When inexperienced diamond buyers enter a jewelry store, they tend to ask for a 1-carat diamond, assuming they’ll save money on this smallest and not-so-popular gem. But the reality turns out to be completely opposite. To your surprise, this request identifies to any jeweler you’re a person to get left easily!
That’s because this phrase reveals your incompetence in several ways:
- A 1-carat diamond is the most popular stone among all diamond carat categories.
- One carat diamond is not the lightest one. There exists a 0.5-carat diamond, at least. Its weight is 100 milligrams, which is a half of 1-carat diamond weight. That’s why it’s frequently referred to as a ½ carat diamond.
- Small carat weight doesn’t automatically mean the smallest size, because weight and size are two different diamond dimensions.
Can you imagine that: three serious mistakes in one innocent sentence! We don’t want you to be taken in — that’s why we created this guide on buying a half-carat diamond ring. Here, our diamond experts shared their buying tips, described how a 0.5-carat diamond ring price is formed, and offered their assistance to get the jewelry of your dreams! Keep reading not to miss these useful recommendations.
Buying Guide to 0.5-carat diamond: The most effective tips to picking a really good stone
If you think that’s hard to overprice a tiny 0.5-carat diamond, we’re here to disappoint you. Unfortunately, any carat weight alone doesn’t facilitate the evaluation. So, before you make an informed decision about the high-quality 0.5-carat diamonds, it’s reasonable to learn how to distinguish good stones from bad ones. For this, we’re here to explain the diamond ring basics and how they determine the appearance and quality of your choice.3 things to invest in: Thin shrinks (1.6-1.8 millimeters) Highest cut and carat weight possible Elongated diamond shape |
- If you pick a 0.5 ct diamond size for the solitaire engagement ring design, pay close attention to the shrinks’ thickness. It should be 1.8 millimeters maximum, so even a half-carat diamond can become an accentuated diamond. Thin yet durable shrinks will help successfully eliminate the drawbacks of small size and carat weight.
- Invest in cut and carat number, not diamond color and clarity. When it comes to getting a real value-for-money for a 0.5-carat diamond, the downshifting of clarity and color will bring even less harm than it could happen in other carat categories. Thus, if you have free funds, it’s always better to choose a slightly higher carat number. In any case, the top diamond cut should become your priority.
- If diamond size matters, choose the shape that elongates it. Among the most suitable forms, go for marquise, oval, and pear options. The good news is these fancy shapes are cheaper than classic ones — and so, you’ll get an attractive half-carat diamond price with them.
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What’s the price of a 0.5-carat diamond
The question of diamond pricing is among the trickiest ones. And the reason is that many factors influence its value to a different extent. On the most basic level, the price of a 0.5-carat diamond is calculated on the price per carat formula. It sets the value for each combination of cut, color, and clarity and multiplies the result on the exact carat weight the chosen diamond has. With this precondition, you can get the foreseeable price by getting the desired combination of diamond characteristics. And then, select the carat number that is affordable for you. Together, these 4 factors have the title “the 4C’s of a diamond.” Once you get them, the exact diamond price will be easier to identify.Price for a 0.5-carat diamond is formed on the basis of all the 4C’s of a diamond (not only carat weight but also clarity, color, and cut) |
To make a fair choice about a 0.5-carat diamond, apply one of these buying strategies:
- Invest in a better cut and carat weight category,
- Find the best clarity and color option,
- Maximize the diamond size.
Is a 0.5-carat diamond big enough for an engagement ring
If you’re interested in size maximization, you can be safe that 0.5 ct diamond size looks big enough in an engagement ring. Specifically, the combination of an excellent sparkling cut and elongated diamond shape will make this stone shine in any circumstances. However, there can be problems with the diamond size if you invest heavily in color and clarity. That’s why we don’t recommend relying on this buying strategy at the expense of cut and shape.Several 0.5-carat diamonds perfectly fit a pave engagement ring and earrings |
Clarity and color half-carat diamond ring
In a diamond, clarity stands for possible flaws and inclusions. The stone becomes less valuable because of them. To get a good option for a 0.5-carat diamond, go for Internally Flawless (FL and IF), Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) or Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) grades. They contain either no or very hardly identified imperfections. Also, note that both the number and placement of inclusions affect the diamond price. Moreover, colorless diamonds may still have certain color grades. They range from D (completely colorless) to Z (visible yellowish or brownish hue). The more visible color tints are, the less valuable the diamond becomes. For a 0.5-carat diamond, we don’t recommend going below K diamond color.Minimum requirements for a 0.5-carat diamond: K color VS2 clarity Excellent cut GIA certificate |