Carat: How Big It Is

When selecting an engagement ring, the big question is "how many carats?"

What Does Carat Mean?

Carat is basically a measure of the diamond's size. Technically, Carat (ct) is a measurement of the diamond's weight (or even more technically, its mass--one carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams).

Carat isn't the only thing that determines how big a diamond looks on the finger--cut matters too. For example, two diamonds can have the same carot weight, but a short and fat one would look bigger and wider than a tall skinny one. But putting that nuance aside: higher carat means more rock, bigger ring, and more expensive.

How Carat Influences the Value of a Diamond

Carat has an exponential impact on the price of the stone. However, while higher carat stones are bigger than smaller carat stones, the "bang for your buck" decreases as the carat size increases. As an example, a 1.5ct stone will look much bigger than a 0.5ct ring, but the difference won't be as dramatic when increasing from 1.5ct to 2.5ct.

My Personal Opinion

Carat is probably the most impactful of the 4Cs. Everyone will notice how big it is, and I'll bet you no one will take a look at your ring and say "wow, I don't see any inclusions!" (see clarity for more on that). I suggest choosing your "minimum accepetable" rating for the other Cs (cut, clarity, and color) and then maximizing the carat, subject to your budget.

Also Worth Mentioning:

• Ring Setting: Certain settings can make a diamond appear larger than it is. For instance, a halo setting surrounds the center stone with smaller diamonds, making it look wider for a given carat weight.
• Expectations: Your partner probably doesn't know anything about cut, clarity, or color--but they might have a strong opinion on size. I recommend trying to get a rough sense of these expectations before pulling the trigger on a ring.