2.5 Carat Diamond Ring: The Expert Buying Guide

If you’re looking for a large, elegant and impressive engagement ring, a 2.50 carat diamond is sure to make an impression.

For a 2.50ct diamond, we recommend selecting a diamond that’s eye clean, with a clarity grade of VS1/VS2 or better. Choose a color grade in the G to I range for a diamond that appears colorless to the naked eye while costing less than a colorless D, E or F grade stone. We also recommend limiting your choices to diamonds with an excellent or ideal cut grade, as cut quality has the biggest impact on a diamond’s appearance.

The price of a diamond ring with a 2.50-carat stone can range from a minimum of $10,000 to upwards of $75,000, depending on the diamond’s quality and the setting style you opt for. The place of purchase can also influence the cost.

2.50ct round cut diamond engagement ring — A beautiful micro-pavé engagement ring with a 2.50ct round cut diamond by Abe Mor

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

What is a 2.50 carat diamond?
How much does a 2.50 carat diamond ring cost?
What is the difference between a 2 carat and 2.50 carat diamond ring?
What tips should I follow when buying a 2.50 carat diamond ring?
What style ring works best with a 2.50 carat diamond?
Where should I buy a 2.50 carat diamond ring from?

Why you should trust us

To help you with the diamond buying process we lean on our expertise and experience. The author of this article, our CEO, Mike Fried has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Mike started from the bottom, sorting and evaluating hundreds of thousands of diamonds to learn every facet (pun intended) of diamond quality and value. Mike followed that up by spending years buying and selling diamonds on the wholesale market as well as selling tens of millions of dollars worth of diamonds to diamond retailers.

To get the best deal, buy from a trusted online vendor such as James Allen, Blue Nile. These vendors all offer large selections of 2.50ct diamonds and settings, with highly competitive pricing and some of the best customer service in the industry.

If you want personalized help choosing your diamond, feel free to contact us and we’ll help you find the best 2.50 carat diamond for your tastes and budget.

2.50ct Round Diamond in Pavé Cathedral Engagement Ring

A 2.50 carat diamond engagement ring can look truly stunning, with a beautiful appearance and exceptional brilliance, plus a large size that gives it real presence on your fiancé-to-be’s finger.

Diamonds in the 2.50 carat range are significantly larger than the average diamond used in an engagement ring. As such, they’re priced to match. When you’re buying a large diamond like this, it’s especially important to check that it’s a high-quality stone that’s free of issues such as coloration or inclusions.

The large size of a 2.50 carat diamond means that any blemishes, which might not be visible on a smaller diamond, can be more visually obvious.

For example, this 2.50 carat diamond from James Allen looks stunning, while this diamond from James Allen of basically an identical carat weight and a similar price has obvious issues that make it a comparatively poor choice.

Below, we’ve explained what a 2.50 carat diamond is, as well as how a 2.50ct diamond stacks up next to other common diamond carat weights. We’ve also offered our expert advice on what you should look for if you’d like to purchase a 2.50ct diamond engagement ring.

Deal Alert: Get 25% off sitewide at James Allen

What is a 2.50 Carat Diamond?

A 2.50 carat diamond is a diamond with a carat weight of 2.50 carats, or 500 milligrams (half of a gram). A typical 2.50ct round diamond weighs just over half as much as the average raisin and measures just under nine millimeters in diameter.

Think You’re A Diamond Pro?

Think you’re a Diamond Pro and can save 40%?
Choose the diamond that you like better.
Is it the J color for $3,290 or the G color for $5,710?

2.50ct diamonds are significantly larger than average. They’re also quite scarce. Because of this, it’s uncommon to find a high-quality, well-cut diamond of this carat weight in a local jewelry store or from a brick-and-mortar diamond jeweler.

Instead, you’ll find the best range of high quality 2.50 carat diamond rings online from the trusted vendors we’ve listed further down the page.

Like other diamonds, 2.50ct diamonds can vary hugely in appearance, with some diamonds displaying obvious coloration, inclusions and other imperfections, and others appearing largely colorless and free of visible issues.

As we’ve discussed elsewhere on this website, evaluating the four Cs will help you get the best deal on a diamond of this carat weight. With diamonds, the highest price doesn’t always mean the best, most beautiful diamond.

How Much Does a 2.5 Carat Diamond Ring Cost?

A 2.50 carat diamond ring can vary in price from as little as $10,000 to $75,000 or more based on the quality of the diamond and the type of setting you choose. Cost can also vary depending where you buy your diamond. If you want we have an article discussing where to know where to buy a diamond ring,

A variety of factors affect the price of a diamond. Of these, the four most significant are the 4Cs of a diamond — a term that refers to a diamond’s cut quality, clarity, color and carat weight. The higher the quality of the diamond in terms of cut, color and clarity, the more it will usually cost. You can check out the price differences across different carat weights using our diamond price calculator.

The Four C’s:

Cut Quality
Color
Clarity
Carat Weight

”Because of their rarity, large diamonds command a premium – so much so that the difference in price isn’t geometric but exponential. In other words, a 1.00 ct diamond will cost much more per carat than a 0.50 ct diamond. A 2.00 ct diamond will have a much higher per-carat price than a 1.00 ct diamond.” Gemological Institute of America (GIA)

This means that you’ll pay significantly more per carat for a 2.50 carat diamond than you would for a diamond in the 1.00 carat range.

For example, you can view this 2.52 carat diamond on Blue Nile. This diamond has an ideal cut, VVS1 clarity and a D color grade, all of which are very good things. It’s a gorgeous diamond with a high price of $75,850 to match.

There’s no question that this is a beautiful diamond, but it comes with a significant premium in terms of pricing compared to diamonds that are great looking but have slightly lower color and clarity grades.

On the other hand, this 2.51 carat, ideal cut, VS1 clarity, H color diamond from Blue Nile also looks impressive and costs far less at $34,810.

Well-Cut 2.50ct H/VS1 Cushion Cut Diamond — Well-Cut 2.51ct H/VS2 Cushion Cut Diamond

At the bottom end of the scale, you have diamonds like this one from James Allen, which has a clearly visible tint and poor clarity and, as such, only costs $6,580. Despite being very inexpensive, this diamond isn’t necessarily good value, as its flaws are obvious.

The last of the four Cs is carat weight. Although we’re discussing 2.50 carat diamonds here, it’s important to explain how carat weight affects pricing for diamonds as a whole.

Diamond prices increase exponentially with carat weight. This means that you’ll need to spend more both in total and per carat for a 2.50ct diamond than you would for, for example, a 1.50 carat diamond ring.

We’ve explained the relationship between diamond carat weight and price in more detail in our guide to diamond prices. In short, the higher the diamond’s carat weight, the more you’ll spend per carat.

In addition to the four Cs, there are several other factors that each play a role in determining a 2.50 carat diamond’s value. However, these are relatively minor in comparison.

When you’re buying an engagement ring, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of the setting you choose for the diamond.

The type of ring you choose and the metal it’s made from will all affect the total price you’ll pay for the diamond ring. Engagement ring settings can range in price from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars for more ornate settings with pavé, halo or side-stone diamonds.

With a large diamond like this, the setting itself will only account for a relatively small percentage of the total price. Still, it’s important to account for this if you have a specific budget.

Check out our guide to $25k engagement rings for inspiration.

2.50 Carat vs. 2 Carat Diamond: What’s the Difference?

A comparison between a 2.50ct and 2ct diamond ring — Set in an engagement ring, the difference in size between a 2.50 carat diamond (left) and a smaller 2 carat diamond (right) is quite subtle.

Because they’re similar in size and price, 2.50 carat diamonds are often compared to diamonds in the 2 carat size range (check the 2 carat diamond price here). Here are the key differences:

Size. As you’d expect, a 2.50ct diamond is larger than a 2ct diamond. A typical 2.50 carat round brilliant cut diamond has an 8.99mm diameter, compared to 8.1mm for a typical 2 carat diamond.

Cost. Diamond prices rise exponentially with carat weight, making a 2.50ct diamond more expensive both in absolute terms and per carat than a smaller diamond in the 2ct range.

Scarcity. The higher the carat weight, the smaller the selection of diamonds you’ll be able to choose from. For example, at the time of publishing this guide, Blue Nile have more than 5,000 diamonds in the 1.90 to 2.10 carat range, but less than 1,500 in the 2.40 to 2.60 range.

Because of this limited availability, it may be harder to find a diamond that meets your specifications in the 2.50ct range. If you need help choosing a diamond, feel free to contact us.

Tips for Buying a 2.50 Carat Diamond Ring

Buying the right 2.50 carat diamond can be a more difficult process than shopping for a smaller diamond, such as a diamond in the 1 carat or 1.50 carat range.

This is because the large size of the diamond makes flaws, such as inclusions, blemishes or a noticeable color, easier to see. There’s also a much smaller selection of diamonds in this carat weight range, meaning you’ll need to be more selective to get the best possible deal.

Below, we’ve offered our expert tips to help you buy the best 2.50ct diamond for your tastes and preferences, all without spending more than you need to:

2.5 Carat Diamond Cut

As we’ve explained in our guide to diamond cut, the cut quality of a diamond has the biggest impact on its beauty. A well-cut diamond will reflect light extremely well, resulting in brilliance and fire, whereas a poorly cut diamond will look dull and lifeless in comparison.

This is particularly important for a large diamond in the 2 to 2.50 carat range, as a good quality cut not only enhances the diamond’s brilliance but also helps to conceal color and inclusions (two issues that we’ve covered in more detail further down the page).

To ensure you buy a diamond with a high-quality cut, we recommend restricting your search to diamonds with an “ideal” or “excellent” cut quality. You can do this easily using the search tools on websites like James Allen and Blue Nile.

Choose GIA Certified 2.50 Carat Diamonds

You should only ever buy a diamond that’s sold with a GIA certificate. As we’ve covered in our guide to diamond certification, this is the most reputable diamond grading entity, meaning you can rely on them to provide an objective, fair evaluation for each diamond.

Other certifications aren’t as reliable and tend to overstate a diamond’s quality. We recommend doing this for all diamonds, but it’s particularly important for a large, valuable diamond in the 2.50ct range.

Color Range: Stay Within G to I

Diamonds are graded for color on a scale that runs from D to Z. The closer a diamond’s grade is to D, the less color it displays. As you go further down the scale, a diamond may display a slight yellow or brown tint. In lower color grades, this tint may be visible to the naked eye.

As we’ve explained in our guide to diamond color, it usually isn’t worth overpaying for a diamond with a D, E or F color grade. Instead, we recommend choosing a diamond that looks colorless to the naked eye in relation to its setting.

With a large diamond in the 2.50 carat range, color can often be more visible than it would be in a small diamond. This is because a large diamond has a bigger table, allowing you to more easily see its internal color.

For a 2.50ct diamond, we generally recommend choosing something with a color grade in the G to I range. Diamonds in this color range are graded as nearly colorless and, to the naked eye, look just as white as diamonds in the D to F color range.

Buying a near-colorless diamond will allow you to save a significant amount of money compared to buying one that’s truly colorless. To the naked eye in regular lighting conditions, these two diamonds look identical. Set in a ring, it’s very difficult to perceive any difference between them without bright lighting and a jeweler’s loupe.

If you plan to choose a colored setting, such as a yellow or rose gold engagement ring, you can drop even further down the color scale. This is because the color of the setting will conceal any color in the diamond.

A superbly cut K color 2.50ct will look beautiful and cost about $15,000 – a tiny fraction as much as the D color diamond mentioned above. In a yellow or rose gold engagement ring, it will have a warm, elegant look without any obvious coloration.

Clarity: Aim for VS1+

As we mentioned above, the large table size (the flat, top surface) of diamonds in the 2.50 carat range means they’re more likely to display inclusions and blemishes than smaller diamonds.

This makes it important to check the diamond clarity before you make a purchase. For a 2.50ct diamond, we recommend a minimum clarity grade of VS1 to avoid buying a diamond that has obvious, visible flaws.

Like with color, there’s no reason to pay for flawless clarity. Instead, look at diamonds within the VS1, VVS1 and VVS2 clarity grades. Check each diamond for visible inclusions and purchase a diamond that’s eye-clean, meaning it doesn’t have any blemishes that the naked eye can see.

In some cases, you might be able to drop down to the VS2 or even SI1 clarity grade if the diamond only has small, barely-visible inclusions that are located close to its edges.

“Many inclusions and blemishes are too tiny to be seen by anyone other than a trained diamond grader. To the naked eye, a VS1 and an SI2 diamond may look exactly the same, but these diamonds are quite different in terms of overall quality. This is why expert and accurate assessment of diamond clarity is extremely important.” Gemological Institute of America (GIA)

It’s important to check every diamond with your eye, as the clarity grade listed on the diamond’s GIA certificate doesn’t always tell the full story. If you need help, you can contact us and we’ll help you find an eye-clean diamond in your desired shape and price range.

A great service, they really made the purchasing process easy. I would recommend to anyone. Veronika was super helpful and responsive. She gives you confidence that you are making the right decision. My partner was VERY happy with the final product – what more can you ask? The diamond guides are very interesting and useful too.

Will Marsden

Dec 25, 2022

Excellent info and education about Diamonds. Unbiased opinions and advice. Highly recommend the content on their site before making a Diamond purchase. They even offer one on one service via email for advice and recommendation.

EV User

Feb 1, 2023

Also, we have recently developed Ringo, a patented artificial intelligence model, that can examine videos of diamonds and determine if they are eye-clean. Ringo will also filter for other parameters like making sure the diamond is well-cut, doesn’t have fluorescence issues and will match the style setting you choose. You can access it here and give it a go.

Meet Ringo: Our AI Diamond Expert

We have recently developed Ringo, a patented artificial intelligence model, that can examine videos of diamonds and determine if they are eye-clean. Ringo will also filter for other parameters like making sure the diamond is well-cut, doesn’t have fluorescence issues and will match the style setting you choose. You can access it here and give it a go.

Ringo™ Approved Eye Clean Diamonds

What is Ringo?

Carat Weight 2.01
Color H
Clarity VS1
Check Price
Carat Weight 2.00
Color H
Clarity VS1
Check Price
Carat Weight 2.20
Color H
Clarity VS1
Check Price

2.50 Carat Engagement Ring Inspiration

There are a wide variety of styles to pick from when you’re in the market for a 2.5 carat diamond ring. When it comes to choosing a setting style or picking between different diamond shapes, you need to take the personality and style preferences of your fiancé-to-be into account. It’s difficult to say that one particular style is better or worse than another.

The most popular style of engagement ring is a simple solitaire setting. A solitaire engagement ring is also likely to be the most affordable option, allowing you to spend less on a 2.50 carat engagement ring, or put more money towards a higher-quality diamond.

However, if you want a little more flair, you can go with a halo or pavé setting, or a flashy setting like this White Gold Pavé Step Engagement Ring from James Allen.

You’ve also got the choice of 2.5 carat diamonds in a variety of shapes, which offer a more unique look than the classic round diamond (this is not to say that a round diamond is a bad choice in any way).

The best way to narrow the choices down is to shop around, view different styles and shapes, and see which you think will suit your partner the best. Check out these examples for inspiration, then read on to learn a little more about what you can choose from with a 2.50 carat diamond ring.

Solitaire 2.50 Carat Diamond Ring

A solitaire setting is the most common, and most popular, style of engagement ring. Solitaire rings are popular for a reason – they’re simple, elegant, timeless, and affordable.

In a solitaire setting, the ring features just one single diamond – in this case, a 2.50 carat diamond. This diamond is held in place usually by 4 or 6 metal prongs, designed to keep it secure with minimal visual obstruction.

The setting lets enough light in, which reflects through the diamond and allows it to display maximum fire and brilliance.

Solitaire settings work with any diamond shape, allowing you a great deal of flexibility and freedom to put together a unique engagement ring for the special person in your life.

2.5 Carat Oval Diamond Ring

Oval Shaped Diamonds offer the fire and brilliance of a round diamond, with a unique shape that helps the ring truly stand out. A well-proportioned Oval Diamond can be extremely beautiful.

The elongated shape and large table size of Oval Diamonds make them appear larger than their carat weight, which again is a strong selling point that allows you to pay less for what seems like a larger diamond.

Here are some 2.5 Carat Oval Diamond Ring examples to use as inspiration:

2.51ct H/VS1 Oval Diamond from James Allen with a Channel/Pavé Setting

2.5 Carat Princess Cut Diamond Ring

As the second most popular diamond shape (after the Round Brilliant), the Princess Cut delivers intense fire and brilliance in a square outline. Princess Cuts have a higher yield in comparison to Round Brilliant Diamonds (meaning the percentage of the rough diamond that remains after cutting), so generally they are a lower price per carat.

Princess Cut Diamonds offer a unique look, without sacrificing anything in brilliance, and fit great with solitaire settings.

Check out these 2.5 Carat Princess Cut Diamond Rings as examples:

2.50ct Princess Cut Diamond from James Allen with a Comfort Fit Solitaire Setting

2.5 carat princess cut diamond ring James Allen

Graduated Milgrain Pavé Setting

2.5 carat princess cut diamond ring Blue Nile

2.5 Carat Cushion Cut Diamond Ring

Cushion Cut Diamonds provide a great amount of all-round fire, and a shape that falls in between round and square diamonds. Cushion Cuts are square or rectangular, but with rounded edges, giving it an extremely unique look.

Cushion Cut Diamonds fit well in a remarkable range of settings, due to their hybrid rounded/square shape, and the way they fit with both classic and modern styles.

Here are some 2.5 Carat Cushion Cut Diamond Ring examples to get your search started:

2.50ct Cushion Cut Diamond from Blue Nile in a Rose Gold Petite Cathedral Solitaire Setting

2.5 carat cushion cut diamond ring Blue Nile

2.50ct Cushion Cut Diamond from James Allen with a Pavé Halo Setting

2.5 carat cushion cut diamond ring James Allen

Where to Buy a 2.50 Carat Diamond Ring

We strongly recommend buying diamond jewelry online. As we’ve explained in our guide to the best places to buy an engagement ring, shopping online offers several advantages compared to buying a 2.50 carat diamond from a local jewelry store:

Inventory. Online diamond vendors have access to a huge inventory of diamonds. This is particularly important when you’re purchasing a large diamond in the 2.50 carat range, as diamonds of this size are more scarce than smaller stones.

A bigger selection means that you’ll be able to choose from a larger range of diamonds, giving you more choice and allowing you to filter your search down to the highest quality, best value diamonds within your price range.

In comparison, it’s very uncommon to find 2.50 carat diamonds in local jewelry stores, or even in most jewelry chains. The few that you will find are often of poor value or marked up by 30 to 50 percent compared to those available online.

This is because carrying a large range of 2.50 carat diamonds is incredibly expensive for brick-and-mortar jewelry stores. Rather than using capital to stock large diamonds, it’s much more economical for a brick-and-mortar business to focus on smaller diamonds that are more likely to sell.

Pricing. As we’ve explained here, the economics of retail mean that you’ll always need to pay more to buy a diamond from a brick-and-mortar jewelry store than you would to buy a diamond of equal carat weight and quality online.

In general, we’ve found that online vendors charge anywhere from 20 to 50 percent less for their diamonds than physical jewelers. These lower profit margins mean that you can afford to buy a larger, higher quality diamond or a more beautiful setting.

Convenience. Good online diamond vendors offer guarantees and excellent customer service, as well as fast, free shipping. You’ll receive your ring quickly and have a range of return options available if it ever needs to be resized or replaced.

With this explained, here are some of the vendors we recommend using if you want to buy a 2.50 carat diamond ring online:

Blue Nile. Blue Nile is one of the largest online diamond vendors in the world. They offer a vast selection of high quality, GIA certified diamonds, including a great selection in the 2.50 carat range.

Blue Nile also stock a great selection of engagement ring settings in different styles and metals. Delivery is fast and free, customer service is excellent, and the experience as a whole is definitely a pleasant one.

James Allen. Another large online diamond vendor, James Allen stands out thanks to their excellent product photography, which allows you to see every diamond in close-up detail.

James Allen also carry a large selection of diamonds in the 2.50 carat range, including GIA certified diamonds. They also offer fast, free delivery, a great return policy and excellent customer service overall.

Brian Gavin Diamonds. Brian Gavin Diamonds is an excellent option if you’re looking for a very high quality, expertly cut diamond. The customer service here is excellent, as is the selection of exceptionally well-cut diamonds in the 2 to 2.50 carat range.

Abe Mor Diamonds. Abe Mor specialize in larger diamonds. If you’re located close to New York City and want something unique and special, we recommend contacting Abe Mor for more information on their offerings.

Let us help you choose the right ring. Contact Us Today.

A 2.5 carat ring is a big investment, so it’s important to take your time making a decision. Consider all the options available, to ensure you get the best value.

Don’t compromise on cut grade, focus on finding an eye-clean, colorless diamond, and make sure to shop with a reputable vendor like those we talked about above. Online stores such as James Allen and Blue Nile have a large range of 2.50 carat GIA diamonds to choose from, which should allow you to find one that’s perfect for you.

Need expert help buying a 2.5 carat diamond engagement ring? Contact us and our experts will help you find the best diamond for your tastes and budget.

Here are more specific carat size topics to browse:

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online. Get 25% off sitewide at James Allen

Click to Visit

What we love about them:

No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
Lifetime Warranty
Free International Shipping
Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
Provide insurance appraisals
One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
Free ring inscriptions
Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
24/7 Customer Service
Best-in-class packaging

Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing.Save 25% on settings at [dp-bn-coupon type_id="5" message=" Blue Nile!"]