How to pick an engagement ring (guide for men buying for their bride to be)

May 01, 2015

How many carats should an engagement ring be

Are you thinking of making the jump to the next phase with your partner? Or maybe you think it is high time to kneel and pop the big question with a ring.

If are cut up in the frenzy of getting the perfect carat weight of diamond on your engagement ring, keep reading to find out what carat weights fall within an acceptable norm of an engagement ring.

What’s the average engagement ring size?

Carat measurement in diamond is based on weight rather than the usual misconception of the clarity in gold. The average carat weight of an engagement ring is between .5 to 1.2 carat for a single gem. However, there are reports of some rings containing more than one gem weighing up to 1.8carats. Also, some have reported that it could go as low as 0.2 carats too especially, outside the US.

The 4 C’s of diamond

Size alone doesn’t determine the worth of a diamond. Below are the factors that determine the worth of a diamond gem in a ring:

  • Cut: this deals with the quality of the angles, shape, smoothness of the facets and the minute details.
  • Carat: it determines the weight of the diamond.
  • Clarity: evaluates the diamond based on how clean it is. The cleaner it is, the brighter the sparkles.
  • Color: The colorlessness of the diamond determines its quality.

These 4 are essential to determine the carats to go for. The more quality and sparkling it is, the better rating it gets.

How do you determine the right carats for your ring?

Although this is a personal decision, before deciding to choose the carats of the gem on your ring, it is important to take note of these factors.

  1. Your budget: The most important factor in selecting carats is how much you plan to spend. If you plan to spend big bucks, you can go for the larger carats weight. However, the carats should be as many as the amount you are willing to spend.

  2. Finger size matters: it will be weird to have delicate fingers wearing large gems same way it will on wide fingers wearing small gems. The finger size of the person wearing it matters too.

  3. Carat weight and size: Though carats measure weight, it doesn’t mean every 1 carat is cut to the same size. So, check the feasibility of the gem fitting into the ring space. Check to see if the ring can accommodate the gem since not all rings are made to fit certain gems.

  4. Ask for personal preference: It is romantic to pull a surprise with a diamond engagement ring. But it makes no sense if the person cannot consistently wear it due to one reason or another. So, probe around for information before getting enormous gems on the ring.

The decision on how many carats are to be fitted in your ring rest on you. However, the goal is to select the right carats that complement the ring and makes you both happy. Hence, personalize the carats to fit your lifestyle to make the bonding experience unique.


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Written by WeddingGuy who wrote a guide on going to weddings or getting married from a male perspective You should follow them on Twitter