How To Buy A 1.5 Carat Diamond Ring – Your Shopping And Price Guide
A ring containing 1.5 carats of diamonds is a little larger than the average size for all diamond rings sold. It isn’t on the same scale as the £47,000, 12-carat emerald and diamond giant Princess Diana received as an engagement ring. Still, for the rest of us, 1.5 carats is a reasonably large size of a diamond ring and a significant investment to make!
Given that a ring containing either a single diamond of 1.5 carats or several diamonds that together weigh the same will be a sizeable investment for most of us, what should you look out for before whipping out your credit card on a sizeable diamond jewellery investment?
Here are six diamond jewellery buying secrets to help you get the best value when buying a 1.5-carat diamond ring.
Secret #1 – Never rely on in-house grading reports or buy an uncertified diamond
This is the single most crucial piece of advice. If you take notice of nothing else, follow this rule! Here is why: When you buy a diamond, whether on its own or in a piece of diamond jewellery, you are buying something costly. A 1.50-carat diamond can cost £5,000 or more. Even a ring with a cluster of diamonds will cost upwards of £1,500. You need to know just what you’re buying. A diamond grading certificate from a reputable diamond grading lab such as GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the foremost diamond grading organisation in the world, will enable you to know just what you’re buying. Avoid jewellers that do not offer an independent diamond grading certificate on diamond jewellery with anything but tiny diamonds. We only work with GIA because their reputation is important to us – and should be to you!
You will have noticed the word ‘independent’ in the previous paragraph, that’s important. Some less than scrupulous jewellers only offer their clients certificates prepared by their own jewellery experts. There is no way to be sure about the integrity of these reports, and independent assessment of typical retailer’s in-house grading reports has shown that, at the least, they tend to present the diamonds in a more favourable light than they deserve. The danger for buyers is that they end up overpaying for inferior quality goods.
We have a full article about diamond grading laboratories available here.
Only buy diamond jewellery where the central diamond has an independent diamond certificate or diamond grading report.
£3,136.00
Shining 18k white gold metal has been handcrafted in our UK workshop to the highest specifications that we demand, and you deserve to ensure that this gorgeous half eternity ring can be presented with the promise of a lifetime guarantee.… read more7 Stone Half Eternity Ring 1.55ct G/SI Diamonds in 18k White Gold 3.8mm
£5,957.00
Secret #Two – CUT is KING
At All Diamond, we are big believers in the idea that it is rarely worth paying for something you cannot see. It can be challenging for non-expert eyes to detect the difference between two grades of diamond when it comes to clarity or colour. Still, there is one aspect of a diamond that you should be careful of because the effects of poor quality can be easily seen – diamond cut quality.
The cut of a diamond is an aspect of quality that is under human control. It is about the skill of the diamond cutter as he removes diamond to create the gems that will become part of your diamond ring.
If the cutter does not align the facets correctly, if the diamond’s symmetry is not good, then the diamond will not sparkle as it should. That is because the sparkle of a diamond comes from internal reflections within the gem. If the facets of the diamond are not correctly aligned, if the proportions are incorrect, then the light will not be reflected out of the diamond toward your eyes. The gem will appear to be dull and lifeless.
If you must, compromise on the colour and clarity of the diamond, but make sure that you buy the best-cut diamond that you can.
Secret #Three - For a yellow or rose gold setting, a lower colour grade diamond is OK
This might sound counter-intuitive, but if you are on a tight budget and are shooting for a 1.50-carat diamond ring, choose a ring with a yellow or rose gold colour. Here’s why: the general advice is to choose a diamond that is as clear (white) as possible. Less expensive diamonds tend to have a hint of yellow or even brown in lower colour grade diamonds. The truth is that most of us cannot easily distinguish between the colour of two diamonds of differing colour grades, even if they are next to each other!
However, if a slightly yellow diamond is placed in a white gold or platinum setting, then the contrast between the diamond colour and the colour of the metal will stand out. Some people will say that the white metal will reflect through the diamond, making it look lighter – that’s just not true!
If you are thinking of buying a diamond of a relatively low colour grade (H or lower), the best choice is to consider using a yellow or rose gold setting. The colour of the metal will reduce the contrast between the ring and diamond, making the diamond look much whiter and more expensive.
If you are buying a diamond with a G to D grade, then there is probably no need to consider the metal colour; all the diamonds that you look at will look very white/clear.
£3,274.00
A carat and a half of the finest quality conflict-free diamond arranged in eight hand-cut stones on entrancing 18k rose gold. This classic half eternity ring is filled with understated elegance and will raise any ensemble with its presence. UK… read more8 Stone Half Eternity Ring 1.50ct G/SI Diamonds in 18k Rose Gold
£6,177.00
Secret #Four - Stick to G to I colour diamonds
Diamonds are graded by colour on a scale ranging from D (absolutely colourless) to Z, which will appear noticeably brown/yellow.
While jewellers will often try to persuade you that you need to buy a diamond from the D, E or F colour grades, the simple truth is that almost nobody can tell the difference between these grades and G, H, or I colour grades in everyday life. On the other hand, a D, E or F graded diamond will cost a lot more than a G grade diamond. So, as we at All Diamond keep on saying, ‘don’t pay for something that you cannot see’!
Most of our diamond jewellery features diamonds with G grade colour because we have found that this is the sweet spot in terms of visible colour and price. It is not worth paying more for a more transparent diamond and not worth paying less for a slightly more coloured one.
Secret #Five - Choose an SI clarity or better diamond
Clarity is essential in diamonds; this is about the internal flaws present in almost all diamonds. The fewer and smaller the number of internal flaws, the better the diamond will appear and the higher its clarity grade.
The diamond clarity scale runs from IF (internally flawless) through to I3 (inclusions 3rd degree). A flawless diamond is a rare and very costly thing. Most diamonds contain some degree of internal imperfections. The trick is to choose a diamond where these flaws are not easily visible.
Just as with colour, don’t pay for what you cannot see, so do not overspend on buying a diamond with a clarity grade that is higher than you need.
Just as with colour grades, we have found a sweet spot in terms of quality and price that is worth noting, whether you buy at All Diamond or elsewhere! In most cases, an SI clarity diamond will be what jewellers call ‘eye clean’ when looked at with the naked eye. That means that it is not worth spending more for a higher clarity grade diamond in most cases, but, as before, you probably do not want to spend less – particularly if you are buying a 1.50 carat sized diamond ring!
Most of our diamond jewellery features diamonds with SI clarity, right in the value sweet spot.
£5,591.00
This striking three diamond ring is the perfect accessory for any occasion. The three stones are set in a gorgeous 18k white gold band which adds beauty to this gorgeous ring. This ring is handcrafted in the UK from the… read moreThree Stone Diamond Ring 1.50ct G/SI Quality 18k White Gold
£10,697.00
Secret #Six – Online retailers can offer better prices, quality and choice
Yes, we’re blowing our own trumpet again, but it is true. All Diamond, just as most other online-only diamond jewellery retailers, have much lower overheads than high street jewellers, even when they also have an online store! When you buy from an online-only retailer, you are not paying anything toward expensive shops, lots of sales, admin staff, or other overheads. You’re buying diamond jewellery and not much else!
We can offer better quality at any given price point because of our lower costs, and we’re scrupulous about doing so! Try it and see, look at our diamond rings, make a note of the prices and check out your local high street. You will not see the same quality of diamond jewellery at anything like our prices!
Lastly, choice – because we do not have to keep stock in dozens of stores, we do not need to carry vast amounts of jewellery to keep the windows full. We can maintain a much more comprehensive range of diamond jewellery than any high street jeweller. High street jewellers would love to carry a similar range to or vast collections of diamond jewellery, but they do not have space or the money to afford to do so.
We love diamond jewellery, and we’d love for you to buy a lovely diamond ring, earring set, necklace, bracelet or anything your heart desires. Please check out our collections of diamond rings. Whether you’re looking for a 1.50-carat diamond ring or something a little more modest, we’re here for you, and now you know some of the secrets to buying the best diamond jewellery for your money!
