Compare 13 Different Diamond Sizes—from .5 Carats to 10

diamonds on hand — Photo:
Courtesy of The Clear Cut

Many future brides will tell you that they already have their dream engagement ring picked out. But it can be more difficult than it seems to choose a carat size you're happy with. To help make the decision easier, we worked with Olivia Landau, expert fourth-generation gemologist and founder of the custom engagement ring company The Clear Cut, to bring you this visual guide to diamond carat sizes.

Olivia Landau is a fourth-generation gemologist and the founder of the custom engagement ring company The Clear Cut.

Know that carat size is a diamond’s weight not size, and Landau points out a few things to take into account that may supersede the number of carats. Most importantly? No two cuts carry their weight the same way, which means that a 1-carat round stone will look infinitely different than an emerald-cut rock. There are also so many factors that go into a great diamond—all of which are summed up in the stone's overall grade.

Regardless of the carat size you're shopping for, you'll want to familiarize yourself with jeweler jargon, so you can best understand why two same-weight stones might have different presentations and price points. That means reading up on terms like "cut," "clarity," "inclusions," and "color." Luckily, Landau also walked us through the gemologist's complete vocabulary. Ahead, your engagement ring required reading.

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0.5-Carat Diamond

hand with half carat diamond — Courtesy of The Clear Cut

A diamond that's less than a carat doesn't have to feel (or look!) small, says Landau. It all comes down to choosing a shape that magnifies the rock, whatever its size. "If you only have the budget to purchase less than a carat, go for a round or oval cut," she says, adding that you should avoid choosing an emerald-cut ring when purchasing a smaller stone.

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1-Carat Diamond

hand with one carat diamond — Courtesy of The Clear Cut

This is what a 1-carat diamond looks like. It's the average diamond size for a typical engagement ring in the U.S., which can range between 1.08 to 1.2 carats.

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1.5-Carat Diamond

If your budget prevents you from hitting that 2-carat mark, there's a way to make an in-between stone (a diamond that's around 1.5 carats, for instance!) appear larger. "If you want to make your diamond look bigger, either set your diamond with side stones or with a halo," Landau says. "A halo is like a push-up bra for a diamond—it'll make the stone look a carat to a carat-and-a-half larger than it actually is."

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2-Carat Diamond

This particular size is often the sweet spot for brides-to-be, says Landau (at The Clear Cut, most fiancées envision something between 1.5–2.5 carats). But the biggest mistake an engagement ring shopper could make, she says, is getting bogged down by the weight. "Don't go in with a carat number, fall in love with something smaller, and pass it up," she says. "Believe it or not, you just might find a 1.9-carat that looks bigger than a 2-carat—you have to have flexibility."

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2.5-Carat Diamond

If you're shopping for a larger-sized stone (which starts at around the 2.5-carat mark), you'll want to make sure the diamond you purchase lives up to its price tag—and this has everything to do with determining appropriate dimension. "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," says Landau. "If a stone is too deep, it'll appear small."

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3-Carat Diamond

A 3-carat diamond is quite the investment—and, like all financial decisions, you want to ensure that the venture is sound. The best way to do that? "Shop for diamonds when they're loose," Landau advises. "A lot of settings can alter a diamond's appearance. You're investing in the stone, not the setting."

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4-Carat Diamond

This is what a 4-carat diamond looks like. Whatever carat weight you're considering, you'll want to ask your jeweler about the diamond's clarity, Landau says. This value takes into account the stone's inclusions, which are the natural particles that get caught as the diamond forms under pressure. These inclusions (they can be as obvious as a black dot in the center of the diamond or completely unnoticeable) are factored into the diamond's overall grade—which ultimately impacts the price.

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5-Carat Diamond

According to Landau, there's no such thing as too big a diamond—but she knows they're not for everyone. "It's so personal and it ultimately comes down to your lifestyle," she says. "To some, a 5-carat diamond ring is so big it looks fake. For others, there's no limit."

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6-Carat Diamond

A larger stone naturally prompts questions about quality versus quantity. Should you choose a smaller ring with exceptional quality or a larger one with a lower overall grade? That's another personal choice, especially since overall "quality" is a multi-pronged question. "Quality grades mean different things for different cuts," says Landau, who recommends talking to your jeweler about how color and clarity impact your cut of choice.

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7-Carat Diamond

Splurging on a rock that's 7 whole carats might make you conservative with your shape choice. But cut popularity is changing all the time, Landau says. "Marquis-cut stones were really popular over 20 years ago, fell out of favor, and are now on the rise," she says.

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8-Carat Diamond

This beauty is 8 carats. It's important to remember that an 8-carat round diamond is going to visually differ by cut. This means that an asscher-shaped stone will present differently than a princess-cut rock, even if they share the same weight. "People directly correlate carat weight to its looks, and while this is more or less true with rounds, other shapes aren't impacted just by carat size—it's also about dimensions," Landau says.

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9-Carat Diamond

Small-handed girls, a diamond like this 9-carat whopper will likely dominate the majority of the space between the base of your finger and first knuckle.

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