If you've ever gone down the rabbit hole of solitaire engagement rings, you've probably asked yourself some version of this question: How big is too big? How small is too small? What do most people actually go for?
Something to keep in mind: carat is weight, not size. It tells you how heavy a diamond is but not how big it looks. While two 2-carat diamonds in the same shape may vary in dimensions, for the most part the variations are quite slight.
We see a lot of clients for ring consultations and we hear about what they want. So here it is, by carat size.
The Magic Number is 2 Carats
For solitaire lab diamond rings, 2 carats is consistently the most popular choice. At 2 carats they look substantial and provide good coverage without feeling over the top. It’s neither too big nor too small for most of our clients.
For some clients who prefer to go a little bigger, 2.2 to 2.5 carats in any of these shapes is a popular next step.
Our picks for these shapes:
- Over The Moon and Secret Garden - Our 2-carat oval solitaire lab diamond ring.
- Delighted - Our 2-carat round solitaire lab diamond ring.
- Muse - Our 2-carat marquise solitaire lab diamond ring.
- Enamoured - Our 2-carat emerald-cut solitaire lab diamond ring.
- Heirloom - Our 2-carat old mine cut lab diamond ring.
- Radiant - Our 2-carat radiant lab diamond ring.
- Northstar - Our 2-carat cushion lab diamond ring.
A few things to keep in mind
A few other things will affect how your ring looks and feels on your hand:
Finger size matters. A 2-carat oval on a size 4 finger looks very different from the same ring on a size 8. What feels big or small is relative to your hand. For the average finger size of 6, most people love a 2 carat.
Shape affects perceived size. Two stones of identical carat weight in different shapes can look noticeably different face-up.
And finally: there is no universally "right" size. A 2-carat diamond is what most people end up loving for a solitaire, but some people prefer something more understated at 1.5 carats, and others want nothing less than 3. Your ring should reflect what feels right to you.
Not sure where to start?
If you're still figuring out what carat weight feels right for you, we're happy to help.
Browse our diamond engagement collection rings here or book a consultation and we'll guide you through it.
