What to Know About 1 Carat Diamond Engagement Rings?

The Four C’s are Crucial!

The Gemological Institute of America gives four different grades when certifying a stone. These four factors are often referred to as the 4 C’s; Carat weight, Color, Clarity, and Cut. 

Cut

The main factor which determines the overall size of the diamond is its cut. Whether it’s round, emerald, square, cushion, radiant, etc., the facets inside of the diamond are what make it sparkle and shine. 

When diamonds are graded on their cut they are given one of four ratings; excellent, very good, good, or fair. A diamond graded “Excellent” in cut means the inner facets and cut angles complement the ring in the best way possible. These inner facets work to provide the most sparkle when exposed to light. 

Color of 1 Carat Diamond Engagement Rings

The next C is Color! Now, although the color of a diamond doesn’t play many roles in the appearance of its size, it does apply to its brilliance! When gemologists grade the color of a stone, they are measuring the lack of color. 

When a diamond has no hue, this means it is chemically pure and structurally ideal, like a drop of water. The color grade scale goes alphabetically from D-Z; Z being the darkest color and D meaning the stone is colorless. 

Clarity of 1 Carat Diamond Engagement Rings

The final aspect that determines the overall look of a diamond is clarity. If you’ve ever heard someone refer to a diamond as a VS1 or VVS, they are talking about its clarity. The diamond clarity scale has six categories; Flawless (FL), Internally Flawless (IF), Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1/VVS2), Very Slightly Included (VS1/VS2), Slightly Included (SI1/SI2), and Included (I1/I2/I3).

Diamonds are created when carbon is exposed to massive heat and pressure. Oftentimes, this process can result in stones containing internal flaws called inclusions and external characteristics referred to as blemishes. A diamond’s clarity is determined by the severity of the inclusions when observed under 10x magnification. Although no natural diamond is completely pure of imperfections, the closer it comes to being flawless the better the clarity grade it receives. 

Assuring your 1-carat diamond has the best color, clarity, and cut possible is the best way to maximize the appearance of the stone. 

Make Your Diamond Look Bigger 

Opting for a 1-carat diamond engagement ring expands the possibilities of all the styles to choose from since the center diamond isn’t an overwhelming focal point. There are several ways to manipulate the design of a 1-carat ring to give the illusion of a larger stone. 

Why Buy 1 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring

When deciding on the setting for your 1-carat diamond, there are a couple of factors to take into consideration to make the stone look as brilliant as possible. The first factor is the metal options. 

While it’s become quite popular to see engagement rings in yellow gold or rose gold settings, white metals are optimal for diamonds to appear larger. This applies to all white metals like white gold, platinum, and sterling silver. When a diamond is set into a white metal the diamond reflects the color of the setting which makes it shine more and appear larger. 

The second thing one wants to consider is the kind of setting that will be keeping the 1-carat diamond in place. The mount in which your diamond will sit is just as important as the band wrapping your finger. 

When one is trying to make their 1-carat diamond appear as large as possible, they want to make sure the ring band is as thin as comfortably possible. The comparison between a thin wedding band and diamond adds dimension to an engagement ring and also allows the diamond to stand out. 

If making a 1-carat diamond look as large as possible is the goal, then one should stray away from setting their diamond in a bezel setting. A bezel-set diamond contains an edging around the stone which emphasizes the size of the diamond; not something most people with 1-carat diamonds wants to do. 

Instead, one should see if they can get a halo setting. A halo setting includes additional accent diamonds around the setting of the center diamond, making the 1-carat diamond appear almost twice as big.