1-carat Diamond Vs 2-carat Diamond

Last updated on April 24, 2023

Our product recommendations are made independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions if you use a link on this page.

When we choose the diamond for a ring we are usually looking for a gem that is showing the best qualities as assessed by the four C’s. These are cut, clarity, color and finally carat. Now individually each of these four C’s have an impact on the value of a diamond, some more so than others.

In this article we are going to take a look at the importance of carat weight and what it means in terms of value. Our chief question however is if a 2 carat diamond is a better choice than a 1 carat diamond. The answers may not be as simple as you might think.

What Does Carat Mean?

You have likely heard of the term carat before when it comes to jewelry often in terms of gold, for example 24k gold. With regards to gold the carat is considered a measure of purity (In North America when carat refers to gold it is spelled karat hence the k). Essentially 24k gold is 100% gold with no other metallic impurities. However 18k gold would have some other metals in the mix so is less pure.

When it comes to diamonds there is no question of purity. They are 100% carbon so carat actually refers to a measure of weight. They are not only the hardest natural material on earth but they are also extremely dense due to a close packed crystalline structure. In the modern system a carat in weight terms is equal to 0.2 grams, roughly the weight of a paperclip.

Using extremely sensitive specialized scales the gemology labs weigh the diamonds once they have been fully cut and prepared to get a result in grams. When you divide the actual weight of the diamond by 0.2 you will get the carat weight of the item.

As an example a diamond weighing 0.6 grams would be considered a 3 carat piece. This would be considered a large diamond compared to what you would ordinarily find in a ring as they tend to range between 1 – 1.9 carats in weight.

So the more a diamond weighs the larger it is physically speaking although some diamonds can be more dense than others so they may not be perceived visually as larger. This is why the weight of the diamond is the important factor in terms of carats.

The carat weight however is not factored into the value of the diamond until all of the other four C’s have been determined. This is because a raw diamond's weight includes rock and unusable diamond material that gets discarded. So until it is fully prepared the diamond does not get its official carat weight.

How Do 1 Carat and 2 Carat Diamonds Compare in Size?

Based solely on carat weight a 1 carat diamond will be roughly 200 milligrams while a 2 carat diamond would be 400 milligrams. This is obvious, it's a clear and easy expectation of weight. When it comes to other dimensions however things are a little more complicated.

The actual size difference between a 1 and 2 carat diamond is hard to not only see but also quantify. The physical size of a diamond depends on how it is cut so it can be deceiving. You may automatically assume twice the weight twice the size but it does not always bear out that way. We will explain this in more detail as we progress through the article.

What Is the Price Difference Between 1 Carat and 2 Carat Diamonds?

In order to give you an idea of the price difference between 1 and 2 carat diamonds we enlisted the help of James Allen’s very comprehensive diamond searching tool. We chose a round brilliant cut, with an E color rating, VVS1 clarity and Ideal cut quality. The next step was to look for 1 carat and then 2 carat diamonds in their inventory that match the search parameters.

1 Carat diamond price range: $7,560 – 14,060

2 Carat Diamond price range: $32,220 - $43, 770

The results of our search are very clear: the most expensive 1 carat diamond in James Allen’s inventory was less than half the price of the least expensive 2 carat get. We also noted that the company had 58 1-carat gems that matched our parameters and only 11 2-carat diamonds of the same quality.

This difference in available diamonds of the right quality is a big reason why the 2 carat gems cost so much more. Larger gems are rarer so they command more money.

How Shape Affects Perceived Size

The actual shape a diamond is cut into can negate the perceived size difference between a 1 and 2 carat diamond. This means choosing a certain shape can make a 1 carat diamond look larger and more like a 2 carat. This may be important to people looking to sport a larger looking gemstone.

1. Round/Brilliant Cut

Also known as the brilliant cut due to its amazing ability to display fire and sparkle, the round cut is by far the most common and popular of all the shapes. Around 58 facets make up the round cut and if executed well can bring out the very best features of the diamond.

Specialist round cuts may sometimes have more than the standard 58 cuts which serves to even further enhance the diamond's brilliance. This will require a higher level of skill and when done correctly can create heart and arrow shapes in the diamonds that can improve the quality and of course the value of the piece.

Often round shapes are used with flawless quality diamonds because the sheer visibility created from the shape leaves little room for imperfections. Some shapes may hide the sins of a few imperfections but round cut diamonds are not forgiving.

Generally speaking when executed well the round cut sets the standard for what a carat should look like in terms of size.

2. Princess Cut

The Princess cut is a relatively new kid on the block with the term first being used in the late 1970s. Its origins come from earlier now defunct cuts such as the Barion cut and the Quadrillion. Craftsman Israel Itzkowitz is credited as having made this cut popular.

Visually the princess cut is a square diamond shape that seeks to balance enhanced brilliance with a more forgiving nature when it comes to hiding inclusions. Often featuring 58 facets this squared stone is in many ways similar to the round brilliant just not rounded at the edges.

One of the great advantages of this cut is that it is less wasteful in terms of material removal. Not having to create the rounded corners a princess cut can use up to 80% of the rough stone. This makes them more economical to cut and generally cheaper to purchase as a result.

In terms of its appearance size wise it often looks more diminutive than other cut shapes. In many ways it may appear dainty in comparison.

3. Emerald Cut

As the name would suggest gemstone cutters first designed this cut for emeralds because it reduced the pressure needed during the cutting process. This prevented chips in the emeralds helping to create a better finished product.

It didn’t take diamond carvers long to realize the cut worked the same way with diamond. This cut was for centuries known as the table cut but around the 1920s the cut became more popular and the name emerald cut took over.

The gradual stepped rectangular shape requires fewer facets than most cuts which does little to boost the brilliance of the piece. So instead of constant sparkle as with some diamonds you will get flashes of dramatic light if combined with the right setting.

This is a cut that does a great job of giving a sense of bigger size with regards to the diamond. It seems more substantial in general compared to a round brilliant that may be the exact same weight.

4. Asscher

The I.J Asscher diamond company was founded in Holland in 1854 by Joseph Isaac Asscher. It was 46 years later that his grandson, also named Joseph, created what is known today as the Asscher cut. In many ways it resembles the emerald cut but the younger Joseph modified this with certain criteria.

These criteria would include larger step facets, a higher crown and a smaller table. These modifications would lead to a more brilliant effect in the final piece. The other result was a heavier diamond with 58 facets, this was more than a standard emerald cut featured.

From its creation in 1902 up until the second world war the Asscher cut was a patented style which only they were allowed to produce. It was a hit during the art deco period as was the traditional emerald cut and it really peaked in popularity in the 1920s.

Like the emerald cut the Asscher will also look larger when placed in a setting than many of the other shapes. The stepped appearance creates a sense of depth that does not necessarily exist.

5. Cushion

Extremely popular in the modern day people often do not realize that the cushion cut shape has been around since the nineteenth century. Formerly known as the mine cut it is a squared diamond with rounded corners.

Its original name referred to the Brazilian mines at the time who were quickly becoming known as the “old mines” as new diamond sources were being found in South Africa. The mine cut only features 58 facets however with the more modern cushion cut having 64.

Optically the cut can look similar to the oval cut but it has fewer facets. As a result its brilliance is somewhat limited in comparison. This cut however does have a more unique look as it gives an antique look to any ring to which it is affixed.

In terms of perceived size it may look smaller than a round cut gem. This is likely due to its deeper cuts. As a result a 2 carat gem may look closer to a 1 carat round in this kind of cut.

6. Marquise

The grandly named Marquise cut has a somewhat risqué origin as it was first commissioned in the 18th century by King Louis XV of France. Louis’ brief was to create a diamond that resembled the lips of his mistress.

This mistress was Jean Antoinette Poisson also known more commonly as Marchioness Madame de Pompadour. The final diamond shape that developed from this process became a popular diamond cut worn by those holding the title of marquise. This hereditary rank fell between a count and a duke so the marquise cut became the symbol of that title.

The original diamond created may have well resembled the tempting lips of Madame de Pompadour but as the cut evolved it has come to resemble a kayak type shape with pointed ends and a broad middle. They are a great cut to make use of lesser quality diamonds as this cut will hide a multitude of imperfections.

This is another shape which can seemingly pull perceived size out of nowhere. A 1 carat marquise cut can look the same size as 2 carat round. A 2 carat marquise cut will look impressively large.

7. Radiant

What do you do if you want the best qualities of a round cut and the best qualities of the emerald cut? Well if it's 1977 and you're Henry Grossbard you get to work on creating the radiant cut. Having spent 30 years in the industry Grossbard took on the challenge of imbuing an emerald cut diamond with the same kind of fire normally reserved for a round brilliant.

Basically what Henry did was take the emerald cut shape and add as many facets as he could. The result was amazing, turning the normally muted flashes of the emerald into a sparkling wonder surpassed only by round cuts themselves.

Just like the emerald cut the clever stepped design creates the appearance of a larger stone even with a low carat weight.

8. Oval

Oval cuts of some fashion have been around in diamonds for hundreds of years but the oval style we know today is actually a very new variation. It was Russian-born diamond cutter Lazare Kaplan who created the modern day oval back in 1957.

Kaplan's maternal uncle Abraham Tolkowsky was the diamond cutter famous for inventing the Ideal cut but he had lineage in the profession on both sides of his family. Lazare was known to be the man who could take a diamond that others would discard and make something amazing from it.

This egg-shaped design creates amazing sparkle and has rotational symmetry. It may look a lot like a round brilliant cut but the subtle differences go on to enhance the perceived shape of the diamond.

9. Pear

Considered a somewhat edgy and modern design, the pear-shaped diamond can trace back to 1458 when Flemish polisher Lodewyk van Berquem first created it. Although impressive, this method is not van Berquem’s only claim to diamond cutting fame. You see, Lodewyk was also responsible for the concept of symmetry and placement of facets in popular diamond cuts.

So not only did Berquem give us the pear cut but also the entire concept of cuts that create maximum sparkle and shine from diamonds.

The big drawback of the pear cut and a huge reason it was not initially a hit was how much rough diamond is lost in the cutting process. Since then the shape has grown in popularity with one of the most famous examples being the Taylor-Burton diamond.

This is yet another cut that can take a low carat diamond and make it appear visibly larger. As with other such cuts this allows for a 1 carat diamond to look like a 2 carat of a different shape. You can get a cheaper stone but with the added benefit of it seeming large.

Which Is Best for an Engagement Ring 1 or 2 Carat Diamonds?

Regular readers of our great site will probably know we often take the easy way out and tell you that questions such as this are really down to personal preference. Well we will not disappoint you by changing our style now.

In truth a 1 carat or a 2 carat diamond can look fabulous in an engagement ring. As long as the quality is great and the general quality of the diamond is also top notch. It will all boil down to if you want a larger diamond on the ring.

What we will say though is that sometimes a large diamond will struggle to produce the maximum light effects you expect from a diamond. The further light has to travel inside a diamond the less impressive the sparkle can be.

There is something to be said then for maybe looking somewhere in the middle of a 1 and 2 carat diamond.

Final Thoughts

One thing we know for sure is that a 2 carat diamond is far more expensive than a comparable quality 1 carat diamond. This can be a deciding factor in choosing a diamond size. Those on a budget may take the 1 carat while those happy to splash the cash might prefer the perceived extra value of the 2 carat.

When it comes to actual perceived size a 2 carat diamond will not always look twice the size of a 1 carat so as a result based on size alone the extra cost may not be worth it. We have also mentioned how certain cut shapes can make a lower carat diamond look larger.

Reference Diamond Size Chart

If you use any of the definitions, information, or data presented on Diamond Size Chart, please copy the link or reference below to properly credit us as the reference source. Thank you!