Does it make any difference what carat diamond I have on my engagement ring?

Although diamond carat is only one of the four C's, it cannot be overlooked. First of all the size of the diamond affects the size of the engagement ring, more than anything else. Secondly, a big diamond is a statement of glamour, status symbol and maybe even corny romance.

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Diamond carat is not only a number, it is the weight of the diamond, and as round diamonds have quite similar cut standards, carat also reflects the diameter of the diamond. You could regard carat as the size scale of diamonds.

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It really depends on the way you look at the significance of the quality of your diamond. Some women really see the carat of a diamond in their diamond engagement rings as something more than a size or a price tag. It is seen to be almost representative of the "worth" of the fiance. De Beers company, with their famous advertising, helped popularize this view with slogans that went something like "because she's worth it". Today, many women feel that a diamond's carat weight reflects how much their fiance is willing to "invest" in them and how badly they want to be with them. Frequently it is family and friends who will make comments such as " He only got you a ______ carat diamond engagement ring?!" or "If he isn't willing to invest in a sizable diamond, then how do you know he is willing to invest in your and a new family?". Now, I happen to believe that the size of the carat is important, but not so important. A couple should never judge the worth and potential longevity of their relationship on the size and weight of the diamond carat that goes on the engagement ring. There are rich couples and poor couples, and some who don't even like diamonds. But as I say, it always depends on the specific couple and their circle of friends and family.

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In terms of value, the bigger the diamond carat the higher the value. However, the value of a diamond also depends on its cut, color and clarity. A bigger diamond does not necessarily mean a higher quality diamond, or a better diamond engagement ring. Size of a diamond on an engagement ring is a matter of personal preference. Some women may prefer a smaller more practical diamond while others might want a little bling on their finger. To choose the correct size of diamond consider your style, the size of your finger and most importantly, your budget.

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Carat means size. Doesn't size always make a difference...?

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What do you mean by "does it make a difference?"? If you mean price difference, then it surely does, every carat point has a prominent effect on a diamond's price, but I guess you know that already. I believe that you mean to ask whether a small carat change has a significant visible effect for those of us who aren't obsessed about carat points. If you are not very size sensitive, than you wouldn't care so much whether your diamond is 0.9 or 1 carat, 1 or 1.1 carat. Diamonds in these sizes aren't very heavy so your finger also wouldn't "feel" if a diamond is slightly bigger or smaller. If you want to be a wise consumer, looking for a deal which could be beneficial, don't go for the rounded sizes, always prefer a 99 points diamond over 1 carat, 45 points over 1 carat, etc. This will could save you a lot of money. It's just like the prices in the department stores, always $99.9, $49.9, etc, there is a psychological effect, making a big "difference" between 99 and 100, though there's really no concrete difference between the two. The hundred of dollars you could save are very concrete and shouldn't be spent recklessly.

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That depends on your taste really. Diamond carat weight is proportional to how big your diamond actually is, so how important is it to you to have a whopper of a diamond? Or a huge diamond engagement ring? A huge diamond is definitely luxurious, but some people might think its gaudy or showy, and it can make the engagement ring oversized and uncomfortable to wear. It can also jut out too far and get caught on things.

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