Prodiam Catalogue Study · GIA Diamonds · VAT Included
Diamond price per carat in South Africa
Diamond price per carat in South Africa varies with size, shape, colour and clarity. Across 77 priced diamonds in the saved website catalogue, the median works out to R31 281 per carat, including VAT. The table below separates the weight bands so you can compare more usefully.
These are catalogue asking prices, calculated when this site was built. They blend specifications and are not a quote for a particular diamond. A jewellery setting costs extra; confirm the current stone price and availability with us.
Browse the actual stones Ask Prodiam for your figure → How the pricing works →
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Natural diamonds only
We sell natural diamonds and diamond-set jewellery. Ask us about the grading report and available origin documentation for your chosen stone. Why we don’t sell lab-grown →
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Independent grading reports
The grading laboratory is shown per stone. Review its report and the individual diamond before choosing; sourced examples can include GIA, EGL and IGI.
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Insured delivery, SA & worldwide
Overnight across South Africa via Brink’s, G4S or our nominated jewellery courier. Insured worldwide dispatch via Ferrari Group and FedEx Custom Critical.
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14-day in-person exchange
In-person sales at the viewing room come with a 14-day exchange courtesy on stock pieces. Distance-sale CPA cooling-off applies.
Median diamond price per carat by weight band
Each bar is the median price per carat of the priced diamonds in that weight band in the saved website catalogue. The calculation uses the catalogue saved when the site was built. Differences between the bars reflect the mix of shapes and grades as well as weight.
Price per carat and total diamond price
Price per carat is the diamond’s total price divided by its carat weight. The table shows the median of those individual per-carat figures and, separately, the median total price in each band. For a narrower comparison, use the half-carat and one-carat price guides, which state their grade filters and capture date.
| Carat band | Stones | Median price / carat | Median total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.30 to 0.49 ct | 26 | R21 895 | R8 868 |
| 0.50 to 0.99 ct | 34 | R32 844 | R23 484 |
| 1.00 ct and up | 15 | R73 509 | R75 714 |
This sample spans 0.24 to 2.07 carats. A band blends colour, clarity and shape, so its median is a guide to this catalogue sample. Request a current quote for your chosen stone.
What the curve means for your budget
Use the table to set an initial budget, then compare the details of actual diamonds:
- Compare weights just below a round number. Include 0.90–0.95 carat stones in a one-carat shortlist and compare their measurements and prices. Similar appearance and a saving are possibilities to check on the individual stones.
- Compare similar grades. A lower price per carat may reflect a different colour, clarity, shape or cut. Use the certificate and total quote alongside the weight.
- Protect cut, not weight. A well-cut shy stone faces up larger than a deep, badly cut heavier one, so cut quality can buy you apparent size for less than another tenth of a carat would.
Use the loose-diamond catalogue to build your shortlist. We will confirm the selected stone’s price and availability before you commit.
Where this data comes from
The calculation uses priced GIA diamonds from the saved Prodiam catalogue, excluding entries marked sold and those without a price. We use the median to reduce the effect of unusually high or low prices. If fewer than 20 priced entries are usable, the page uses the labelled 26 June 2026 reference sample instead. Both sources are shown including VAT. The chart updates when the site is rebuilt with updated catalogue data; it does not establish live availability or a like-for-like market index. Prodiam cuts some diamonds in-house and sources others through the certified trade. For the mechanism behind the rand figures, see how diamonds are priced in South Africa, and for how the rand and the dollar have moved those prices over time, see diamond price trends.
Diamond price per carat: common questions
How much is a diamond per carat in South Africa?
Across 77 priced GIA diamonds in the saved website catalogue, the median is R31 281 per carat, including VAT. This combines different sizes and specifications. Use the weight-band table for a more relevant comparison, then check the actual diamond’s total price, grade and availability. A jewellery setting is additional.
Why can the price per carat rise as a diamond gets bigger?
At comparable grades, larger diamonds can command a higher price per carat because large, high-quality crystals are rarer. That does not mean every larger stone costs more per carat: colour, clarity, cut and shape also affect the price. Our bands mix those characteristics, so their differences cannot be attributed to weight alone or used to predict a fixed jump at one carat.
Is it cheaper per carat to buy a smaller diamond?
Often, when you compare similar specifications. Compare actual quotes rather than assuming that two half-carat stones will always cost less than one full-carat stone. A diamond just below a popular weight can be worth considering, but check its face-up measurements, cut quality and total price beside the larger option.
Are these real Prodiam prices or an estimate?
These are real. The figures on this page are computed directly from saved Prodiam loose-diamond catalogue prices, the catalogue entries linked from our loose-diamond pages, subject to an availability check, not a third-party index or a made-up table. We use the median rather than the average so a single unusual stone cannot skew a band, and we exclude price-on-application stones from the price maths.
The calculation uses a saved catalogue when the site is built; it is not a live market feed. Figures include VAT. If catalogue data is unavailable, the dated June 2026 reference sample is used and labelled on the page.
One honest caveat: a band blends stones of different colour and clarity, so it shows the shape of the market, not a quote, your exact stone is always priced on its own four Cs.
What carat weight should I compare with a full carat?
Compare individual 0.90 to 0.95 carat diamonds with your one-carat shortlist. Some may offer a similar face-up size for a lower price, depending on proportions and grades. Carat measures weight, so it cannot guarantee identical appearance. Ask us to compare the millimetre measurements, cut and current prices before deciding.
Computed from the saved website catalogue, with VAT included. Calculation and labels reviewed on 8 September 2026. This is a catalogue sample, not a live market index or an availability promise; each band blends colour, clarity and shape. Confirm a current quote for a specific diamond.