Are you looking for a diamond ring that fits your budget and looks lovely at the same time? If these are your two most crucial criteria, then you might want to consider looking into and buying a 1.5 carat (1.50ct) diamond.
But before you step into a jewelry shop, you must arm yourself with knowledge and a strong background story before saying “Yes” to any gem. Fortunately, we are here to help you make a smart purchase and surprise you or your loved one with a high-quality 1.5-carat ring. Keep scrolling for more info!
Intro to 1.5-carat Diamonds
You’ll hear many people talking about diamonds in terms of carats and size being connected. And you likely know about the “the bigger the diamond, the more expensive and high-quality it must be” mentality. Well, let us stop you right there.
Carats actually refer to the physical weight of the diamond, which, in turn, determines its price and quality. That’s the first thing you should know before you continue reading.
Moreover, a 1.5-carat diamond with an excellent cut will return maximum light – unlike the diamond of the same carat weight that is poorly cut and polished. You should bear that in mind as well.
What about the price-to-size ratio?
Because we’ve mentioned the diamond’s size initially, it is time to elaborate on this common misconception by following a concrete example of a 1.5 vs. 2-carat diamond. Basically, while a 2-carat diamond is only 10% bigger in size, the price is almost double – of course, depending on the quality and other factors.
You can look at this as a rough intro into the diamond carat and clarifying the issue of carats.
Using 4 C’s to Choose the Best 1.5-carat Diamond
Let’s get right over to the most crucial part of buying the perfect 1.5-carat diamond ring – or any diamond for that matter – and that would be following the 4 C’s rule.
Cut
Perhaps the most critical factor in choosing your dream diamond ring is the cut. As you could have guessed, you have a scale on which quality is assessed – and an excellent-cut diamond would be at the top of the list.
Why is the diamond cut important when looking for the perfect 1.5-carat diamond? That’s relatively easy to explain – the better the cut, the better the light will pass through the diamond’s crown. At this point, you’re likely slowly realizing that the diamond’s size is not on the top of the list.
In simple terms, the cut quality will make the gemstone crystal clear and shiny – which is, to be quite honest, the most critical factor for most customers. They’re all looking for a diamond that is a real show-stopper.
Oh, and one more thing: A diamond’s cut can be a very complex thing.
You will see that smaller diamonds, with an excellent cut, can cost you a fortune. But if you ask us, it’s better to get a gem with an excellent cut that fits your budget than waste money because you want a bigger stone on your or your fiance’s hand.
Carat
Okay, time to move on to the next big factor. In order to make a smart purchase, you need to understand carat weight, which is exactly what we are going to do now. The first thing diamond buyers must know is that carat has to do with weight and not size.
Now that we’ve made that clear, we can derive the following fact – one carat is equal to 200 milligrams. Each carat’s further divided into 100 points. If a diamond does not weigh more than 1 carat, the jeweler can rate it as a “25-pointer.”
So, the more “points” a diamond has, the more it will weigh – and the more it will be worth. Although carat is something that can prevail when it comes to overall quality, cut, clarity, and color also play a significant part in this.
Color
Nothing says “classic,” like a shiny stone on your finger, right?
But wait for a second. When you think of sparkle and shine, do you think of transparent or colored gems? There’s a big difference – and we can bet that most of you didn’t know this.
If you’re looking for expensive pieces of jewelry, and if your budget allows it, then you should look for completely colorless diamond rings. These gems are of the highest quality, and the price tag on them will undoubtedly have more digits.
On the other hand, you also have colored diamond rings that are valuable – but you’ll have to make an effort to find the ones that are really high-quality, or close to that, at least.
To make it easier for you, the GIA measures the color of diamonds on a scale from D all the way to Z, with D being colorless and Z having a yellowish or brown tint.
Disclaimer: Diamonds that have a brown sheen are of poor quality.
And since we are talking about diamond rings here, if you’re looking to buy the perfect one – and impress your fiance – we suggest spending those extra couple of hundred bucks on the quality of the stone. It will last longer. Speaking of lasting quality, this post about whether diamonds last forever might interest you.
Related Read: Diamond Color Vs. Clarity: What’s More Important?
Clarity
We’ve moved down to our last C – clarity. So, let’s just briefly reflect on how diamonds were created to understand this last factor.
Now, you’re probably aware that there are natural and lab-created diamonds. Both can be attractive and expensive – and here’s how clarity affects this: Namely, diamonds that were formed naturally are exposed to enormous pressure and high temperature. This exposure results in the so-called blemishes and inclusions.
Based on these imperfections and how much they influence the appearance of the diamond and its clarity, your jeweler will be able to pin a price on your diamond ring.
There is also a scale for this, a little different from the one concerning color, but still handy for someone interested in quality assessment and who wants to be 100% sure that they’re getting a fair price for their stone.
The clarity of diamonds goes from Flawless to Included. Flawless diamonds have no visible inclusions – even under 10x magnification – while Included gems have noticeable and visible blemishes. And you can guess which ones are worth more, huh?
How Much Money for 1.5-carat Diamond?
We take it you’re interested in the price – you need to know how this diamond-ring-shopping process will affect your budget and whether your wallet can handle it.
Here’s the shocking thing about 1.5-carat diamonds: They’re almost twice the price of 1-carat diamonds. The same goes for 1.5-carat diamonds and 2-carat ones.
A 1.5-carat diamond could cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000, all depending on the stone’s quality. Building on the above, a flawless 1.5-carat ring will cost you more than $20,000.
Here is an example to elaborate on that:
Let’s say that you have two 1.5-carat diamond rings in front of you, but with slightly different qualities. The first 1.5-carat diamond ring’s graded D for color, IF Excellent, and round-cut – and it will cost you $21,590. On the other hand, a 1.5-carat diamond with a grade of H, S1 Excellent, and Round will cost you (only) $8,340. When you look at both prices, you ought to be surprised.
Two 1.5-carat diamonds with such a large price gap. How is this possible?
As we mentioned earlier, the clarity and cut of the diamond affect its price greatly. What you need to know, though, is that you don’t have to spend 20 grand on a higher quality 1.5-carat diamond.
The other example we mentioned is also a quality piece, and when you look at it, you will not be disappointed – nor will the person wearing it.
Next, diamonds come in various shapes – and price tags differ based on that, too. Here’s how prices for different shapes of 1.5-carat diamond rings might look:
- Round-cut diamonds: $8,000+
- Princess-cut diamonds: $8,000+
- Cushion-cut diamonds: $6,500+
- Oval-cut diamonds: $8,500+
Learn More: Diamond Price List: How Much Is A 0.1 To 40 Carat Diamond Worth?
The Most Popular: 1.5-carat Round Diamond
When it comes to rings, the most popular is hands down, the round-cut diamond. Being the customers’ favorite, we assume you’re interested in price to quality ratio to answer the following question: What quality 1.5-carat diamond ring can I afford?
To make it easier for you, here’s a table that will answer your question:
| IF | VVS1 | VVS2 | VS1 | VS2 | SI1 | SI1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | $27,114 | $20,869 | $19,340 | $16,497 | $14,429 | $11,482 | $9,477 |
| E | $21,463 | $20,792 | $17,659 | $15,524 | $14,352 | $11,683 | $8,911 |
| F | $20,845 | $18,043 | $15,448 | $14,683 | $13,279 | $11,318 | $8,985 |
| G | $16,678 | $15,513 | $13,617 | $12,902 | $12,241 | $10,543 | $8,494 |
| H | $13,578 | $12,608 | $12,712 | $11,982 | $11,117 | $9,923 | $8,401 |
| I | $10,363 | $10,277 | $9,582 | $9,433 | $9,362 | $8,698 | $7,570 |
| J | $9,697 | $8,656 | $8,471 | $8,177 | $7,623 | $7,333 | $6,940 |
| K | $7,702 | $7,648 | $7,039 | $7,030 | $6,641 | $6,190 | $5,739 |
Although we’ve taken the time to bring you closer to round-cut prices, this can help you know what to expect in terms of finances – for all diamond shapes.
Two Tips You Need to Know Before Buying
A smart buyer will first look at all the possibilities and then choose the perfect gem, which, in this case, is the ideal 1.5-carat diamond ring. Here are some tips to consider before you cash out:
Your First Priority Is Your Budget
Buying a 1.5-carat ring is not listed as your usual purchase, especially if you are aiming for a stone of higher quality. So, your first – and foremost – priority should be your budget.
Before telling yourself, “I’ve found the one,” make sure you’ve visited several jewelry stores – and even looked online. Although we don’t recommend buying such valuables through your screen, you can at least have a better insight into the price range.
Also, consider the method of payment. Are you willing to cash out $10,000 for a quality ring in one go, or do you prefer paying in installments? Here’s the good news: Most retailers allow their customers to repay their ring in installments of six to 12 months – of course, depending on the price.
Pick the Perfect Shape
You’ve found the perfect round-cut 1.5-carat diamond engagement ring that’s of high quality and affordable at the same time, but when you put it on, it doesn’t seem as beautiful as it did in the shop window. That’s another reason why you should not buy rings online.
Before you consider purchasing a specific ring, you should always be able to try it on first. You might be convinced that the round-cut stone is the ideal shape for you, but once you try it on for the first time, you may find that it makes your hand look “weird” – or just doesn’t suit your style. Try before you buy.
Related Read:
Summing Up
That’s about it on 1.5-carat (1.50ct) diamond rings. We’ve gone through everything you should know before buying this gem and maybe surprising your fiance. So, what is important to remember from this short guide?
Well, for starters, carat has nothing to do with size but with the weight of your diamond. The heavier your gem, the more expensive it will be. What may be strange to first-time buyers is the difference in price between a one and a 1.5-carat diamond – it’s almost double.
However, carat weight is not the only indicator of price and quality. You must also pay attention to the cut, color, and clarity to find the best piece for you.
Price-wise, 1.5-carat diamond rings can go from $8,000 to $40,000. You don’t have to go for the highest figure to impress someone, though. You can still find affordable yet quality diamonds – you just need to dedicate yourself to the 4 C’s in more detail.
