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In the United States, the average size of an engagement ring is around one carat, but there is no rulebook that says how big or small an engagement ring should be. Ultimately, your budget and how it looks on your finger will help you determine the right size.
When looking at engagement rings, it’s easy to get hung up on the impact of the center stone. Indeed, size tends to matter a whole lot when it comes to engagement rings for women, thanks in part to legendary rocks like Elizabeth Taylor’s massive 33.1-carat stunner and Mariah Carey’s 35-carat sparkler. But how big, exactly, should an engagement ring be? Well, like most wedding-related choices, the answer is: it’s up to you. But looking at some stats and trends will help you decide how big to go.
Before we dive into the statistics, let’s cover a few basics. How are diamonds sized? Precious gems are measured in weight by the carat and come in a huge range of sizes, from less than .01 carats to the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond (the largest diamond in the world). When looking at diamond engagement ring settings, you’ll notice that many rings have multiple stones in addition to a large center stone.
Engagement rings are weighed by the total weight of all the stones within the setting, not just the larger main stone. That’s why our semi-mount ring settings, which do not include the center stone, are also measured by the carat. Some of our settings alone weigh over 1.5 carats, so they often reach 3 carats and above when the center stone is added. To get the total weight of your ring, add the weight of the setting plus the center stone.
Measuring the Size of Engagement Rings
Since carats are a measurement of weight (equal to about 200 milligrams), they are actually not the best indicator of size. The cut, quality and general characteristics of a diamond will affect how big it looks and how much of an impact it makes in a particular setting. In other words, you might see a 1.5-carat diamond next to a 2-carat diamond and find that they look similar or the same in size, but one is half a carat heavier than the other. With that said, carat weight can certainly give us clues about size and it does have a big impact on a stone’s value.
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What’s a Good Size for an Engagement Ring?
Now that we know a little bit about how diamonds are sized, let’s talk about which weight is best for you. In the United States, the average size of an engagement ring diamond is around one to 1.5 carats, but it’s perfectly acceptable and quite common for a ring to weigh half a carat and up. It’s less common to find diamond engagement rings with a center stone weighing less than a quarter of a carat, as these diamonds are often used as accent stones.
Consider Your Budget
Budget is a key consideration when determining how big to go. However, there’s no easy way to price diamonds by carat. That’s because there are other factors — namely cut, color and clarity — which contribute to the value and price of each stone. In other words, a 2-carat diamond that’s large but cloudy with many inclusions might cost just as much as a perfectly flawless 1-carat stunner.
Often, larger diamonds have more imperfections than smaller ones, especially if you’re working within a strict budget. When shopping, know your priorities. Do you care more about size or quality? This will help you and your local jeweler determine where to focus.
Try It on
Unfortunately, it’s simply not possible to see how big or small a ring looks until you try it on. That’s because a 1-carat diamond will look bigger on someone with smaller, slimmer fingers than it might on someone with larger ones. The shape and setting of the ring, including the style of the band and the surrounding stones, will also make it look larger or smaller. For example, halo settings are known to create the illusion of a larger, more impactful center stone because they surround it with smaller ones that add sparkle and volume.
Browse Diamond Engagement Ring Settings
Don’t Get Too Hung Up on Carats
At the end of the day, any good jeweler will tell you that the weight of the stone is not the only thing to consider when shopping for the perfect engagement ring. In truth, carat is not the only indicator of size and it’s certainly not the only thing that contributes to value. Look at the big picture — the overall quality, cut, sparkle and style of the stone — in addition to its weight for the best results.
The team at Verragio is always here to help if you have questions about the size and weight of our settings.