This Is What a Diamond Looks Like at Every Size—from .5 Carats to 10 (2024)

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

What Does Your Engagement Ring Say About You?

0.5-Carat Diamond

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 explains. As for a shape to avoid when purchasing a smaller stone? "Don't go emerald," she says.

1-Carat Diamond

This is what a 1-carat diamond looks like. It's important to remember that a 1-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.

No matter the cut, a 1-carat weight is a popular choice— it's the average diamond size for a typical engagement ring in the U.S., which canrange between 1.08–1.2 carats, according to diamond consultants The Diamond Pro.

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."

2-Carat Diamond

This particular size is often the sweet spot for brides-to-be, explains 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 advises. "Believe it or not, you just might find a 1.9-carat that looks bigger than a 2-carat—you have to have flexibility."

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," the jeweler says. "If a stone is too deep, it'll appear small."

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."

4-Carat Diamond

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.

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."

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, she says, especially since overall "quality" is a multi-pronged question. "Quality grades mean different things for different cuts," explains Landau, who recommends talking to your jeweler about how color and clarity impact your cut of choice.

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. Another hot-right-now shape? Pears, which have graced the left-hand ring finger of many recent celebrities.

8-Carat Diamond

When your job is sourcing, designing, and setting diamonds (especially ones like this 8-carat beauty!), you probably have solid idea of what your own future engagement ring—and its carat size—will look like, right? For Landau, this isn't the case. "I have no idea! I'm always envisioning something different," she says. "I'm personally torn. I gravitate towards oval or an elongated antique cushion cut, though."

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.

10-Carat Diamond

Think a 10-carat diamond is big? Landau once tried on a rock that was around 40: "It was an antique cushion cut and it was like wearing boulder on your hand!"