I have a 2 carat emerald cut with small baguettes on either side. It's gorgeous. The cut and the simple design keep it from looking too large, even though I have slim fingers. The same size diamond cut into a different shape and placed into a different setting might look massive. You really need to consider the look of the ring as a whole and not just the size of the center stone.

Mine is 1.5 and I couldn't imagine any bigger. But that's just my style. I know people who can rock the big rings and they look good. I know others that have small ones and they would look funny with a big one.

For me, yes. I have very thin fingers and work with my hands. It would be off more than on if it were that big. It really depends on your hands and habits.

Anonymous wrote:My girlfriend has a flawless 5 carat from her first marriage and she can't stand wearing it.....says it's way too big, can't really wear it for so many reasons....I think 2 to 3 carats make much more sense, unless your just trying to make a statement...(and a really bad one too)

The bigger the carat, the bigger the problems/insecurity. Or so ive heard. It was true in my case, maybe the same for your girlfriend. Hopefully she is divorced? I didn’t want to wear my ring at all once we were legally separated, certainly not beyond divorce.

I do not understand large gems for an everyday ring. I live a great cocktail ring but I’m not going to wear it on the subway or to do school drop off.

My engagement ring is channel set diamonds (several .5 carat). I love it. Lots of sparkle and the perfect everyday piece. My husband gives me jewelry on our anniversary frequently and some of it is showy— love pulling it out for a special occasion or even just to feel more dressed up for work if I have something big going on. But count me among the people who don’t “get” big engagement diamonds. I can see how they could be fun at first, but I think they’d get kind of burdensome eventually.

My girlfriend has a flawless 5 carat from her first marriage and she can't stand wearing it.....says it's way too big, can't really wear it for so many reasons....I think 2 to 3 carats make much more sense, unless your just trying to make a statement...(and a really bad one too)

This also matters where you are and your social circles. I have 1 ct which I love. My sister in NYC has 5.

Anonymous wrote:What about 1.5 carats?

Good size, versatile.

I have short fingers and size 4. I can’t even wear channel setting rings with you it looking odd. Never was sized until engagement right- I now know why I was so bad at basketball- small hands for someone 5’8”!

too small. should be at least 3 carats.

Way too big. Asinine to wear that much money on a finger. What a waste.

A diamond is like a weiner. It’s never too big!

This question is only answerable by the intended wearer of the ring, which is to say that the whole "surprise!", "here's your ring" phenomenon makes no sense. The shape of the stone, setting, and metal make a huge difference in terms of how it looks.

My ring is a 3 ct emerald cut diamond; excellent cut and visually flawless but sits in a subtle vintage setting; it's noticeable but looks like an antique. The same diamond set in prongs with a round cut would look crazy, and isn't something I'd want.

Let her pick it out, I had fun and am so happy with my ring.

Out and about I generally assume really big stones are moissanite or even lab diamonds since that’s so common now. I don’t think big stones have the wow factor that they once did but I think if someone likes big jewelry they should get a big stone- diamond, stimulant, gemstone, whatever makes them happy!

I have a 4.5 ring finger and have a 2.25ct. It is in a simple setting. I get comments on it, usually "Is that real?" which I really don't care for nor do I answer.

My sister has a 2ct on a size 3.75 finger and it doesn't look too big. It's large, for sure, but I wouldn't look at her hand and say wow, that's obnoxious. She also doesn't wear any other jewelry- not even earrings- so it's not like she's dripping in diamonds.