For most people, engagement rings are not complete without a stone sitting pretty on top, and diamonds are the most common gemstone of choice. With various shapes to choose from, oval diamonds are popularly used on engagement rings. 1.5 and 2-carat oval diamond rings are some options you can choose from, and it’s important to know the advantages of either size.
How To Choose 1.5 or 2 Carat Oval Diamond Ring
Whether you’re choosing a 1.5 or 2-carat oval diamond ring, there are important factors always to consider. These factors would help you pick the ring that is of the best quality and look.
Cut
Every jeweler would be quick to point to you that the cut of your diamond would always be the most important factor in choosing a stone. The cut determines how much “fire” a stone has, and an inferior diamond with a great cut would outshine a high-quality stone with a poor cut. Also, a well-cut 1.5-carat oval diamond ring can look better than a 2-carat oval diamond ring that’s poorly cut.
Oval diamonds tend to have small dark portions in the middle where light doesn’t reflect. This little portion is known as a “bow-tie,” and it’s something you should be wary of when buying the ring. However, some people like the bow-ties for the effect and look it gives to the ring.
Clarity And Color
Clarity and color are the other 2 Cs in the famed 4 Cs of selecting diamonds (carat size and cut are the others). Naturally-made diamonds always have imperfections within the stone known as inclusions, and stones with fewer inclusions have higher clarity. Inclusions are more visible on bigger stones, so a 2-carat oval diamond with low clarity would be more obvious than 1.5 carats.
Diamonds also have varying colors; the most high-quality ones are completely transparent. The color of diamonds is graded from D to Z, with D being completely transparent and Z having a strong yellow tint.
Shape
Unlike a round diamond, an oval shape isn’t perfect; some can be more elongated than others that are closer to a circle. Elongated oval diamonds are more suited for people with slim fingers as wider ovals can sometimes look clunky on their fingers.
On the other hand, some people with shorter fingers prefer the elongated oval rings because they can make their fingers look more slender and longer. The shape is a matter of personal preference, and you might need to try on different rings to see what works for you.
Face-up Size
The face-up area is a measurement of the diamond’s size, as seen above (as set in a ring). It indicates the diamond’s size at the girdle plane. A diamond’s face-up size must be large enough to match its carat weight.
The face-up area of a 2-carat Oval (10.236.624.16mm) is approximately 21% larger than that of a 1.5-carat Oval (9.296.193.78mm).
Price
Apart from the size, your oval diamond ring’s price is determined by criteria such as cut, clarity, color, shape, setting, and base metal. On average, a 1.5-carat diamond ring costs between $4000 and $25,000.
The margin results from the wide variety of criteria that determines a ring’s price, including the jeweler you’re purchasing it from. When trying to purchase a 1.5-carat oval diamond ring, the $8,000 to $12,000 range offers the best mix of beauty, quality, and price.
A 2-carat oval diamond ring also costs between $5,000 and $60,000, but you’ll get a great ring from $8,000 to $15,000. The higher-priced rings are more of a luxury item even if they offer perks like greater clarity. However, the difference between oval diamonds of D and G grades cannot be seen with naked eyes.
If you buy rings at lower prices than the range above, you’ll likely get a ring that doesn’t look good.
Difference Between 1.5 and 2 Carat Oval Diamond Ring
Carat Size
The carat size is the most obvious difference between a 1.5 and 2-carat oval diamond ring. For some people, this difference in size is a big deal as they prefer rings with bigger rings, and some prefer the opposite.
Some things that can influence how big a diamond looks are its shape, the wearer’s finger, and the stone’s setting. A wider oval ring would look bigger on a more slender person’s finger. Also, settings that hold much of the diamond beneath the surface can undermine how huge the stone looks.
Price
It’s common sense that a diamond’s size would affect its cost. 2-carat oval diamond rings generally cost more than a 1.5-carat oval diamond ring. However, it is not uncommon to see a 1.5-carat oval diamond ring that’s more expensive than a 2-carat.
If the 1.5-carat has a better cut, more clarity, and a more expensive base, it’ll cost more than the average 2-carat oval diamond ring.
For instance, this 1.5 Carat D-VS2 Oval Cut Diamond Pavé Halo Diamond Engagement Ring costs 30% more than this 2.00 Carat K – SI1 Oval Cut Diamond Engagement Ring.
What’s The Best Size For an Oval Diamond Engagement Ring?
US 4 – US 7 is the common size range for most ladies’ fingers. For these finger sizes, oval diamonds with a size of between 0.5 and 1.5 carats would match the wearer’s hands perfectly. Anything less than this range is too small and would require some ingenuity to highlight the stone, such as using a halo setting. If you’re worried about a 1.5-carat oval diamond engagement ring being too small for you, your fears aren’t necessary.
On the other hand, a 2-carat diamond ring is a big ring, and the stone would be very noticeable regardless of the setting. People with very slender fingers might need a 2-carat ring with a longer oval shape to prevent the ring from coming between the other fingers.
If you take finances out of the way, the best oval diamond size for an engagement ring is a subjective matter. The choice of diamond size would likely be a reflection of people’s personalities.