What carat size of diamond should I buy my for my girlfriend / fiancé for her engagement ring?

As a diamond and jewelry expert of 8 years, I am often asked this question. Which size diamond should I purchase for my engagement ring or jewelery piece? Or, I am asked for a specific request or demand such as, “I want a 2 carat diamond.” Or, “I want a 1 ct. diamond,” etc.

My response to this question or demand is always the same: Carat weight, is only that- the weight of the diamond.  It says nothing of the diamonds beauty, brilliance, color or value. It doesn’t even accurately speak for how large or small the diamond will look in the jewelry or engagement piece.

Think of diamonds like you would a person. An odd analogy I know. Channing Tatum for instance weighs 180lbs as does Danny Devito. However, Channing Tatum at 6’1″ seems to be quite a bit different in his appeal to the ladies than Danny Devito who is 5’0″. Both of these examples weigh approximately 180lbs. And both of these examples I think we can all agree are quite different from each other due to proportion.

Carat is simply a definition of diamond weight. Just as 3 carats, 2cts., 1ct, .50ct., is simply a weight and has nothing to do with the actual proportions of the diamond itself such as how deep or how shallow the diamond is cut- which is directly related to the diamonds fire, sparkle and brilliance.

I have seen 2 carat diamonds look more like a 1.5ct diamond and 1ct. diamonds look as though they must surely be closer to 1.50cts. The weight of the diamond doesn’t matter if the majority of it is in the bottom half due to a deep cut and the fire of a diamond is lost if the cutter made it so shallow that it looks huge but the light doesn’t refract into and back out of the facets properly.

Remember, when buying a diamond, it’s about the cut, the color, and the clarity far more than the weight.

So, take some advice from a friend in the jewelry business- buy the perfect diamond by it meeting the perfect look and quality you are trying to achieve not by the numbers it shows when placed on a scale.

Patrick Dean White

Huntsville, Al
256-777-6269
White.patrickd@gmail.com
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