1.50 Carat Diamond Ring: The Ultimate Buying Guide

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.

Why you should trust us

To help you with the diamond buying process we lean on our expertise and experience. The author of this article, our CEO, Mike Fried has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Mike started from the bottom, sorting and evaluating hundreds of thousands of diamonds to learn every facet (pun intended) of diamond quality and value. Mike followed that up by spending years buying and selling diamonds on the wholesale market as well as selling tens of millions of dollars worth of diamonds to diamond retailers.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

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.

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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.

Very romantic 1.50ct round cut diamond in a rose gold halo setting — 1.50ct round cut diamond in a rose gold halo setting from Blue Nile

How Much Does a 1.50 Carat Diamond Ring Cost?

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.

1.50 Carat Diamond Price Chart – Updated January 2024

Shape	Top Quality D/E, FL/IF	Our Recommendation G/H, VS2/SI	The Lower End I/J SI1/SI2
Round	$23,200	$7,710	$6,100
Princess	$15,200	$6,280	$5,000
Cushion	$15,790	$5,870	$3,730
Emerald	$16,050	$7,760	$5,140
Oval	$18,950	$7,390	$5,760
Pear	$17,800	$7,580	$5,710
Marquise	$21,320	$9,210	$5,150
Radiant	$20,100	$7,020	$4,100
Asscher	$19,610	$7,720	$4,360

Click on ‘Our Recommendation’ to see the diamond

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.

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Don’t sacrifice too much on quality for size.

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, SI1 clarity, excellent cut round diamond from James Allen is $9,880. 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. That makes it a perfect diamond for a 10k engagement ring.

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 $3,830. 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.

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How Big is a 1.50 Carat Diamond?

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.

Carat weight and diamond size are not the same thing

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 Carat vs. 1.50 Carat Diamonds

1.50ct diamonds are often compared to 1ct diamonds. The key differences between 1.5ct and 1ct diamonds are:

Size. A 1.5 carat round brilliant cut diamond measures about 7.3mm in diameter, while a 1 carat diamond is slightly smaller at 6.4mm in diameter. This size difference is large enough to be quite noticeable on your fiancé-to-be’s finger.

If you’re looking for a larger, more eye-catching diamond and have a suitable budget, a 1.50ct diamond will have more presence than a 1 carat diamond engagement ring.

Price. Diamond prices rise exponentially with carat weight, meaning a 1.50ct diamond will typically be more than 1.50 times the 1 carat diamond price.

For example, a 1.50 carat, I color, VS2 clarity, excellent cut diamond will run about $9,000, while a similar 1 carat diamond $5,500. Despite being 50% heavier, the 1.5ct diamond is 75% more expensive.

If you’re looking purely for value for money and don’t care as much about the perceived size of the diamond, choosing a smaller diamond in the 1 carat range might be a better option for you.

Quality. There’s no difference in quality between diamonds of different carat weights. A 1.50ct isn’t “better” than a 1ct diamond — it’s simply a larger, heavier stone that commands a higher price.

Carat is a measurement of weight, not size

1.50 Carat vs. 2 Carat Diamonds

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:

Size. As you’d expect, a 2ct diamond will look larger than a 1.5ct diamond. With this said, the difference isn’t extremely big — a 2 carat round brilliant cut diamond will measure about 8.1mm in diameter, compared to 7.3mm for a 1.50ct diamond.

As you can see in our guide to carat weight and diamond sizes, there’s not that much of a difference in perceived size between a 2ct and 1.50ct diamond.

Price. Like with a 1ct and 1.50ct diamond, there’s a significant difference in price between a 1.50ct and 2ct diamond. As we mentioned above, a 1.50ct I VS2 diamond will run about $9,000. A similar 2.00ct diamond would cost $18,000 (double).

Best Places to Buy a 1.50 Carat Diamond Ring

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.

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Shopping Tips for a 1.50 Carat Engagement Ring

Choose an excellent or ideal cut diamond. The better a diamond’s cut, the more light it will reflect, creating the stunning look with which diamonds are associated.

As always, we recommend buying an excellent or ideal cut diamond. A diamond with an excellent cut will have stronger brilliance, fire and a much more impressive appearance than a poorly cut diamond.

Stick to the G to I color range. Choosing a diamond with a range of G to I range (near colorless) on the diamond color scale will give you better value for money than choosing a diamond with a D color grade. As the GIA says, “diamond color is about what you don’t see.” If you can’t see the difference, don’t pay extra for a DEF color diamond. On the other side of the coin, it’s best not to go below the J to K range.

Diamonds in the G to I range will appear just as colorless to the naked eye as colorless diamonds, all while costing far less. Even with a large 1.5 carat diamond, the difference is almost totally imperceptible without the use of a jeweler’s loupe.

For more information on the best color grades for optimal value for money, check the recommendations in our guides to different diamond shapes.

Choose an eye-clean diamond. The SI1/SI2 range on the clarity grade chart offers the best value for money, especially for a diamond of this size. It may be a little tricky to find the right diamond in this range and many people bump up to a VS2 grade.

When buying a 1.50ct diamond, the large size of the diamond means that inclusions are often visible at lower grades (even though you can still find eye-clean SI1s.). Above all, make sure that you choose a diamond that’s eye-clean.

Pick the shape you like best. There’s no “perfect” diamond shape — instead, the best option is to pick a shape that looks pleasing to you. Our diamond shape guide covers all of the widely available diamond shapes, with information on each one’s characteristics.

GIA certified diamonds only. You must know exactly what the qualities are to make sure you are getting good value. To do so, you need a certificate from an independent laboratory that has strict and consistent standards. As we cover in our diamond certification guide, don’t get a diamond with any other certificate and

1.50 Carat Diamond Engagement Rings: Inspiration

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.

1.50ct cushion cut simple halo diamond ring setting — 1.50 Carat Pavé Engagement Ring

Elegant 1.50ct round cut diamodn in a pavé engagement ring — 1.50 Carat Vintage Engagement Ring

1.50ct cushion cut diamond in a vintage halo ring — 1.50 Carat Solitaire Diamond Ring

yellow gold solitaire setting with a 1.50ct emerald cut diamond — 1.50 Carat Emerald Cut Diamond Ring

Simple, yet elegant 1.50ct princess cut diamodn in a solitaire ring setting — 1.50 Carat Princess Cut Diamond Ring

FAQs About 1.50 Carat Diamonds

Now we’ll answer some of the most common questions people ask when shopping for a 1.5 Carat diamond ring.

How much does a lab-grown diamond cost?

You can get a lovely 1.50 ct lab-grown diamond like this one for $2,050. If you are interested in an option like that, read more about lab-grown vs. natural diamonds.

Is a 1.50 carat diamond ring big enough?

Absolutely. A 1.50 ct diamond is above average in size and will make a beautiful centerpiece for your engagement ring.

How big is a 1.5 carat oval diamond vs. a 1.5 carat round diamond?

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.

Bottom Line Recommendation:

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.

What to look for:

What to avoid:

Make sure your diamond is eye-clean

Avoid diamonds without a GIA certificate

Focus on G-I color for your diamond

Avoid strong/VS blue fluorescence

Having trouble navigating the diamond buying minefield? We are happy to help. CONTACT US

Here are more carat size topics to browse:

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