1-carat ring is the most widely bought diamond engagement ring, and this is because the average center stone size is between 0.5 to 1.00 carat. Besides, the size of the stone is a matter of status for many people. It is like that black dress, which is quite common, and yet immensely popular. Due to this, you get a larger selection of 1-carat diamonds that easily fits within your engagement or wedding ring budget. Also, they are widely available from both online and brick and mortar stores. Shared below are reasons why 1 carat is the most popular diamond engagement ring weight.
What Is 1 Carat Diamond?
Carat is the unit used for measuring the weight of a diamond. 1 carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams, and stones of this weight have an average diameter of 6.5 mm. Moreover, it takes about 250 tons of mined rock to produce 1 carat of diamond. Also, the size of a stone does not depend on its shape.
Why Is The Average Size 1 Carat?
To begin with, a 1-carat diamond gives the perfect value for money. Also, keep in mind that the price of a diamond increases exponentially based on carat weight, i.e. a 2-carat diamond can cost more than twice the cost of a 1-carat diamond. The price difference between the two also varies according to the quality of the stones. For example, a 2.02-carat diamond can cost about 20 times that of a 0.52-carat diamond.
Apart from the carat weight, people are naturally drawn towards whole or complete numbers. Surveys have shown that buyers prefer to buy a 1.00-carat diamond over a 0.98-carat diamond even if the latter is a better value proposition. Besides, this is the main reason generally diamonds are cut in half or whole increments, and the price depends on this.
How To Save Money?
There are multiple ways by which you can save money when buying a 1-carat ring. You can opt for a shape that uses more of the rough stone like a princess cut, emerald cut, Asscher cut, etc. The most popular round cut diamonds create more wastage resulting in steeper price. You could opt for a stone with fluorescence that does not impact its sparkle but brings down its cost. A stone with a lower color grade like H costs less. Moreover, choosing designs like 3 stone setting can add extra size.
On a final note, if you are not very particular about purchasing a 1-carat ring, you can instead opt for a 0.96, 0.98, or 0.99 carat stone as it will be around 35% cheaper than a 1 carat stone.