You may not think that 5 carats is a lot, but it is truly a whopping size for a diamond. Larger diamonds are very rare in nature which makes them more valuable than many small diamonds.

It's truly astonishing how big the range of prices for a five carat diamond is. You can pay anywhere $45,000 to $300,000 - $400,000 which may be surprising or confusing.

The average price (around $100,000) is what you should pay attention to more because you'll want to avoid any diamond that is the lowest price for that carat weight. At the same time, a diamond in the very upper part of this price range is probably too perfect, and a similar diamond that is more affordable will look the exact same.

You may have balked at the price tag for 5 carat diamonds, but don't forget to consider lab grown diamonds which are 100% ethical and real diamond alternatives to mined diamonds.

Because they have a shorter supply chain and way less labor involved in production, lab grown diamonds are 30-40% less expensive than mined diamonds of the same carat weight. When it comes to a diamond as large as 5 carats, choosing lab grown will make a huge difference in the diamond prices you see advertised.

A lab grown 5 carat diamond will cost you anywhere from $8,000 to a little over $100,000. The average price for a typical diamond people buy for engagement rings will be around $20,000.

If you really want to impress your partner with a showstopper diamond, then consider lab grown diamonds. You can use the extra money you save on the wedding, your honeymoon, or even a bigger diamond!

Typical round brilliant cut diamonds that are 5 carats measure around 11 millimeters in diameter. Other diamond shapes will have slightly varying sizes, but all of them will be the same weight.

If you want a longer diamond like an emerald or oval cut diamond, it will usually be longer than a round diamond's diameter but also narrower.

When you compare the size of a 5 carat round brilliant diamond to someone's finger, you'll see that the diamond appears quite large. In an engagement ring, 5 carat diamonds make bold statements and will be the star of the ring.

You'll want to know and understand the 4 C's of diamonds before making this big purchase. A diamond's beauty depends on its quality which you can judge based on cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

Diamond cut refers to how well the diamond was cut and polished from a rough stone. It depends on the skill level and craftsmanship of the jeweler who cut the diamond themselves.

A diamond with the highest color grade will be truly colorless. Your diamond may be considered slightly yellow or brown, but don't worry! The average person can not see this difference.

The clarity grade is based on the number of imperfections or blemishes on the diamond. Your diamond doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. You can't see most imperfections unless you use magnification and they won't affect how the diamond looks overall. So you still get a shiny diamond and can save some money.

Carat weight refers to how much the diamond physically weighs. A five carat diamond will weigh one gram. The carat weights of diamonds will also usually not be a perfectly even number like two or five. You will often see diamonds that weigh slightly less or more than 5 carats like 5.04 carats or 4.98 carats. They will be essentially the same as a true 5 carat diamond.

A large diamond engagement ring is a huge purchase, so you have to be diligent about where you shop.

We definitely recommend browsing different styles online at retailers to get an overall idea of what types of rings are available.

Engagement rings are an investment, especially when they feature a stunning diamond with a larger carat weight.

You should always make sure you're buying something you truly want when you shop for any fine jewelry. A five carat diamond ring may be the perfect ring to propose to your partner with.

If you know they want a big diamond, go for a nice solitaire ring with a large diamond center stone. Pair it with a durable setting like a yellow gold, white gold, or platinum setting to complete the look.

If a five carat diamond is not in your budget, then it's okay to purchase a smaller diamond. In fact, one to two carat diamonds are the most commonly purchased diamonds for engagement rings.

You could also buy a five carat diamond ring as an anniversary ring later down the road. Whenever you feel comfortable buying a five carat diamond is the best time. We don't recommend rushing through a decision this big!

Five carat diamonds may be quite large and many people aren't used to wearing that big of a diamond ring.

Also ask yourself how active you are. If you run every morning or have to lift things at work, it may be best to leave your ring in your jewelry box.

That being said, some people don't find five carat diamonds to be too big and are comfortable wearing their ring every day. It's completely up to what you feel comfortable with!

Round diamonds are the most popular cut for engagement rings because they are designed to make the diamond shine and reflect light in the most brilliant way.

Other good shapes for a 5 carat diamond ring are emerald cut diamonds, oval cut diamonds, radiant cut diamonds, or pear shaped diamonds. Since you're buying such a large diamond, you want the shape to complement bigger sizes.

Diamonds that are more symmetrical and have a larger crown make great shapes for large diamonds because you'll be able to show off its shine and beauty.