What is a decent sized diamond for an engagement ring?

The 1.0 carat center stone used to be the most desired size chosen for engagement rings, however, more recently we are seeing this shift towards a slightly larger stone, with couples choosing diamonds averaging 1.25 to 1.50 carats.

Is higher or lower carat diamond better?

In general, buying a higher-clarity diamond that is smaller is a better choice than getting a bigger stone of lower clarity. It is most important to adhere to this principle when the only way to get a higher-carat diamond is to accept clarity that is so low that the stone has visible inclusions.

Is 1 carat a good size for an engagement ring?

My engagement ring is just shy of 1 carat and it’s a nice size but as a solitaire it’s a bit boring. After many years I had a very good jeweler who had catalogs of what could be available using my stone.

What is the average size of an engagement ring center?

Market research shows that the average size of an engagement ring center in the U.S. is around that of a 1 carat diamond, and between 0.5-1.00 carat in other countries. It’s interesting to note that the average size varies within the same country.

What does a 1 carat diamond look like?

A 1 carat diamond is above average size in the European market, where the average is between 0.50ct and 0.75ct. In the US it’s around the average size, which is great! In terms of quality, a “good” diamond would have G/H/I colour and VS clarity, with GIA or IGI certificate, very good cut/polish/symmetry.

What is considered a big diamond ring?

For the average person in the U.S., any diamond at least between 2 and 2.4 carats is considered “big,” i.e., way more than enough. Generally, anything above two carats is considered large for a ring, although some of our favorite celebrities like Mariah Carey and Lady Gaga have been seen sporting much, much larger rings.