Shopping for your dream ring is an exciting time, but it also comes with many things to consider and can feel a bit overwhelming. One of these considerations is the diamond carat size, which is a main factor in how your ring will look. Luckily, we’ve compiled everything you need to know to make your decision a bit easier.
What Are The 4Cs of Diamonds?
The 4Cs are recognized standards that will help you determine the quality of the diamonds. Whether you are shopping for the perfect engagement ring or a timeless diamond necklace, every diamond is evaluated on the following:
- Color
- Clarity
- Cut
- Carat
What are Color, Clarity, and Cut?
Diamonds can come in many colors, but the slightest difference in coloration, even if not visible to the naked eye, can affect the quality and price. For clarity, the clarity scale categorizes diamond clarity into six categories.
Diamond Clarity Categories:
- Flawless (most expensive)
- Internally flawless
- Very very slightly included
- Very slightly included
- Slightly included
- Included (least expensive)
Similarly to clarity, a diamond’s cut is broken down into five grades, starting with the highest quality cut, excellent, and moving down in quality to very good, good, fair, and lastly, poor. Now we will go more in depth the final C: Carat.
What is Diamond Carat Size?
A carat is the unit of measurement for a diamond and denotes the physical weight of the diamond, not the size. The unit is standardized and used internationally in the gem industry. Not to be confused with karat, which is used to describe the purity of gold, the word carat is derived from the carob seeds that were historically used as counterweights to balance scales due to their uniform weight and size.
Are Carat and Diamond Size the Same?
No, carats and the diamond size are two different things. Size refers to how large the diamond looks when viewed from above, while carat refers solely to weight. While a carat is measured in grams or milligrams, the diamond's size is measured in millimeters.
It’s important to remember that a diamond’s carat does not directly correlate to its size. A large diamond may weigh less, which means it has a lower carat.
How is a Diamond Carat Measured?
A diamond’s carat is weighed on a highly precise electronic scale that can detect even the slightest differences in weight. For even greater precision, carat weight can be further measured with a point system where 100 points equals one carat. A one-carat diamond generally weighs around 200 milligrams for a round brilliant cut.
What is the Average Diamond Carat Size for a Ring?
In the United States, the average diamond carat size is one carat. However, this average can differ from country to country, with the United Kingdom and Europe hovering around 0.5 carats. Additionally, age can play a large factor in carat size, with younger people generally shopping for a smaller carat size while older clients prefer a larger diamond.
What is Considered a Large Carat Size?
A large diamond carat size is considered three carats or above, like in our Solitaire Pear Five Prong Engagement Ring. However, many other factors can make a diamond look large, such as the diamond’s shape or the size of the person’s hands and fingers.
Many people find large carats desirable because the diamonds are rarer and more exclusive. These rings will also hold their value, making them a great investment piece or the perfect start to a family heirloom.
Considerations When Choosing the Right Diamond Carat Size
- Personal Style: The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a carat size is your personal style. When you think about how you dress or the other jewelry you own, is it flashier or more understated? This may help you determine if you want to keep the carat size small or choose a larger option.
- Lifestyle: Next, consider your lifestyle. If you have very active hobbies such as gardening or exercising or have a hands-on job like a teacher, you may be better suited for a smaller carat size.
- Budget: Diamond carat size is one of the primary factors influencing the cost of a diamond and can significantly impact its price. Due to the rarity of larger diamonds and the high demand, as carat weight increases, so does the price.
- Finger Length and Size: The carat size of the diamond can look different on smaller hands and fingers versus larger hands and fingers. Smaller stones may look more attractive on smaller hands, while larger diamonds are better suited for larger hands.
How to Make Your Diamond Carat Size Look Larger
There are quite a few ways to maximize the appearance of your diamond without increasing its carat size (or the price!).
Consider the Diamond Cut
The diamond cut will determine how it reflects light based on how its angles and facets were cut. A better cut will reflect more light, making the diamond look more prominent. Additionally, a well-cut diamond means the carat weight will be properly placed, adding further visual dimension to the stone.
Opt for A Diamond-Enhancing Setting
The ring setting can also impact the look of a diamond. A slender prong setting is one of the smaller setting options for a diamond. This can maximize the appearance of the diamond carat size because you will see more surface area of the diamond, making it look larger to the naked eye.
In addition to choosing slender prongs, choosing the correct number of prongs is important to highlight the stone’s shape. To maximize your diamond’s size, setting it with six prongs will help it appear larger than it is.
You can also consider popular engagement ring settings like halo diamond rings, which feature a ring of smaller diamonds around the central stone to make it appear large. This stunning style also adds some extra sparkle.
Choose a Diamond Alternative
If you want a dazzling, eye-catching ring but don’t like the look of a large diamond or are trying to stay within a lower budget, choosing a different gemstone for your engagement ring, like an emerald or ruby, may do the trick. The colors of these gems will trick the eye and make the stone seem bigger.
Add a Stacking Ring
If you already have a diamond ring but have decided to increase the diamond carat size, you can try adding stacking rings. Smaller bands, like our Yellow Gold Bead and Pearl Ring, can make the main ring stand out.
Keep Your Diamond Clean and Well-Maintained
Regular care and maintenance of your ring will maximize your diamond’s sparkle. The shinier your ring, the larger the diamond carat size will look. Cleaning engagement rings at home can be great for upkeep, but you should try to get your engagement ring and wedding band cleaned professionally once every six months.
Diamond carat size is an important factor to consider when looking for rings, but the perfect ring for you is the one that showcases your personal style and love story. No matter what carat size you go with, make sure the ring is truly one you love. After all, you’ll wear it forever!
