Have you decided to buy an engagement ring? Congratulations! Shopping for engagement rings is exciting for most people, as long as you know what you want.
Unfortunately, if you don’t know much about diamonds and rings, you may get stressed out when looking for the best option. An engagement ring is often expensive, so you must ensure you’re not making the wrong call.
These items you’re supposed to wear forever, so you may have a few questions in mind: “What’s the average diamond size for an engagement ring?” You’ll get the answer today!
Keep reading to know a diamond ring’s average carat weight and size.
What’s a “Carat” in an Engagement Ring?
A carat is a unit people use to measure how much a diamond weighs. It’s also used to measure pearls and other gemstones, but it’s more common for diamonds. Carats aren’t meant to measure a diamond’s size, only its weight.
One carat equals approximately 0.007 ounces. Since we’re talking about diamonds and gemstones, experts often use a calibrated digital scale to get to the actual weight.
Contrary to popular belief, bigger carat weight doesn’t necessarily mean the diamond ring will be more expensive. Most of the time, the value of your engagement ring will be affected by the gem’s color, cut, clarity, etc.
What Is the Average Carat Weight for an Engagement Ring?
The average carat diamond weight depends on where you live. Most countries have different “standards” when it comes to this factor.
In the U.S., you can expect the average carat weight for an engagement ring to be just over one carat. If you were to buy your engagement ring in Europe, for example, the average diamond carat weight would be 0.5 carats.
Age is also an essential factor in diamond weight. Younger people tend to buy engagement rings in smaller sizes (about one or two carats). On the other hand, older people often buy engagement rings with larger carat sizes.
Ultimately, you can choose your engagement ring based on preference and budget.
What Affects the Engagement Ring Size?
Engagement rings get different prices depending on “the four Cs,” which are: Cut, clarity, color, and carat. Let’s start with the cut.
Cut
Many people focus on the carat weight, but if you genuinely want to make the most of your purchase, you should also consider diamond shapes. You can get a large center diamond for your ring, but if it’s not cut correctly, it won’t look as valuable.
Most of the time, a perfectly-cut diamond will look much more impressive than its counterpart, even if the latter has more weight.
Clarity
Clarity is one of the biggest factors in choosing your engagement ring, whether for an emerald or round-cut diamond. In any case, your diamond should look eye-clean.
Color
A colorless diamond will always be more impressive than one with subtle hues. Even though it’s not always easy to find a completely colorless diamond, you can still find fantastic options when you look at them in person.
Carat
As mentioned previously, carat weight can play a significant role in a diamond ring’s value. Typically, the more weight it has, the more expensive it will be.
Consider all four factors before buying engagement rings, which will help you make a smarter purchase.
Does the Shape of the Diamond Affect the Weight?
Yes! The diamond shape can affect its weight and “size.” If you get a round-cut diamond, for example, most of its weight will lie in its bottom. On the other hand, Emerald cuts have a different weight distribution since they’re shallower.
Here’s something interesting: Even though a diamond’s cut doesn’t necessarily affect the size, it can make it appear smaller or bigger.
You can have two or three diamonds with the same carat weight, but they will appear to have different sizes if they have different cut shapes or depths.
Knowing how shape affects an engagement ring’s weight and size can help you stay within budget when purchasing. Many engagement ring styles are out there, so feel free to look around to find something that checks all your boxes.
What’s Considered a “Big” Diamond Engagement Ring?
The answer to this question depends on your perspective on what’s significant. Several people believe that a bigger diamond will always be a great purchase. Still, what’s big for you may not be what’s significant for someone you saw on social media.
Remember that diamond shapes can also affect how large it looks. If you find the proper cut for your engagement ring, you won’t have to spend all your budget on it.
We recommend you get what looks best in your hand. Many people focus on the weight and size of their diamonds only to find out later that they don’t look good. Look for something that you like, and that feels good on your hand when shopping; you’ll be much happier.
How Do You Find the Right Diamond Engagement Rings?
Let’s summarize what we have learned so far:
When buying your ring, you must consider the four Cs, but you can’t forget your budget. It’s a common belief that people should spend three or more months of their salary buying their rings, but that’s not true.
The perfect diamond engagement ring will be the one that you and your partner can buy comfortably. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive one on the market. The actual value of your ring relies on what it symbolizes, not what it’s worth.
People who spend all their savings on their engagement ring will likely feel anxious whenever they look at it, especially if they went into debt because of it. Take your time to set your budget, and once you’re done, you can look at different diamond jewelry options and choose the most appropriate one for you and your partner.
About the Different Diamond Cuts
If a diamond’s cut can affect the ring’s size, which cut should you get?
Let’s look at the most popular cuts you can get and how they can fit different hands:
- Oval: Since this cut is more elongated than a round one, it can make a person’s finger appear slimmer.
- Marquise: Marquise cuts are perfect for those who want to make their ring look as large as possible without sacrificing their entire budget. Thanks to the cut’s pointed ends, these can make your finger appear longer.
- Pear: A “pear” cut diamond can make your finger look longer since it features a pointed end.
- Emerald: This popular cut does a great job of making your ring look larger.
If you want to focus on size over the other factors, you may want to avoid shapes like the cushion, princess, or Asscher cut.
Is It Possible to Change Your Engagement Ring Diamond Later?
Did you already buy a diamond ring and regret it later? Don’t worry; you can do a few things to make it different.
A professional jeweler can take your ring and change its center stone if you feel your diamond is too big or small. If size is not the problem but the looks, you can ask your jeweler to add side stones to make the ring look more impressive.
The greatest thing about a diamond ring is that you can get creative with it. Some people upgrade their rings later in life to celebrate special occasions or to make them look “fresh” again. As long as you and your partner are happy with what you got, that’s all that matters.
Bottom Line – What Engagement Ring Size Should You Get?
The “best” carat size will depend on different factors, such as a person’s age, budget, and preferences. However, remember that you don’t have to get the same carat diamond as everyone else to fit a trend.
If you want to get the best value for your diamond, there are many factors to remember, such as the shape/cut and color.
Those on a tight budget can choose something with a lower clarity grade. While most people aim to buy a gemstone with a high clarity grade, the counterpart isn’t necessarily poor quality.
Some low-clarity-grade diamonds look near flawless to the naked eye, so it’s more about you and your partner’s preferences. Take your time to find something appropriate, and you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.
Another thing you can do to find better value for your diamonds is to shop online. Abercrombie Jewelry has dozens of options available for those who want to get a beautiful engagement ring.
Choose an option that makes you and your partner happy. You’re good to go as long as the rings symbolize your love.