A 1.50 carat diamond is a striking size that is noticeably larger than a 1 carat diamond, but it is not as eye-catching as those diamonds with a large carat weight that people wear on the red carpet. It is a great value for money choice. As long as you follow some simple guidelines, you will be able to get an amazing engagement ring within a reasonable budget.

Here's what we'll cover in this article:

What is a 1.5 carat diamond?

How big is a 1.50 carat diamond?

The difference between 1 carat diamond and 1.5 carat diamond

The difference between a 1.5 carat diamond and a 2 carat diamond

1.50 carat diamond buying tips

How Do I Purchase The Best 1.5 Carat Diamond?

What is a 1.5 carat diamond?

1.50 carats is a unit of measurement for the weight of a diamond, equivalent to 300 milligrams. On average, a 1.5-carat round bright cut diamond is about 7.3 mm x 7.3 mm in diameter. By comparison, a 1 carat round bright cut diamond is about 6.4 mm in diameter, and a 2 carat round bright cut diamond is about 8.1 mm in diameter.

At the wholesale level, diamond prices are calculated by carat weight, just like buying fruits and vegetables. So if a 1.50 carat diamond costs $8,000 per carat, the final price is $12,000.

How big is a 1.50 carat diamond?

To get a better idea of the size of the 1.50-carat diamond, we compared each shape to a U.S. quarter, and to each other.

A larger diamond does not necessarily mean a larger carat. The tablle, depth and other shape characteristics of the diamond are not affected by the carat weight of the diamond. They depend on the shape of the diamond and how it is cut - both of which affect how big the diamond looks.

1.50 Carat Diamond Price Chart – Updated June 2024

The difference between 1 carat diamond and 1.5 carat diamond.

Size. A 1.5-carat round brilliant-cut diamond has a diameter of about 7.3 mm, while a 1-carat diamond is slightly smaller at 6.4 mm. This size difference is enough to make the ring stand out on your finger, and if you're looking for a larger, more dramatic diamond with the right budget, a 1.50 carat diamond will be more present than a 1 carat diamond ring.

Price. Diamond prices rise exponentially with carat weight, meaning that a 1.50 carat diamond typically costs more than 1.50 times the price of a 1 carat diamond. For example, a 1.50 carat, I color, VS2 clarity, and excellent cut diamond would sell for about $9,000, while a similar 1-carat diamond would cost $5,500. Although 1.5 carat diamonds weigh 50% more, they cost 75% more.

The difference between 1.50 carat diamond and 2 carat diamond.

Size. As you might expect, a 2-carat diamond looks bigger than a 1.5-carat diamond. That being said, the size difference between the two is not huge as those between 1ct and 1.5ct. A 2 carat round bright cut diamond has a diameter of about 8.1 mm, while a 1.50 carat diamond has a diameter of 7.3 mm.

Price. As with 1 and 1.5 carat diamonds, there is a big difference in the price of 1.5 and 2 carat diamonds. As we mentioned above, if a 1.5-carat I VS2 diamond costs about $9,000. Then a similar 2.00 carat diamond would cost $18,000 (double).

1.50 carat diamond buying tips.

Stick with diamonds in the G to I color range.

Choosing diamonds in the G to I range (close to colorless) is the most cost-effective. As GIA says, "The color of a diamond is something you don't see."Therefore, if you are not sensitive to color, there is no need to choose diamonds in DEF color.On the other hand, considering the compatibility of diamond color with the overall design, it is recommended to choose diamonds of color I or above. Diamonds in the G to H range look just as colorless to the naked eye as colorless diamonds, but cost much less.

For a large 1.5 carat diamond, under normal lighting conditions, the difference between a colorless and near-colorless diamond is almost completely indistinguishable from the front. Without the use of a jeweler's magnifying glass, the difference is almost completely imperceptible. If you're after ice white glitter, we recommend you opt for D-H colors, depending on your budget.

Choose diamonds with a clarity of VS2 or above

For a 1.50 carat diamond, the clarity rating is even more important because a diamond of this size can make inclusions more noticeable, especially compared to smaller diamonds. Diamonds with a clarity of VS2 or above help ensure that the diamonds are eyes clean and free of inclusions.

Choose diamonds with excellent or ideal cuts

Cutting always has the biggest impact on your diamond, both in terms of aesthetics and price. The better a diamond is cut, the more light it captures and reflects back into the eye, creating the extraordinary fire and brilliance that diamonds have.

Cut can be a complex matter and there are lots of characteristics, nuances and features which all make a big difference to the appearance of a diamond.It is important to opt for the best option your budget allow. This is an element that you must consider when choosing diamonds to ensure that you can purchase the highest quality diamonds within your budget. We recommend buying certified ideal cut diamonds. Diamonds with an ideal cut will look bigger and brighter, with more fire and brilliance of a much more impressive display.

NATURAL diamonds with a GIA or AGS certificate, and lab diamonds with a IGI certificate.

You must know exactly what the quality of the diamond is to ensure that you get value for money. For this, you need to obtain a certificate from an independent laboratory with strict and consistent standards.

These are top tier, internationally recognized laboratories that offer  accurate grading that you can depend on. For lab grown diamonds, IGI certification is also highly respected, having been one of the pioneers in the identification and grading of lab grown diamonds.

Lower budget with the option of Lab Grown Diamonds

Lab grown diamonds have essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties as mined diamonds. They are real diamonds, not substitutes such as cubic zirconia (CZ) or Moissanite. You can use this opportunity to buy larger diamonds for your own budget, or match lab diamonds with natural diamonds to keep your budget down.

Whether a lab diamond is for you is a personal decision and may revolve around the type of jewelry piece you have in mind. For decorative fine jewelry such as diamond studs and pendants, many customers are finding lab grown diamonds to be a perfect fit.

One of the many benefits of choosing a lab grown diamond is the ability to work a premium quality designer engagement ring into the budget. In many cases the whole budget is consumed in getting a high quality natural diamond, relegating the setting to something very simple and inexpensive. Lab diamonds afford the luxury of getting a spectacular designer setting and creating a show-stopping overall piece of fine jewelry.

How Do I Purchase The Best 1.5 Carat Diamond?

We highly recommend buying from a trusted online vendor instead of a brick-and-mortar jewelry store. Buying online gives you access to a wider selection of diamonds than any offline jewelry store. Depending on the economics of e-commerce versus traditional retail, you can also save a lot of money compared to buying diamonds offline. This means you can buy a better diamond for the same price, or spend less money on a diamond of the same quality.

If you are looking for a large and beautiful engagement ring, then a 1.5 carat diamond ring is an excellent choice.As with all diamonds, the price of a 1.50 carat diamond can vary greatly depending on cut quality, clarity and color. We recommend choosing lab grown diamonds with ideal cut grades, clarity grades  VS1 to VS2 and color grades in the G to  H range to get the best value for money. We also recommend that you buy online instead of at your local jewelry store, as this will help you save an average of 30-40%.

Hopefully this article will help you understand the prices and buying strategies for 1.5 carat diamonds. If you have any additional questions or need further advice, please feel free to contact us.