I’ve been looking at rings to propose to my girlfriend. I have an idea of what she likes but also have her friend helping me. I’m going to go with a simple round diamond with a solitaire band. I’ve been looking at 1.5 carats, which I think is plenty, but her friend said it should be at least 2 carats. I don’t think my girlfriend would like a big ring. I’m really unsure if I should go with the smaller diamond or go with her friends advice and get a bigger ring. |
Do what you think is right. Forget about the friends input. |
You choose the ring. This is your decision. |
+1.5 |
Buy the ring you want to buy. I bought my wife a 1.8 carat ring and we have not yet met a friend or coworker with a larger one. We make good money and could have easily gone bigger but I’m really glad we didn’t. There have been several awkward moments where one or the other of us has felt like it is too big or showy (eg her bosses boss has a smaller ring) |
1.5 is a really nice size.
2 might tip into gawdy. What are the other stats on the rings. Size isn’t everything. |
My DH had a hang up on my ring for a while. He bought what he could afford at the time. I loved it! It was small and tasteful and fit my personality as the only jewelry I wore.
But He cared more and worked with very wealthy environment and compared it to partners, and partners’ wives rings, co workers, etc. We upgraded at a later anniversary. (I was able to pick it out. It’s simple but taking the advice from him and the salesperson, it is larger and clear.) That was 10 years ago, and now everyone I know wears simple bands (or nothing) and now that life is more casual and Im running around with kids, I have this very large and $$$ ring in my jewelry box at home ![]() |
OP here. The ring I’m looking at is 1.5 carats. Ideal cut, F color, and VVS1 clarity. |
Don’t be jealous because you don’t have a large ring... |
Go with what you want. The way it is mounted can also make a difference in how big or small a stone looks.
Another thing is hand size. I have very small hands and so 1.5 still looks like a pretty large ring on me. I don’t think I could wear a 2 w/o looking gaudy! |
Save yourself years of pain and suffering. Don’t get married. If things are going well, don’t mess it by getting married. If things go south, you can roll out with little or no ties. |
Buy a lab grown diamond. They are exactly identical in composition to mined diamonds. And they don’t have all the blood-diamond problems.
A compromise on your ring: get a 1.25 or 1.5 and get a halo of smaller stones around it. |
What?! My ring is 2.5 ct and it's on the smaller side when compared to others in my circle. But we don't go around comparing, it's just something I've noticed. It also really has no bearing on income or wealth. How could there be awkward moments? I think you're imagining this. My next ring (upgrade) will be 3 ct. Five year anniversary coming up so maybe we'll upgrade for that. |
1. who gives a F what her friend or anyone else thinks. 2. you know your GF, trust your gut instinct regarding what you think she will like 3. your GF needs to make new friends, ones who are not gold diggers and status chasers. |
Halos are very unfashionable at the moment. |