What Carat Should an Engagement Ring Be?

In the UK, the average carat size for a diamond engagement ring is between one and half a carat. Some suggest it is 0.6 carats.

Are you and your partner thinking about getting engaged? The process of buying an engagement ring  is not only fun, but also exciting and daunting. You and your partner may have plenty of questions to ask about finding the perfect ring as part of the engagement proposal you are putting together. 

From how much you should spend on an engagement ring to what precious metal you should choose, there’s so many things to consider when it comes to choosing the perfect ring to get engaged with. When it comes to carats, you may be wondering how many carats should an engagement ring be?

How Many Carats Should an Engagement Ring Be?

The average carat size for an engagement ring in the UK is 0.6 carats, while in the United States, it’s one carat. Europe and China have a similar average carat size with 0.5 carats.

A question we get asked a lot at Diamond Heaven is ‘how many carats should an engagement ring be?’ or ‘what is the best carat size for engagement rings?’ It’s important that when you decide on how many carats your engagement ring should be, choose one that’s within the budget you and your partner has set. Your engagement ring symbolises your love and commitment to your soon-to-be married partner - it’s not worth starting your marriage off in debt! If you cannot afford the engagement ring you want to buy, then our finance option  can be used to finance your ring. Carat and karat are two different terms that are used within jewellery - karat is used to refer to the purity of gold! 

What is a Carat?

A carat is a unit that’s used to measure the weight of a diamond, other gemstones and pearls. A carat is the equivalent to 200 milligrams (one-fifth of a gram). If you want to learn more about diamonds, then you can do so with the GIA scale. The largest diamond found in the world was discovered in Pretoria, South Africa in the Premier Mine on 25 January 1905.

This 3,106 carat diamond  weighed in at 1.33 pounds and was given the name of the Cullinan, which was the name of the mine’s owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan. While our engagement rings are nowhere near the carat size and weight of the largest diamond in the world, you should make sure that you find a ring that’s right for your engagement proposal. There is no one-size-fits-all approach for engagement and wedding traditions as this can vary from culture to culture.

The Average Carat Size for an Engagement Ring

You may be wondering, what size carat for engagement rings are others opting for? The average carat size for an engagement ring in the UK is 0.6 carats, but the average diamond carat size and price fluctuates across different countries. This is because a lot of people place emphasis on the size of the diamond, making it become a measurement of love rather than a symbol of a new beginning and ultimate commitment. In some cases, people are embarrassed to give their beau a smaller diamond - especially in comparison to the rocks on their friends and families fingers.

How Does the Carat of a Diamond Affect the Price?

Simply put, if you are looking for a larger carat diamond but do not want to sacrifice the quality of the diamond, it will set you back. Finding the right diamond is a compromise of budget and want. As soon as you let the size of the diamond influence the budget, you'll either find yourself in a lot of debt, or you may be sacrificing the clarity of the diamond. If you've got a budget of £2,200 and you want to reach the average carat size of 0.6 , you'll need to make sure you've got enough for the setting as well. The chances are the quality of the diamond you get will be quite poor. We always recommend buying a smaller diamond with a much better cut - this will always determine how brilliant the diamond will be. A sparkly diamond can hide inclusions, mask colour and even look larger.

How to Get the Best Carat Weight for Your Money

Wanting to buy the largest diamond you can afford is understandable, but it is crucial that you don't sacrifice the quality of your engagement ring for an extra 0.2 of a carat. Here are a few tips to help you get the best diamond engagement ring for your money:

• Get the best cut possible - as we said earlier, the cut will determine how brilliant a diamond will be. Remember-  the highest quality diamond will not shine to its potential and be very dull if the cut is poor. The best cut means you can save money on colour and clarity.

• Look for a diamond slightly under the magic numbers. What are these magic numbers? Every 0.5 carats. At these weights, diamond sellers will demand significantly more. If you go just below a magic number, you might be able to buy a diamond for as much as 25% less than the asking price.

• Choose a diamond lower in clarity. Clarity is one of the best ways to save money. Most flaws in a diamond are almost impossible to see with the naked eye. VS2 diamonds. And SI1, SI2, or even I1 diamonds could literally save you thousands.

• Think about the metal you want. Yellow gold or Rose gold will be so much cheaper than white gold or platinum. This is because you can choose a diamond lower in colour, allowing for huge savings.

Have a look at our stunning diamond engagement rings here.