 5400 | 5400 | |||||
| Do. | H | VS1 | 5500 | 6300 | 6300 | |||||
| Do. | do. | VS2 | 5400 | 6160 | 6160 | |||||
| Do. | do. | SI1 | 4800 | 5200 | 5200 | |||||
| 2 | G | VS1 | 12480 | 12600 | 12600 | |||||
| Do. | do. | VS2 | 10750 | 11600 | 11600 | |||||
| Do. | do. | SI1 | 9020 | 9550 | 6550 | |||||
| Do. | H | VS1 | 10500 | 10875 | 10875 | |||||
| Do. | do. | VS2 | 9000 | 9900 | 9900 | |||||
| Do. | do. | SI1 | 8100 | 8800 | 8800 | |||||
Do., do. Ditto.
1Gemological Institute of America (GIA) color grades: D—colorless; E—rare white; G, H, I—traces of color.
2GIA clarity terms: IF—no blemishes; VVS1—very, very slightly included; VS1—very slightly included; VS2—very slightly included, but not visible; SI1—slightly included.
3Source: The Gem Guide, v. 40, no. 1, January/February 2021, p. 23–25.
4Source: The Gem Guide, v. 40, no. 4, July/August 2021, p. 23–25.
5Source: The Gem Guide, v. 40, no. 6, November/December 2021, p. 21–23.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Gemstones statistics | Mineral commodity prices