Diamond Carat Guide for Your Ring

Diamond Carat Guide for Your Ring

Diamond Carat Guide for Your Ring

Shopping for a diamond ring? Whether you’re currently in the market for a new sparkly best friend or are getting ready to pop the question, there’s one characteristic to every diamond you can’t overlook: the carat.

Everyone knows that a diamond’s carat holds significant weight in the overall appearance and value of the ring. If you’re wondering how to choose diamond carat weight for an exceptional piece of jewelry, then this guide is for you. We’re breaking down the entire diamond buying process by explaining the most important aspects of each diamond to consider, including the carat size. 

Understanding Diamond Carat Weight

You might have heard about “diamond carats” and how precious the larger carats are, but do you know exactly what carat means? Let’s break down this overused diamond terminology to clear up any confusion and make you more diamond-aware. 

What Is Carat Diamond Terminology?

No, ‘diamond carat’ is not the same thing as the yummy orange vegetable. Carats are a unit of measurement – specifically used to measure valuable gemstones like diamonds – that indicate the diamond’s weight. That’s right, when you hear how many carats a diamond has, it’s actually not referring to the size at all!  


One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams, so it takes five carats to make a diamond weigh five grams. The higher the carats on a diamond, the higher the price. But carats aren’t the only factor that determines how much investment-grade diamonds are worth. 


The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) created a scale chart known as the 4Cs: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. All of these factors work together for pricing of a diamond.  

How Carat Affects Diamond Value and Appearance

While the diamond’s cut and rarity certainly affect how each diamond is valued and perceived, carat weight plays another big role. Carat weight goes hand in hand with value and appearance since larger diamonds are typically more rare, making them more valuable. These rare, larger diamonds usually have higher carat weights and the more the weight (carats) increases, so does the price. 


Along with size, there’s the shape and cut of the diamond to consider with how the carat is viewed visually. Some diamonds that are shaped differently, like elongated ovals and squares, appear visually bigger than traditional round diamonds though they may have the same carat weight. 

Diamond Carat Size on Finger

Dreaming of what the perfect carat weight looks like on your finger? Well, it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer.

How Different Carat Weights Look on Various Hand Sizes

We can’t give you clear-cut answers as to what various carat sizes will look like on your hand because it all depends on several factors. Your hand size, carat size, cut, and clarity all play a major role in how different carat weight looks on your finger. 


But, for a basic rule of thumb, smaller fingers work best with smaller carats (0.5-1) while bigger fingers look best with bigger carat sizes (1.5-2). 


However, the diamond’s shape is definitely another important consideration. When choosing the perfect carat size, you want to keep the gemstone proportionate to your finger. Since different shapes can make some carat weights appear larger than they seem, it’s best to try on several different shapes and sizes to find the style that complements your body beautifully! 

Setting Styles That Enhance Diamond Size Appearance

Whatever diamond size you invest in, you want to show off its certified excellence while also making sure your diamond stays in its prong. The different types of setting styles help elevate the look of your diamond on your finger, and can also enhance the size appearance. 


Prong settings are usually the most common, like this 14K Round Diamond Prong Wedding Ring. This style surrounds your center diamond with at least six metal claws that don’t alter the gemstone’s fine appearance. Another popular setting is the bezel setting, which wraps a metal band all around the edge of the diamond to keep it in place, like you can see in our 14K Diamond Bezel Twisted Engagement Ring.  


There are other speciality setting styles that enhance the diamond size of your ring. Halo settings, like our 14k Emerald Cut Halo Ring, position smaller diamonds around the center diamond for a cushion effect. Cathedral settings raise the center diamond with arches to make it appear larger. 

The Role of Diamond Shape in Size Perception

A round diamond isn’t the only diamond shape available. There are several other shapes available that can make your diamond size appear larger. Here are a few shapes to look at when shopping for the perfect diamond ring:

  • Oval

  • Emerald

  • Pear (also known as “Teardrop”)

  • Marquise

  • Cushion

  • Radiant

  • Princess

  • Asscher

  • Heart

While round or circle diamonds are the most common and traditional, these other shapes can greatly enhance the appearance of your diamond when it comes to sizes. For instance, a 10.5x7mm pear diamond looks slightly larger than a 8.5x6mm emerald diamond even though they both are the same size (2 carats). That’s because the pear shape is more elongated than the emerald, which can make it appear larger on your finger. 

What Carat Diamond Is Good?

Sure, it’s dreamy to flash around a diamond with the highest carat size, but is it truly the best fit for you? Here are a few tips to help you discover a good diamond size for a beautiful, heirloom-quality investment.  

Finding the Perfect Balance Between Size and Quality

Before you get the diamond frenzy and go overboard with size, observing the diamond’s cut will help you find the perfect balance with size and quality. A diamond’s cut refers to how the gemstone reacts to light, its proportion, and angles. 

Precision cut diamonds are the best to maximize the optimal light performance of your piece of jewelry. Plus, sometimes precision cut diamonds can give the illusion that your diamond is larger than it really is because of how well it shines and sparkles. 

You should also consider the color of the diamond along with the cut and shape. Before getting caught up on size, you need to be in love with how clear or colorful your diamond is. Diamonds can have some color to them, depending on where the gemstone falls in the color chart. 

The GIA’s D-to-Z color scale indicates the different shades diamonds can have that range from the colorless, bright diamonds we’re used to, to having almost a gold-looking hue. 

Diamond Spread and Dimensions Explained

When you’re looking at carat size, you might hear your jeweler mention something about a diamond’s “spread.” The spread of a diamond can also alter the perception of the diamond’s size by how it proportions the carat weight based on the gem’s cut. 

Diamonds are made with three physical spreads: shallow, proportionate, and deep. The depth of these spreads can make the diamond appear larger or smaller when viewed from the top, even if the diamonds have the same carat weight. 

Shallow depths will make the diamond appear larger since there’s more spread along the top. Proportionate spreads appear slightly smaller when compared to shallow depths, but deep depths appear the smallest. 

Popular Carat Weights for Engagement Rings

When it’s time to pop the big question, don’t feel the pressure to select the largest carat size on the market. The ideal size range for engagement rings falls anywhere from 1.25-1.5 carats. These sizes are perfect for giving your loved one a ring that’s still big enough to be flashy without needing a large budget.

Ferko’s Expert Recommendations By Budget

At the end of the day, your budget is a huge factor to note when purchasing investment-grade diamonds. Luckily, Ferko’s offers a range of beautiful diamond carat sizes for a variety of budgets. 

To fit the popular size selection, our 1.25 ctw 14k Halo Setting Diamond Engagement Ring is our top pick for bigger budgets, along with our stunning 1.65 ctw 14K Three Stone Engagement Ring and 14k Emerald Cut Illusion Mosaic Solitaire Engagement Ring

If you’re working with a smaller budget, our 14K Diamond Bezel Twisted Engagement Ring and 14K Pear Shape Engagement Ring are just as beautiful and made with certified excellence for high-quality pieces of jewelry. 

Making the Right Diamond Carat Decision

With so many sizes, shapes, cuts, and colors available, it can feel overwhelming to find the absolute perfect carat size. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping that will make the selection process easier. 

Personal Considerations When Selecting Carat Weight

Having the dreamiest diamond carat on your finger comes down to personal preference and what you’re most comfortable with. Choosing the right carat size is only part of the battle. You also have to consider the shape of the diamond, its cut, and the price. That’s why we suggest trying on several different diamonds to find your fit. 

The Ferko’s Approach to Diamond Selection

Still having trouble finding your diamond? Our experts at Ferko’s would be happy to help you! We believe investment-quality diamonds should be an affordable luxury for everyone to make everyday beautiful, but know the selection process is oftentimes the most stressful. 

Not only do we have pre-made designs ready for you to choose from in 14k or 18k gold, we also offer custom made jewelry with certified excellence. We will walk with you through the process of bringing your dream ring and carat size to life with our exceptional 3D software and experts who handmake every item. 

Future-Proofing Your Diamond Investment

Once you’ve purchased your diamond, you want to ensure the heirloom quality lasts a lifetime. Remember to regularly clean your diamond in a gentle cleaning solution of warm water and mild dish soap before using a soft-bristled brush, like a toothbrush, to gently scrub away any dirt. You can also seek professional help for cleaning or jewelry repair to enhance the brilliance of your diamonds.