Looking for that perfect "I do" drip but not sure where to start? Before you fall finger first into a research rabbit hole, let us give you a great jumping-off point, or better yet, a quick guide to the finish line. It's all about the CT baby.
1ct diamonds have been the supreme in the US for some time now. That's cute and all, but let's get real. We want a boujee glow up that doesn't break the bank.
Enter the 1.5ct diamond ring. She's snatched, sparklicious, and just extra enough to snatch up all the main character energy in the room. Plus, it still passes the busy hand's vibe check, and that's a major W.
More, But Not Like, "More" More
So just how big is a 1.5 ct diamond anyway? This is where we remind you that carat is a measure of weight, and many different factors contribute to size like cut, shape, yadda, yadda.
The point is, while knowing the carat weight won’t tell you the exact size, it will give you a super great jumping-off point. A 1.5ct round brilliant, for example, is usually around 7.3mm in diameter compared to a 1ct which is about 6.4mm.
That might sound like a tiny diff on paper, but it's a pretty substantial glow-up as far as your finger is concerned. But seriously, talk is cheap. Peep the Visual aid. Here’s The Textured Twig with a 1ct diamond and The Twig with a 1.5ct. It may be a subtle difference, but it really makes the diamond pop.
The Textured Twig with a 1 carat Round Moissanite and The Textured Twig with a 1.5 carat Round Moissanite in White Gold
Fancy Hits Different
Fancy shapes are fire for more reasons than you might give them credit for. Sure, they are exceptional at giving an individuality upgrade to any engagement ring. We love that. But did you know they can also change the visual size of your diamond?
Carat for carat elongated shapes like pears, marquise, ovals, and elongated cushions are giving more finger coverage. In other words, it’s more glow up for less guap since fancy shapes can save you up to 35% over round brilliants. That’s a double W.
Here are a few fancy 1.5ct fancy shapes in The Twig setting. They all hit a little different, but they’re all gorge. Some deeper cuts like an Asscher or Emerald might appear smaller from a top-down view, but they’ll draw you into their high vibe hall of mirrors. It’s all out the look you’re after.
The Twig with a 1.5 carat Princess cut Diamond in White Gold
The Twig with a 1.5 carat Oval cut Diamond in White Gold
Simply Snatched
One thing is for sure, a 1.5ct diamond doesn’t need any help to have a main character moment. We love how a solitaire sets off this gorge little glitter rock.
Clean, elegant, and modern lines can help highlight the main event, it’s giving low key, and we’re getting everything. Solitaire settings are also more affordable, making them an excellent fit for any budget.
This 1.5ct cushion is pure rose gold elaganza in The Kamellie. She’s even got a hidden halo to add that understated extra we love.
The Kamellie with a 1.5 carat Cushion cut Diamond in Rose Gold
Diamond City Settings
If you want to add a little dankness to your drip, might we recommend something smol? Adding a pavé shank (tiny diamonds on the band) is a fire way to level up your ring game.
As an added bonus, both pavé and halo settings level up the visual size of your setting for far less than it would cost to size up your center stone.
How about the endless intertwining sparkle of The Angelina? We love a split shank moment.
The Angelina with a 1.5 carat Oval cut Diamond in White Gold
Busy Little B's
Active hands like diamonds too, and a 1.5ct rock is just boujee enough to show off without getting in the way.
Low profile settings and strong (but always snatched) 14k gold are the absolute tea for busy hands. The combo is durable enough for people who work with their hands on the daily without losing an ounce of gorgosity.
Bevels, like The Charlotte, are the CEO of busy finger rings since they are the GOAT at protecting those delicate diamond edges. But the low-key champ with the high-key vibe has got to be halos. It gives the same protection as a beveled edge, but it’s covered in diamonds. For obvious reasons, we stan.
The Charlotte with a 1.5 carat Oval cut Diamond in White Gold
Little Bit of Lab Love
You know we'd never miss an opportunity to help you glow up for less guap. See, there are two types of diamonds, natural and lab-created. The only difference between the two is their origin. Well, that and the price tag… and sustainability.
Ok, so there are a few differences, but not one of them is in appearance. Lab diamonds are exactly the same as natural ones down to the atomic level, only they're better for the earth and the people on it. They're pretty great for your budget too.
Since Lab diamonds cost about half the price of natural diamonds, they give you the ability to go home with the diamond of your dreams for less. We live.
Take a look at our diamonds- 1.5ct D-VS2 Oval Lab Diamond, and our 1.5ct F-VS2 Oval Natural Diamond. Can you guess which one is the lab one? Actually, the lab diamond is the top one, and it's slightly better and slightly more affordable. Well, a lot more affordable. It’s like 12k less than the natural diamond. Hey, if you’ve got the gap, you do you. For the rest of us, there are lab diamonds. The upper diamond is a D-VS2 1.5 carat Oval cut Lab Diamond, and the lower one is a F-VS2 1.5 carat Oval cut Natural Diamond
4c's Cliff Notes
It wouldn't be a diamond blog if we didn't touch on the 4Cs. If you want a super in-depth view, here’s a link to all that 4cs edu. If you’d rather not be bored with the details, here are the basics.
First off, don’t skimp on cut. If you want a rock that looks absolutely snatched on all occasions, you’ll need the brilliance and fire (aka sparkle) that comes directly from the cut of the stone.
If you’re looking for a place to finesse the system, it’s definitely in the clarity department. You can save quite a bit by finding an eye-clean diamond with a lower clarity grade. Think VS2. The real tea is that eye-clean is all you need. Spending more on an already eye-clean diamond, ain’t it.
Now when it comes to color, G-H is fab, especially when it’s set in yellow or rose gold. You might want to search for something closer to colorless when set in white gold, but you don’t have to go for D-level perfection.
Picking the perfect diamond ring can seriously bring all the stress. But knowing where to start looking and how to finesse your search will help you land the drip of your dreams in far fewer steps.
So, you ready to glow up to the 1.5ct life? Whether you choose science with extra smols or go au naturel with a side of simplicity, we absolutely stan. There's only one right ring for you, the one that's been living rent-free. So let the sheesh outta the bag. It looks good on you.
