An engagement ring is the symbol of love and commitment. Most people prefer a 1-carat diamond for engagement rings. Do you know why? A single carat is large enough to make an impression, without overloading the finger. You must be wondering what is the cost of 1 carat diamond ring? What makes it a better choice? And what styles and shapes you can opt for your important piece of jewelry. We have all the answers. Read on to make the best purchase.
What Is a One Carat Diamond Stone?
A carat is a measurement of weight. It specifically refers to the weight of the stone that is equal to 200 milligrams. There is a misconception about carat weight and people think the greater the weight, the bigger the size. It is not like that.
Let’s take an example, a human being with greater weight doesn’t mean bigger size. Other factors like height matter. Similarly, the cut has a greater impact on the brilliance and diameter of the diamond.
How Much does 1 Carat Diamond Ring Cost?
One carat diamond rings are available for a wide range of prices. It doesn’t mean that cheaper diamond is not pretty.
Many factors affect the cost of a diamond including cut quality, clarity, color, and shape. Cut quality is the most important characteristic that affects a diamond’s price and beauty by sixty percent.
The price for a 1-carat diamond ring usually ranges from $1800-12000$. Better the qualities, higher the price.
If you go for a slightly lesser weight like 0.90-0.99 carat, the difference in appearance will be negligible but the price difference will be huge. Almost 1-carat rings are so popular among people due to their cost savings.
Where Is the Best Place to Buy 1 Carat Diamond Ring?
People purchased diamond rings from a physical stores for years. Online stores are becoming popular these days. It will be surprising for you to know that they provide you with better quality diamonds at the best prices.
You must be wondering how you can find an authentic online store to purchase your token of love. We are here with a list.
- James Allen- It is an outstanding online store when it comes to choosing an engagement ring or wedding jewelry. They are considered the best online retailer for diamonds.
They offer you thousands of unique settings from halo, and vintage to three stone. James Allen has a wide range of prices from $500 to $9000 depending upon the quality of the diamonds. Furthermore, they have a great selection of wedding rings, loose diamonds, gemstones, and colored diamonds.
The majority of their stones are graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society. This means all their products are authentic and certified.
You don’t need to worry about your purchase when you are shopping with James Allen. They provide you with a lifetime warranty that includes polishing, steam cleaning, rhodium plating, and prong mending. Additionally, if you are not happy with your purchase, you can return it within 30 days and get your money back.
- Blue Nile- It was the first online store established who offered high-quality diamonds. It can be an amazing option for you to choose your engagement ring or a wedding band. Like James Allen, they provide you with a 30-day return with a money-back guarantee.
You can customize your diamond ring by choosing the metal of your choice including yellow gold, rose gold, platinum, or white gold. Metals with different Karat values are available like 14Kor 18K gold. You can also choose fancy diamonds for your ring.
They have a vast collection of loose diamonds with different cuts and shapes. A customer service representative is available on the site 24/7 to help you out. With the Blue Nile, you get free shipping, free polishing, cleansing, and prongs mending twice a year.
The Blue Nile offers you a huge discount and easy bank transfer with a credit card. This service is not available at James Allen.
- Clean Origin- They are known for providing lab diamonds. Do you know what lab diamonds are? They are the synthetic ones, all created in a lab but not fake at all. All physical and chemical properties of synthetic diamonds are similar to the ones that come from the ground.
They have 100 years of experience and started their online store in 2017. One of the greatest benefits you get from purchasing at clean origin is they offer you huge discounts. Their diamonds are 50% lesser in price compared to mined diamonds.
Clean origin has high-quality diamonds and you can view the grading report. You can choose a metal for your ring setting.
They provide you with a 100-day return policy to ensure your complete satisfaction. The only drawback of clean origin is they do not provide you with routine maintenance like rhodium coating, prongs mending, and polishing. You will have to take your ring to some jeweler to fix it.
Lab diamonds do not have resale value. It is the best choice for people who are looking for an alternative to mined diamonds due to their low budget.
- White Flash- It is another wonderful brand with superior quality diamonds. You get the freedom to choose a diamond setting, shape, and quality within your budget.
Pre-made rings are not available at the white flash. They have a virtual collection of loose stones from different manufacturers and sources. They are all tested to ensure the quality and their standard.
A unique service of white flash is you can bring your rough diamond crystal to them and they will cut it into a glittery masterpiece.
They provide you a 30-day return but for a virtual purchase, a 10-day return. Your ring comes with a 1-year warranty within which you can ask the jeweler for polishing, steam cleaning, or mending.
- Leibish & Co- They are known for a wide range of fancy colored diamonds. If you are bored of normal ring styles, then Leibish & Co is the perfect place to shop. Their engagement rings are funky, and unparallel high quality colored stones.
Engagement rings by Leibish & Co are lavish. They are elite and you are going to pay for the elite. The brand is definitely not for people with a low budget.
Things to Consider When Buying a Diamond Ring Online
No matter which online store you choose to buy a diamond ring from, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before finalizing your purchase. You will see a wide range of engagement rings in online stores. Always keep an idea of your dream ring and your budget in your mind.
Every online store provides you with customer service. You can get help if you are confused to choose a product. Visit all the authentic stores and then finalize your diamond ring.
Always make sure that the site provides you with a lifetime warranty or not. Keep an eye on digital sales and promotional prices to get a huge benefit.
Check the website’s certification. If there is an AGS certificate mentioned on it, this means it is all authentic and you can purchase it without a doubt. All the above-mentioned sites are GIA and AGS certified.
If you purchase from a trusted and certified online store, you will have a 30-day return option. You can never avail of a return policy by a physical store.
One more thing, if you think that your diamond ring will look any less than it appears in pictures or videos on the site. You are wrong. You will get the same, you ordered.
Gains of Buying Online Diamond Rings
Online shopping for your diamond ring is a favorable process. It will save your time and energy. Limited designs are available in physical stores whereas you can browse hundreds of unique designs on the site.
You get an authentic and best product at the best price. Online shopping is fast and easy. You don’t have to pay sales tax while purchasing online.
Without pressurizing yourself, you can take days to choose your diamond ring. You can check the grading report while sitting comfortably at your home. So, online shopping is a stress-free method to get a spectacular diamond for your loved one.
Understanding the four C’s of 1 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring
There are 4 C’s including cut, color, clarity, and carat that determine the value of a diamond. These four factors are a tool for the consumer to understand why they need to prefer one diamond over the other.
Buying a diamond ring is a huge commitment, you need to know what you are paying for. Read on to understand each C factor.
- Cut- It is the most important element among all 4 C factors. There is a misconception about the diamond cuts. People take it as size or shape. It has nothing to do with a diamond’s shape or weight. It is the quality of a diamond’s cut. A brilliant cut has well faceted and polished.
This also decides how the diamond interacts with light. Diamond cuts are ranked as excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. Diamonds that fall between the range of very good to excellent appear most sparkling and work best with light.
A diamond with a better cut shines bright even in dim light. A diamond with fantastic color, perfect clarity, and a large carat weight is still unappealing and unwanted if the cut quality is poor.
Pro-Tip
If you are purchasing your diamond ring online, don’t let its shape overshadow the cut quality. Recognize the proportion of diamond before considering its shape. A round brilliant cut is the most lavish option available in the market.
- Color- There is a grading scale that starts from D and ends at Z. It determines the color of a diamond. The D grade diamonds are colorless and Z grade diamonds are light yellow. This characteristic can be masked with a brilliant cut. But elongated diamonds like oval and radiant reveal the hue.
Pro-Tip
If you select a round, emerald, or Asscher cut diamond for your ring with a J grade color, nobody will ever get to know that it has some hue. But if you want to go for some longer shapes like princess, oval, or pear select a color grade from D to G.
- Clarity- A perfect diamond with zero imperfections is rare. Every diamond has some flaws that are known as inclusions. The clarity scale starts from FL (Flawless) to I (Included). You don’t need to choose a flawless diamond. Most of them have inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye.
VS₁ grade is very slightly included and is a perfect purchase. Emerald and Asscher shapes perfectly hide minor inclusions.
Pro-Tip
If you want to purchase a diamond on a budget, find the equivalence between clarity and color. The balance disturbs by a diamond shape. You can select a lower clarity grade with a higher color grade to save your money.
- Carat- It is the measurement of weight. According to the Gemological Institute of America, 1 carat is equal to 0.2 grams. The more the weight, the more it is expensive.
Pro-Tip
A diamond carat has 100 points. A 90-point diamond weighs 0.90 carats. Sometimes a lesser-weight diamond looks bigger due to its dimensions. This is an amazing tip to buy a pretty stone on a budget.
The Shapes of 1 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring
A 1-carat diamond ring is considered ideal because it is inexpensive and gives a delicate look. It always looks classy without overwhelming the finger. Let’s consider some popular shapes for 1-carat diamond rings.
Carat Round Diamond Engagement Ring
1 carat round diamond engagement ring always looks classy and creates the maximum sparkle. The round-shaped diamond has not the largest face-up area, but its exceptional sparkle makes it appear bigger. This is the most expensive shape for a 1-carat diamond ring.
Pro-Tip
If your budget is low and still you want to go for a round-cut, then compromise on carat weight like choosing a diamond with 0.90 carats. Compromise a little on color and clarity. SI₁ and SI₂ clarity grades are completely fine for an engagement ring.
I and J color grade diamond will look great with a white gold setting. K color grade can work best with yellow gold or rose gold settings.
1 Carat Cushion Diamond Engagement Ring
Cushion-cut diamond shows magical fire. This is an old shape that never goes out of style. Angles are so perfect for flashes of colored light.
Another gain of this shape is it is 25-40% lesser in price as compared to round cut diamonds. The only disadvantage of this shape is face-up is 8% less than the round cut.
Pro-Tip
You cannot compromise on color grade while choosing a cushion cut for your engagement ring. The least color grade that you can choose for a cushion cut is H.
As far as clarity grade is concerned, this shape can hide inclusions perfectly. You can go for SI₁ or SI₂ for an awesome look.
1 Carat Emerald Diamond Engagement Ring
Emerald diamond is a celebrity favorite cut. It has a unique sparkle. An elongated shape makes your fingers appear longer and stone bigger. This shape has large facets that are parallel to each other.
Clarity and color are important factors to consider when choosing an emerald-cut diamond. Imperfections are easily visible in it. The minimum clarity and color grades you can opt for are VS₂ and H. The emerald cut is 10-42% lesser in price as compared to a round-cut diamond.
Pro-Tip
As it is already mentioned that you cannot compromise on clarity or color grade when choosing an emerald cut. The angles are not so important for the shape so you can select a shallow stone for your ring.
1 Carat Heart Diamond Engagement Ring
A heart-shaped diamond is the symbol of beauty and romance. Its price is 13-26% less than round diamonds. The modern heart diamond is long and wide with a brilliant cut. The face-up is 7% less than rounds.
A heart-shaped diamond looks pretty with a 0.50-carat weight or above. Prong positioning is so important to enhance its look.
The symmetry plays a vital role, the two halves of the diamond should be matching. The center cleft of the heart should be deep to make the shape prominent.
Pro-Tip
The lowest clarity grade you can go for with a heart-shaped diamond is SI₁ and SI₂. You can compensate a little with the color grade for the heart shape. H color grade will not show any visible inclusion and will save you money.
1 Carat Princess Diamond Engagement Ring
The first princess cut was made in 1960. It is a square shape of a diamond with round brilliance. It never goes out of style and is popular among celebrities due to its chic look. The princess cut has sharp edges that make it more affordable than a round-cut diamond.
The only disadvantage of this cut is its corners are susceptible to scratch and damage. Always make sure the jeweler protects them before handing over your diamond ring to you.
The princess cut has so many facets on the pavilion. When light reflects, it appears like a crushed ice stone.
It is 25-35% lesser in price compared to round-cut diamond. The face-up size is smaller, but the diagonal shape makes it appear larger. Always make sure it does not have inclusions near the edges because it becomes prone to damage.
Pro-Tip
The lowest clarity grade for the princess cut is SI₁. If you want to set it in white gold, color grade H and I will look good without showing any hue. Yellow and rose gold settings can work with J color grade diamond.
1 Carat Radiant Diamond Engagement Ring
The shape is quite rectangular and similar to the emerald cut. Its step-cut facets hide inclusions perfectly and make it more brilliant than the emerald one.
The truncated corners of the radiant cut make it more persistent than the princess cut. The cost is 20-39% less than round diamonds. If you select a slightly longer radiant cut, it will appear larger than its actual size. The only drawback of a radiant cut is its face-up size is 4% less than round diamonds.
Pro-Tip
As it is already mentioned, radiant cut hides inclusions well. You can choose SI₁ and SI₂ clarity grade for your diamond ring. H color grade looks good with white gold and you can lower the color grade to I with rose gold or yellow gold.
Best Setting & Style for 1 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring
Choosing a pretty diamond with an amazing cut is not enough. Setting plays an important role in enhancing its overall look. Read on to know the amazing settings which will make your 1-carat diamond appear larger and brighter.
- Prong Setting- This is the most popular and common setting of engagement rings. There are usually 3-6 claws that hold the diamond firmly. When choosing the prong numbers, always go for 4 instead of 6 because it will expose your diamond more.
Light reflects from all angles and makes it appear brighter and the simplicity of style makes it appear larger. Easy cleaning is another gain for a prong setting.
- Pave Setting- It is pronounced as Paw-vay. Tiny stones encircle the band and very little metal is showing. It creates a continuous glittering surface. Usually, white gold or platinum is used for pave setting.
This is one of the amazing settings for a 1-carat diamond engagement ring because it gives an impression of more and bigger diamonds than the actual size.
- Bezel Setting- This is a type of setting in which a metal surrounds the diamond covering its edges and corners. This is one of the most secure settings of a diamond ring.
There is no chance of nicking or chipping of stone. If you go for white gold or platinum metal setting with the stone, it will make the diamond appear larger. Yellow gold can enhance the fancy colored diamonds.
- Halo Setting- This is one of the most popular settings of a 1-carat diamond engagement ring. Marquise, cushion, and Asscher cut diamonds are mostly used for a halo setting.
Tiny stones surround the central diamond and make it appear larger. This setting provides security to the central diamond and works well with different cuts.
- Cathedral Setting- More metal is used in the cathedral setting to build a bridge and raise the diamond. The cathedral setting is more costly than the tiffany or solitaire setting.
The raised position of the diamond gives an illusion of a larger size. It looks pretty with various shaped diamonds.
1 Carat Diamond Ring VS 0.90 Carat Diamond Ring
When you compare a 1-carat diamond with a 0.90-carat diamond, you will hardly notice any difference in size.
1-carat diamond is 6.4-6.5mm and a 0.90-carat diamond is 6.2-6.3mm. The minor size difference in size is negligible.
As far as their prices are concerned. 1-carat diamond is a popular weight and is more expensive than 0.90 carats. You can get a 15-40% discount on choosing a 0.90 carat stone for your engagement ring.
1 Carat Diamond Ring VS 1.20 Carat Diamond Ring
As it is already mentioned that 1-carat diamond is 6.4-6.5mm in diameter. In comparison, a 1.20-carat diamond is 6.75mm in diameter. This small difference in size appears as a big difference.
The prices for both carat weights are quite similar. If you have decided to purchase a 1-carat diamond, then increasing the size further to 1.20 will not be very expensive but it will be a great difference in physical size.
1 Carat Diamond Ring VS 1.50 Carat Diamond Ring
A 1.50-carat diamond is of course bigger and more expensive than a 1-carat diamond. in order to have a 1.50-carat diamond at a lesser price, you should have a great knowledge of the 4 Cs of diamonds. All the necessary information on the 4 C factors is already mentioned in this article.
You can compromise a little on clarity and color grade. A great cut makes a diamond look sparkly and full of life. Never trust a jeweler who tells you that color or clarity grade is more important than the cut.
Choose a 1.5-carat diamond ring with a brilliant cut and VS₂ clarity grade to surprise your loved one. The superior cut quality will result in better shine and make it thousand times more attractive to look at. Last but not the least, it will save you money.
Conclusion
Looking for a perfect 1-carat diamond engagement ring is a difficult task. But we hope that our guide will make your purchase easier. Prefer an online store over a physical store because you will get to see a great variety, of authentic products at discounted rates.
Always set your budget and understand the 4 C factors of a diamond. The right setting of your stone will enhance the overall look of your diamond ring.