1.50 Carat Diamond Ring Guide
How to maximize value when purchasing a 1.50ct diamond engagement ring
How to maximize value when purchasing a 1.50ct diamond engagement ring
A 1.50 carat diamond is a great value choice if you want to bump up from the typical engagement ring (in the USA, the average engagement ring is 1 carat). Its size will be noticeably larger and have a bit of the WOW factor, while not being a crazy head-turner that people would wear on the red carpet. If you follow some simple guidelines, you can end up with a stunning engagement ring while still keeping within a reasonable budget.
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How much does a 1.50 carat diamond cost?
How large is a 1.50 carat diamond?
What is the difference between a 1 carat and 1.50 carat diamond?
What is the difference between a 1.50 carat and 2 carat diamond?
Where should I buy a 1.50 carat diamond ring from?
What tips should I follow when buying a 1.50 carat diamond?
What setting should I buy for my 1.50ct diamond?
FAQs about 1.50 carat diamonds
If you want personalized help buying a diamond ring in the 1.5ct range, feel free to contact us and we’ll help you choose the best options for your tastes and budget.
A 1.5 carat diamond engagement ring can look elegant, dramatic, and beautiful, offering lots of size and impressive brilliance. Diamond engagement rings of this size don’t go in or out of style. Even during economic turmoil, you’ll see people purchasing 1.50ct+ diamond engagement rings. According to Edahn Golan, founder of Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data, jewelry sales were up 10% during the Covid crisis.
Depending on which shape you choose, a beautiful 1.50 carat diamond will cost you between $7,500 and $12,000. If you insist on the highest quality (more about that later), it can set you back $33,000. And if you want to stretch the quality a bit more to reach for a 1.50 carat diamond, you can get one for $4,500 to $6,200.
Shape | Top Quality D/E, FL/IF | Our Recommendation G/H, VS/SI | The Lower End I/J SI1/SI2 |
---|---|---|---|
Round | $23,200 | $7,030 | $5,100 |
Princess | $15,200 | $6,760 | $5,000 |
Cushion | $15,790 | $7,390 | $3,730 |
Emerald | $16,050 | $6,730 | $5,140 |
Oval | $18,950 | $6,780 | $5,760 |
Pear | $17,800 | $6,910 | $5,710 |
Marquise | $21,320 | $7,230 | $5,150 |
Radiant | $20,100 | $6,770 | $4,100 |
Asscher | $19,610 | $6,780 | $4,360 |
The cost can vary based on numerous factors, including the cut quality, clarity and color grades of the diamond you choose, the shape of the diamond, and the engagement ring setting in which the diamond is mounted. And of course, a major factor is where you purchase your diamond.
As a general rule, you’ll find the best value for money for a 1.50ct diamond ring in the $8,000 to $12,000 range. In our experience, diamonds in this price range offer the best combination of quality, appearance and value for money.
Below the $8,000 mark, you’ll usually find 1.5ct diamonds with noticeable imperfections or poor color that’s noticeable to your eye.
Above the $12,000 mark, you will find diamonds higher in quality. However, the difference between a sub-$12,000 1.50ct diamond and one that’s twice as expensive is difficult to notice without a jeweler’s loupe and bright lighting.
We don’t recommend going too far below the $8,000 mark if you’re looking for a 1.5 carat diamond. Stay within the $8,000 to $12,000 range and you’ll be able to buy a gorgeous 1.50+ carat diamond without overpaying.
For example, this gorgeous 1.50 carat, I color, VS2 clarity, excellent cut round diamond from James Allen is $6,610. While it isn’t flawless, its small imperfections and not-quite-colorless appearance aren’t noticeable to the naked eye, even in large, well-lit photos. With this diamond, you can make a gorgeous ring for less than $8k.
Now, let’s look at an example from the opposite end of the price scale. This 1.50 carat, M color, SI2 clarity diamond from James Allen costs $2,060. It’s obvious just from looking at this diamond that it has some major aesthetic issues — namely, large, obvious inclusions and a visible yellow tint. They are easy to notice, also because of the large size of a 1.50 carat diamond. And if this diamond was set in a white gold or platinum ring with halo, pavé, or side-stone diamonds, the yellowness would be even more noticeable.
And while diamond prices have historically grown consistently, prices rise and fall based on the economy. After the Covid and supply chain crises of 2020 and 2021, prices dipped a bit at the beginning of 2023. De Beers CEO called for cautious optimism as 2023 progresses but has dropped on the wholesale side. To understand diamond pricing better, check out our diamond price calculator.
1.50 carat is a measurement of weight for a diamond equal to 300 milligrams. On average, a 1.5ct diamond in the round brilliant cut will measure approximately 7.3mm by 7.3mm in diameter. In comparison, a 1 carat round brilliant cut diamond is approximately 6.4mm in diameter and weighs 200 milligrams.
For a better idea about the 1.50ct diamond sizes, we compared each shape to a US quarter and to each other (click the image to enlarge it).
On the wholesale level diamond prices are calculated per carat weight, like buying fruits and vegetables. So if the price per carat of a 1.50ct diamond is $8,000, the final price is $12,000. Other than that, you should be focused on the diamond size more than the weight.
Your eyes do not see weight, they see mass. Most often you are looking at a diamond from the top, so the measurements of the “face” of the diamond are most important. Diamonds are measured by their length, width and depth. With round diamonds, there is only one length; the diameter (though they measure it twice to make sure the diamond is perfectly round).
A larger-sized diamond does not mean it is of a larger carat. The table surface area, depth, and other shape features are not impacted by the diamond’s carat weight. These aspects are dependent on the diamond shape and how the diamond is cut—both of which contribute to how big a diamond appears.
Diamond Shape | Approximate Surface Area for 1.5 Carat |
---|---|
Round Brilliant Cut | 7.35×7.35×4.60mm |
Princess Cut | 6.30×6.30×4.51mm |
Emerald Cut | 7.60×5.44×3.79mm |
Asscher Cut | 6.23×6.23×4.27mm |
Radiant Cut | 6.26×6.26×4.23mm |
Cushion Cut | 6.70×6.70×4.45mm |
Oval Diamond | 8.45×6.24×4.22mm |
Pear Shaped Diamond | 10.25×6.41×4.05mm |
Heart Shaped Diamond | 7.56×7.32××4.30mm |
Marquise Diamond | 10.75×5.94×3.98mm |
Trillion Diamond | 8.04×8.04×3.90mm |
1.50ct diamonds are often compared to 1ct diamonds. The key differences between 1.5ct and 1ct diamonds are:
Many people with an engagement ring budget in the $8,000 to $20,000 range look at both 1.5 carat and 2 carat diamonds. The key differences between diamonds in this range are:
As we explained in our guide to buying diamond jewelry online, we highly recommend buying from a trusted online vendor instead of a brick-and-mortar jewelry store. Buying online gives you access to a larger selection of diamonds than any offline jewelry store can offer.
Based on the economics of e-commerce vs. traditional retail, you’ll also be able to save a significant amount of money compared to what you’d pay to buy a diamond offline. This means that you can either buy a better diamond for the same price, or spend less to get a diamond of equal quality.
Our top recommendations based on hundreds of secret shopping experiences are James Allen and Blue Nile. You can read more about it in our Best places to buy an engagement ring article.
Let’s take a look at some examples of beautiful 1.5ct diamond rings, with several different settings and diamond shapes, to give you some inspiration to begin your journey.
Now we’ll answer some of the most common questions people ask when shopping for a 1.5 Carat diamond ring.
You can get a lovely 1.57 ct lab-grown diamond like this one for $2,110. If you are interested in an option like that, read more about lab-grown vs. natural diamonds.
Absolutely. A 1.50 ct diamond is above average in size and will make a beautiful centerpiece for your engagement ring.
A 1.5 carat diamond (round cut) will, on average, have a diameter of 7.3mm. But as carat actually refers to weight, not size, this may be different from diamond to diamond.
Each carat is equal to 0.2 grams, so a 1.50 carat diamond will weigh 0.3g. The table size – the area visible when you view the diamond from the top – can vary depending on each diamond’s cut and shape.
If you’re looking for a large, beautiful engagement ring, a 1.5 carat diamond ring is a fantastic choice.
Like with all diamonds, 1.50ct diamonds can vary hugely in price based on their cut quality, clarity and color. We recommend choosing a diamond with an excellent cut grade, a VS2 to SI2 clarity grade and a color grade in the G to I range to get the best value for money.
We also recommend buying online instead of from your local jewelry store, as this will help you save 30-40% on average. Trusted online diamond vendors such as James Allen, Blue Nile are excellent choices for diamonds in the 1.50ct range.
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