Top 10 Best One Carat Diamond Rings for 2024: Expert Buying Guide
Congratulations! This is an exciting time in your life, and I am going to make sure you have all the information you need to find a diamond engagement ring that you will love for a lifetime. In this guide, I will cover exactly what a 1.00 Carat diamond ring is, why it is particularly awesome as an engagement ring, the factors that affect the ring’s cost, and also review some popular rings based on personal experience.
The Top 1 Carat Diamond Engagement Rings
Here are my top 10 choices of 1-carat diamond engagement rings that you can buy easily and safely online at Amazon. They all feature the latest cuts, settings, and designs.
#1 – 1 Carat 14K Gold Round White Diamond Ladies Two Stone Bypass Style Bridal Engagement Ring
#2 – IGI Certified 1.00 Carat Round Brilliant Cut/Shape 14K White Gold Solitaire Diamond Engagement Ring 6 Prong (H-I Color, I1-I2 Clarity)
#3 – 1.00 Carat (ctw) 14K Gold Round Diamond Vintage Bridal 3 Stone Engagement Ring
#4 – 1.00 Carat (ctw) 14k White Gold Round Diamond Ladies Bridal 3 Stone Flower Cluster Engagement Ring
#5 – Real 1.00Ct 3 Stone Diamond Round Brilliant Cut Genuine Engagement Ring Gold 14K
#6 – 1.00 Carat (ctw) Halo Style Engagement Ring Set, White Gold
#7 – 1.00CT Round Diamond Engagement Pave Cushion Halo Ring 14K White Gold
#8 – 1.00 Carat (ctw) 14k White Gold Round Cut Diamond 3 stone Ladies Engagement Bridal Ring
This is probably the most stylish and “it” cut which every girl will love. The design is confident, classy and fashionable and the stones do not stick out too much or snag on clothing and other things. The ring is actually delicate although it looks chunky and expensive.
#9 – 1.00 Carat (ctw) 14k White Gold Round Diamond Ladies Solitaire with Accents Split Shank Bridal Ring 1 CT
#10 – 1.00 Carat Diamond Engagement Set with Wedding Band in 14K White Gold
These are my picks of top 10 1.00 carat diamond engagement rings. In case your boyfriend is already looking for rings, it is a good idea to nudge him towards buying these beauties. This will give him a hint as to what you want in your engagement ring without breaking the bank.
What is a Carat?
The Carat of a diamond is one of the 4 C’s that measure its value. The other 3 C’s are cut, clarity and color.
The Carat is a unit of measurement of the weight of a diamond. Simply put: 1 carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams or 100 points when evaluated on a standard point system. So on the basis of that, a 0.50-carat diamond is equivalent to 50 points while a 0.3 carat of 30 points and so on.
Do not confuse between Carat and Karat. The latter is the unit of measurement of the purity of Gold. In fact, the word Carat comes from Carob, which is a seed. This seed was used in ancient times to measure diamond weight until technology brought balance and electric scales to measure it accurately. Without getting into too many technical details, here are some interesting facts about diamonds that make them the best stones for engagement rings:
- In many cultures, diamonds are considered gemstones of Venus and symbolize peace, prosperity, and purity.
- The word diamond originates from a Greek word which stands for ‘unbreakable’. Indeed, a diamond is the hardest substance known to man and cannot be cut by any material.
- Diamonds are made from a single element- Carbon. The different colors of the diamond are caused by other impurities such as trace minerals which give it a pinkish, yellowish or bluish tinge.
A 1 Carat diamond is great for engagement rings.
There is a tradition that a man spends two month’s salary on an engagement ring. While this is not a hard and fast rule, it can help you set a budget.
The price of the ring depends on the 4 C’s, but the price of a 2-carat ring is more than double the price of a 1.00-carat diamond. A 3.00 ct diamond will cost more than 50% the price of the 2 ct diamond. In general, though, the average cost of a diamond engagement ring is $5200!
How big is a 1-carat diamond?
The size of a diamond decides the price and also its rarity. Larger diamonds are always rarer than smaller ones. However, they may not be priced proportionately more. What this means is that a rarer, 2-carat diamond would cost substantially more than two 1.00 carat stones of the same quality.
The size of the diamond is not the key to its weight but it is certainly one of the key factors that decide it’s carat weight. Diamonds are typically measured in millimeters, or centimeters. (I will be discussing the shape of the diamonds a little later in this guide.)
The diamond’s shape also determines the size since the type of cut (shallow, deep, etc) can change the measurements. Shallow cuts have a greater size/diameter than the deep cut varieties.
Here is a brief table showing how big carat diamonds are in size for the popular Round cut shape:
| Carat size | Millimeter width |
|---|---|
| 0.10 | 3.0 mm |
| 0.20 | 3.8 mm |
| 0.25 | 4.1 mm |
| 0.50 | 5.2 mm |
| 0.75 | 5.9 mm |
| 1.00 | 6.5 mm |
| 2.00 | 8.2 mm |
The Most Popular Diamond Shapes
The shape of the diamond can determine the amount of light it reflects. There are many shapes available today including:
- Round
- Oval
- Emerald
- Triangular
- Heart
- Marquise
- Cushion or Pillow cut
- Pear
- Teardrop
- Square
- Asscher
- Baguette
- Taper
- Horse
- Princess
- Star
You don’t need to know your Asscher from your Cushions when choosing the diamond shapes for the engagement ring.
#1 Shape is Round
If it helps in your selection process, know that the Round shape is the classic shape which most celebs prefer (including the likes of Mila Kunis, Olivia Wilde, and Emmy Rossum).
#2 Shape is Princess
The Princess cut is the second most popular diamond shape after Round. Nicky Hilton is presumably a big fan of it.
#3 Shape is Emerald
The Emerald cut is a modern yet elegant shape worn by classy dames such as Amal Clooney and Beyonce.
If you are a vintage lover, then you’d do very well with the Asscher cut preferred by celebs such as Elizabeth Taylor. The Cushion or Pillow cut was extremely popular a century ago but today, many celebs including Kim Kardashian, still flaunt it.
Learn More about Diamond Shapes and Diamond Cuts:
- What Diamond Cut Looks the Biggest?
- Which Diamonds Look the Biggest?
- The Most Expensive Diamond Cuts
- What are the Different Diamond Shapes?
- Best Cut for Diamond Earrings
- Best Diamond Cut for an Engagement Ring
- The Difference between Diamond Shape and Cut
The Most Popular Types of Settings
When you go out to buy 1.00-carat diamond engagement rings, the sheer number of styles can easily overwhelm you. So a bit of homework can help familiarize you with the terminologies and help you in the process.
Here are the top types of settings in diamond engagement rings:
- The Prong setting
This is the classic setting with 4 prongs developed by Tiffany and Co in the 19th Century. It is the single most popular and classic engagement ring style available today. If you have an active lifestyle, avoid a high profile prong setting which can easily snag on clothing and other materials. - The Cathedral setting
This is a dramatic setting that takes inspiration from a Cathedral and its arches that come up from the ring’s band enhancing and accentuating the stone. - Bezel
This can be a full Bezel or half bezel where the center stone is covered completely or partially by a metal rim. - Tension
This is a modern setting which uses pressure to hold the diamond in place making it look as if the stone is floating. - Channel setting
There are no prongs in this design which is highly suitable for securing smaller diamonds in a row into the band, making it a virtually snag-free design. - Pavė setting
Pronounced as ‘pa-vay’, the Pave setting is also known as bead setting. It consists of smaller diamonds pavėd in rows in the band making the center stone pop. If you plan on using this setting for the entire band, sizing of the ring can be a bit tricky.
The Importance of Diamond Certifications
Before you go diamond ring shopping, you must know one important thing. Always buy certified diamonds. Be wary of non-certified diamonds.
Certified diamonds validate the 4 C’s of the diamond. A certificate of a diamond is much like the blueprint or the X-ray of the diamond. It shows the internal and external characteristics of it.
These are the most commonly accepted diamond certified companies in the world:
- GIA- Gemological Institute of America.
With over 75 years of service in the diamond industry, the GIA is recognized as an expert by the entire diamond industry. When you buy GIA certified diamonds, you are assured of buying the best. - IGI – International Gemological Institution
The IGI is not as reputed as GIA, but it is less pricey. - American Gem Society
AGS was formed by the same person who founded GIA. The AGS is even more stringent in its certification standards in that; they offer every detail including hand plotted illustration of every external, internal blemish as well as inclusion.
The Cost of a 1 Carat Diamond Ring
You may be wondering “how much a 1-carat diamond engagement ring going to cost me”?
A 1.00-carat diamond ring price depends on individual characteristics of the stone including the color, cut and clarity. It also depends on market conditions.
Market prices fluctuate with the economy, supply, and demand, as well as fashion changes.
The shape and setting can also impact the stone’s price. An oval-shaped diamond was extremely popular back in the 70s and 80s, but today, round cut diamonds have the highest demand.
You can easily determine the price per carat of a diamond by dividing the total cost by the weight.
For example, if the cost is $1,350 and weight is 0.75 carat, then 1350÷0.75 = $1800 per carat. (This formula is not applicable if the price includes the mounting charges as well).
Should you buy diamonds online? Is it safe?
Many people are wary of buying diamonds online mainly because they are clueless about what to look for. Plus they have no idea how to protect themselves from making a bad purchase.
Be assured that buying diamond jewelry online is nothing new. Thousands of people do it safely.
Here are some important advantages of buying diamond engagement rings online:
- Reputable online retailers have videos and detailed descriptions to support your buying decision.
- Many good retailers provide money-back guarantees in the rare event that you are unhappy with your purchase.
- Online diamond engagement rings also come with certifications.
- Prices of online diamonds are often cheaper especially when retailers come up with deals after major holidays such as Valentine’s Day.
- By shopping online, you are in a better position to stick to your budget. When shopping in a real store, you might have to set your budget based on what the store has in stock, or what a sales guy talks you into.
- No pushy salesman! You buy want you like, not what someone tells you to like – which is usually the ring that gets them the bigger commission.
Buying diamonds online is absolutely safe as long as you follow these tips:
- Do your homework
I have already mentioned a bit about the 4 Cs which determine the cost of the diamond. You can settle for a stone with slightly lower clarity grade (SI1) and also compromise on color. - Never ever settle for a poorly cut diamond.
A diamond’s cut scales range from Poor to Excellent. A diamond with a poor cut will appear dull; a strict no-no since the entire point of a diamond is to sparkle. - Make sure your diamond comes with an individual grading report.
This will give you an unbiased, third-party analysis of the stone’s 4 Cs. - Look for a laser inscription on the diamond.
This is a microscopic serial number but can be viewed under 10x magnification. It verifies that the diamond is registered in GIA’s archive database. - Purchase from a reputed online retailer
Always make sure you purchase from a reputed online retailer that is known to offer friendly customer service, secure transactions, and a clear returns policy. - Avoid buying from out of country websites
Avoid buying from out of country websites that do not have a physical presence in your country. - Get it appraised after purchase.
Once you have your diamond in hand, you must have it appraised by a jeweler. This will reassure you that your diamond is legit.
Additional Resources:
- What to look for when Buying Diamonds
- Avoid Blood Diamonds
- The Best Places to Buy Diamonds Onlines
- Which Diamonds are Conflict-Free?
