What Diamond Size is Right For You?

When shopping around for a diamond engagement ring, you should always be taking into account the famous four C’s - Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat. To some people, the most popular factor in the decision making process is the diamond’s carat weight. A carat is the standard unit of weight for measuring diamonds and other gemstones, and it will determine how big or small your diamond stone will be. However, when picking your diamond, there are a lot of factors that you should be considering in addition to its carat weight. See below for some important tips when it comes to deciding on your diamond’s size.

Standard Styles & The Norm

Depending on where you live, the average size for an engagement ring will vary - and Boston is no exception. This also varies over time as a one-carat center stone used to be the norm, but now we are seeing a shift to larger stones. Standard styles change all the time, but right now there is a growing popularity for two-carat stones instead.

Your Hand

This is going to be on your finger for the rest of your life, so you want it to look good and suit YOU the best! This means finding not only the right size but the right shape as well. It’s important to keep in mind that the smaller your finger, the larger the diamond is going to look on you and vice versa. If you are going for a more slimming look, there are diamond shapes like oval, marquise and pear that would be the best for this. If you have a ring size around 6.5 or smaller, you might be wary to get a diamond too large so a 1-1.5 carat size might be best. If your hands are larger though, a larger sized diamond would work well.

Your Lifestyle

It may sound silly but your lifestyle is definitely something you should consider, and it should play a huge part in your diamond purchasing decisions. A large diamond sounds great until you realize how exposed it may be for someone who frequently works with their hands in an active hobby or career. If your lifestyle includes a lot of gardening, the gym or a lot of outdoor activities, a smaller center stone may suit you better than a larger one.

Your Budget

Of course you can’t think about diamond sizes without first considering what works best with your budget. If a larger diamond is outside your financial abilities, there is nothing wrong with investing in a smaller stone now with the possibility of sizing up in the future. A diamond is likely one of the first large purchases to be made, and there is always time to restyle the diamond when you are celebrating milestone anniversaries!

One last important thing to mention is that there are always ways to make your ring and/or diamond look bigger if need be. This includes buying a diamond halo, opting for a three-stone or multi-stone ring as opposed to a solitaire, choosing a higher set mounting, and more. Don't be afraid to think outside the box!

Which carat size is right for you? Stop by and see diamonds in different carat weights in person!