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.
Large Stone Diamonds: 3+ Carats
Large stone diamonds are considered to be diamonds that are at or above a weight of three carats. These big diamonds are often used as center stones on engagement rings. The brilliance of large stone diamonds really makes the ring stand out in a crowd.
One of the decisions to be made when considering the purchase of an engagement ring is how many carats should the ring be? The average according to The Knot (a research company and website for all things wedding) is 1 to 2 carats. There is no rule. Developing a budget is always a good place to start.
Tip #1: Standard & Average Sizes
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.
According to most diamond experts, anything over 2 carats is considered significantly big. So yes, 3-carat diamonds fit into the category of 'huge' diamonds.
In terms of national and international averages, a four-carat diamond is considered a 'big' diamond. In the right setting, it is an excellent carat weight for engagement rings and every day jewelry, but is also impressive enough to be reserved for evenings and occasions.
A 5 carat diamond is going to be large, no matter how you look at it. And regardless of the diamond cut or shape, you're going to be looking at a diamond that is not only wider and longer, but also - and this is something that people often don't realize - deeper, so it will naturally sit higher on your finger.
General Rule: You should spend at least 2 months salary on the engagement ring. If, for example, you are making $60,000 per year, you should spend $10,000 on the engagement ring.
Is a 2 carat diamond considered to be big? The average carat weight for a diamond engagement ring is about 0.9 carat, meaning a 2 carat diamond is definitely considered big.
The range of 1.0 to 1.9 carats is by far the most popular, but there are noticeable peaks at the 0.70 – 0.79 range, the 0.90 – 0.99 range and the 1.50 – 1.59 range. It's great to see that people take our advice and go for a diamond that's slightly lighter or heavier than industry cutoff weights to get the best value.
Hailey Bieber's engagement ring is a stunning piece of jewelry that features a breathtaking oval cut diamond that is estimated to be between 6 to 10 carats in size. The diamond is set in a classic yellow gold band with a very delicate and tucked away peek-a-boo hidden halo.
In the United States, for example, the national average for an engagement ring is around one carat. In the United Kingdom, it's 0.6 carats, and in Europe it's even smaller, hovering at 0.5 carats. Age also matters.
A 3-carat diamond is large enough in size and carat weight to stand out. This type of diamond is also manageable enough to easily wear in a ring. Many diamond shoppers find that this size is just right for them. One important factor to consider is your diamond's cut.
A good rule of thumb is to stay between 0.25 ctw and 1 ctw for an everyday pair of studs. Then, if you're shopping for a pair of diamond studs that you'll wear on special occasions, you may want to go a bit bigger and opt for diamonds that are over 1 ctw.
While a 1.5 carat diamond is larger than the average, what is considered “too big” is personal. If you prefer a more petite diamond of around 0.5 to 1 carat, then yes, it would be too big. However, if you are looking for a larger stone of 2 carats and up, then a 1.5 carat would be too small.
Visually, a 1.5-carat diamond face up doesn't look that much smaller than a 2-carat diamond. On average, 2-carat round-cut diamonds have an average diameter of 8mm, making them only 0.6mm larger than a 1.5-carat round diamond. With a halo or a thin band, your stone can definitely pass as a 2 carat.
2-carat diamonds are flashy and valuable. They tend to look larger (depending on the shape) than their carat weight suggests. And, because they are large, to begin with, you likely won't ever feel like you have to upgrade to something bigger.
Well, a round 2 carat diamond averages about 8.1mm in diameter. An oval is about 10.5mm in length x 7mm in width—so it's going to visually look bigger. Meanwhile, a 2 carat Asscher cut diamond will measure approximately 7mm across.
2.5-Carat Diamond
"If a stone is shallow, it might appear larger than it is, but often won't look as vibrant, or won't reflect light well," the jeweler says. "If a stone is too deep, it'll appear small."
A $20,000 engagement ring budget is far above the median amount spent on a diamond ring, which is around $3,000 – $5,000. When we discuss the average engagement ring cost, we note that people spending 20k are significantly above the mean.
Typically, a $10,000 budget can allow you to buy a diamond between 0.75 carats and 2 carats. If you opt for a 0.75-carat stone, it measures about 5.7 mm.
If you're looking for an engagement ring under $10,000 then I would recommend that you go with something around 0.90-1-carat and 1.5-carat stones depending on your budget and what quality of diamond suits it best! A 2-carat diamond or slightly bigger diamond may be possible if the grade isn't too high.
A leading diamond company bought the stone, which is described as an “exceptional” Type IIb diamond. Miner Petra Diamond sold this 20.08-carat “exceptional” Type IIb diamond for nearly $15 million at a tender held at its offices in Johannesburg earlier this month.
The most popular diamond size includes the half-carat diamond (0.50cts.) The reason for this is not only cost, but this diamond typically hits a budget that many people can realistically aspire to.
When it comes to diamonds, bigger isn't always better. A diamond's carat size is certainly an important aspect to consider when shopping for diamonds – after all, carat size is part of the 4 Cs. But it isn't necessarily the most important feature.