Russian diamond miner Alrosa said 5-carat round brilliant diamonds delivered the strongest investment returns in the first quarter of 2026, with prices climbing 8.4% quarter-on-quarter.
According to Alrosa Diamond Exclusive, round-cut 5-carat diamonds with H colour and VS1 clarity recorded the highest growth, reaching an average price of $22,400 per carat. Fancy-cut 5-carat diamonds with H colour and IF clarity followed with a 7.7% increase to $32,100 per carat.
The company also reported that 4-carat round diamonds graded D colour and VS1 clarity rose 6.4% during the quarter to $32,200 per carat.
Alrosa said the study focused on colourless investment-grade diamonds, excluding fancy-coloured stones due to limited market comparability and rarity.
The miner noted that demand for investment diamonds remained resilient despite ongoing volatility in the broader diamond market. Sales of investment diamonds increased 40% in 2025 compared with the previous year, while annual returns for the strongest-performing categories ranged between 12.2% and 14.7% in dollar terms.
The latest data comes as the global diamond industry continues to navigate constrained rough supply and cautious production levels across major mining companies.
Alrosa Highlights 5-carat Diamonds as Top Investment Performers in Q1 2026
