What’s the perfect size engagement ring? Well, it all depends. If you ask around, everyone will tell you the same. A 1ct diamond is the average. But it’s just that, average. The real tea is that 1ct looks pretty small, and making it stand out takes some effort.

The more important question is, what size diamond would you buy if it weren’t about the money? Most couples are sizing up, and the best part is, this ring finger glow-up doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. So what’s our vote for the new GOAT? Let’s get into it.

Hype Ups That Hit Different

Ok, here’s the tea. 1ct diamonds are cute, but in reality, they’re pretty small. So while it might sound like a great budget-friendly decision right now, you might wish you had sized up down the road. If you want a rock that will stand that test of time (and seriously, why wouldn’t you?), why not pop up the carat weight before you pop the question? 2 and 3-carat engagement rings have a bit more chonk to them. And you’re gonna be stoked sprung for the substance down the line.

While a bigger rock may seem out of reach or out of budget, larger center stones are much more accessible than you might think. So don’t sell yourself short today when this is something that will be with you for 10, 20, or forever years. This 3ct Penelope is just such a perfect amount of chonkage. She’s subtle, but everyone knows she’s there.

Shake Your Groove Thing

So you like to get down, and you’re worried an active lifestyle and a big rock might not be a good match? Well, that might be true with an astronomically huge chonky diamond. Still, you’re totally chill with something in the 2-3 carat range.

Check out The Charlotte with a gorge 2ct oval. This setting has the added protection of that glorious bevel which is ideal for active hands. But even in a more delicate setting, something in this size is totally sustainable in the daily wear department while still making a statement. Sure, 1ct rings or even smaller ones are fantastic for active people. But not all active people want a smaller stone. There’s no reason you can’t live your best busy life and still have the drip of your actual dreams.

Money Money Money

So you were budgeting for 1ct, and now you want the bigger rock? No biggie. There are oodles of ways you can save big and still go home with a chonky glow up.

So Much Science

First off, you low-key always have a choice when you shop for diamonds. You can get a lab diamond or pay more for a natural diamond. The tea? They’re the same diamond. They just come from two different places… only one cost twice as much.

You can get a boujee 2 or even 3-carat lab diamond for about the same price as a 1ct natural diamond. If you want to size up on a budget, it's a major W for science. Here’s a 1ct Oval F VS1 Natural Diamond. It's a gorge little thing, to be sure. However, just below it is a shiny 3.17ct Oval D VVS1 GIA Lab Diamond, and it’s the same price. For real, over three times the carat weight on the same budget? Yes, please.

So Much Shiny

Looking for something twice as shiny and twice as affordable? Why not check out moissanite? This gorge glittery gobstopper has been rising to major popularity as people are ditching the diamond in favor of a significant chonk of shiny space rock. (Ok, it’s lab-made, but it was discovered in a meteor)

The point is, you can legit go home with a 2 and 3-carat moissanite for less than the 2ct lab diamond. If you’re looking for something that brings the beauty, but you want to sidestep the diamond story, it might be fright up your alley. Literally, you can’t tell us this 2ct moissanite Kristen isn’t pure gorgosity. We absolutely stan. And with a ring like this one starting under 3k, you just can’t go wrong. It’s a total W.

So Much Finesse

So, you still want a diamond, and you want to save? You can find oodles of info in our education section on the 4c’s, but if you’re looking for a quick rundown to bring the price down, we got you.

First off, and probably most importantly, don’t skimp on cut. See, cut is responsible for everything we love about diamonds. Their brilliance, fire, and all the other things that make it shiny. We love shiny. All that sparkle hides inclusions, creates movement, and ensures you don’t have a dark, dull diamond. Cause no one wants that.

We could seriously call clarity the finesse zone cause you have so much wiggle room here. All tea so long as the diamond you’re looking at is eye-clean, you don’t have to spend more on clarity. In fact, if you do, you’re really just throwing money away.

Finding a colorless diamond is great, but what’s even better is finding a snatched diamond that looks colorless but saves you some serious guap. In reality, you probably don’t have to go higher than a G or H to find a diamond that will look absolutely fire. TBH you can even go I or J if you’re setting in yellow gold.

3.01 carat G SI1 Cushion cut Diamond

Teach Me How To Two-Step

2ct diamonds can be a statement unto themselves. That’s why they always look snatched with the simple elegance of a solitaire. But the absolute versatility of a 2ct rock means you can live your full fantasy and set it any way you like. Want to add a little more sparkle? Pavé, that baby! Want to make it look even bigger heaven knows we love a halo.

But if you prefer to color outside the lines, we love the look of scattered side stones like The Mia. Adding some smols at the shoulders or around the band can create a unique and unexpected silhouette, and we absolutely live.

Three Drips Nice

3ct rings are bold and beautiful. They can bring the understated eleganza or totally steal the show, as is the case with this 3ct Twig. However, if you work with your hands, you might worry about the delicate diamond edges of your snatched center stone. But why be afraid when you can be boujee?

Seriously, adding some smols in the form of a halo setting not only makes your rock look even bigger, but it’ll also protect it from the elements. And by elements, we mean you, and your work, and your life… and that countertop over there. Whoever said you can’t be busy and boujee wasn’t wearing enough diamonds.

Too Good To Be True?

Sounds like it, but not really. You deserve it. The real tea is down the road. You’ll be glad you followed your heart to dripsville and sized up your center stone. And seriously, with lab diamonds and moissanite, it's more than possible to get the rock you’re dreaming about while sticking to your budget. It’s the main character glow-up moment that we absolutely live for. And seeing people get the rock they really want? We love to see it.

What Is The Perfect Size Engagement Ring?

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