Guides » 1.50 Carat Diamond Ring Buying Guide | The Diamond Pro

1.50 Carat Diamond Ring Buying Guide | The Diamond Pro

Last Updated On: October 6, 2020

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Bottom Line Recommendation:

If you’re looking for a large, beautiful engagement ring, a 1.50 carat diamond ring is a fantastic choice. 

Like with all diamonds, 1.50ct diamonds can vary hugely in price based on their cut quality, clarity and color. We recommend choosing a diamond with an excellent cut grade, a VS1 or VS2 clarity grade and a color grade in the G to I range to get the best value for money.

We also recommend buying online instead of from your local jewelry store, as this will help you save 30-40% on average. Trusted online diamond vendors such as James Allen, Blue Nile and Brian Gavin Diamonds are all good choices for diamonds in the 1.50ct range.

If you want personalized help buying a diamond ring in the 1.50ct range, feel free to contact us and we’ll help you choose the best options for your tastes and budget.

A 1.50 carat diamond engagement ring can look elegant, dramatic and beautiful, offering lots of size and impressive brilliance. 

Larger than the average diamond, 1.50ct diamonds are available to purchase from both local jewelry stores and online vendors. Like with all diamonds, the 1.50ct stones that are available can vary hugely in appearance, quality and value for money. 

A 1.50ct diamond engagement ring is a major purchase, meaning it’s important to make sure that you get the best possible value for money.

Below, we’ve explained how much a 1.50ct diamond should cost, how a diamond of this size looks compared to other diamonds, as well as what you should look for in a diamond in terms of cut quality, color, clarity and other characteristics.

We’ve also shared some of our favorite diamonds in the 1.50ct range from our recommended diamond jewelry vendors.

1.50 Carat Diamond Pricing

On average, the price of a 1.50ct diamond ring can range from as little as $4,000 to $25,000 or more. 

The cost can vary based on numerous factors, including the cut quality, clarity and color grades of the diamond you choose, the shape of the diamond and the engagement ring setting in which the diamond is mounted. 

As a general rule, you’ll find the best value for money for a 1.50ct diamond ring in the $8,000 to $12,000 range. In our experience, diamonds in this price range offer the best combination of quality, appearance and value for money. 

Below the $8,000 mark, you’ll usually find 1.50ct diamonds with noticeable imperfections or poor color that’s noticeable to your eye. 

Above the $12,000 mark, diamonds definitely become higher in quality. However, the difference between a sub-$12,000 1.50ct diamond and one that’s twice as expensive is difficult to notice without a jeweler’s loupe and bright lighting. 

For example, this gorgeous 1.50 carat, H color, VS1 clarity, ideal cut round diamond from Blue Nile is $10,157. While it isn’t flawless, its small imperfections and not-quite-colorless appearance aren’t noticeable to the naked eye, even in large, well-lit photos. 

This diamond is also 1.50 carats in weight. It also has an ideal cut grade. However, it has a flawless D color grade and a VVS2 clarity grade — significantly higher than the diamond above. 

This diamond costs $16,345, making it 80% more expensive than the diamond above. Is it a higher quality diamond? Yes. Are the differences easily noticeable to the naked eye? No. 

Now, let’s look at an example from the opposite end of the price scale. This 1.50 carat, M color, SI2 clarity diamond costs $3,830. It’s obvious just from looking at this diamond that it has some major aesthetic issues — namely, large, obvious inclusions and a visible yellow tint. They are easy to notice, also because of the large size of a 1.50 carat diamond. And if this diamond was set in a white gold or platinum ring with halo, pavé or side-stone diamonds, the yellowness would be even more noticeable. 

As such, we don’t recommend going too far below the $8,000 mark if you’re looking for a 1.50 carat diamond. Stay within the $8,000 to $12,000 range and you’ll be able to buy a gorgeous 1.50+ carat diamond without overpaying.

1.50 Carat Diamond Price Chart

The table below features the price ranges for round brilliant cut diamonds in different color and clarity grades. All prices are for ideal cut diamonds. Individual diamond prices can vary quite a lot, even for very similar diamonds, making it important to compare individual diamonds to get the best deal. 

If you want a 1.50ct diamond and have a specific budget, you can contact us and we’ll help you find the best diamond within your price range.

If you choose a diamond in a shape other than the round brilliant cut, you may pay slightly less than the prices listed above. We’ve explained this topic in more detail in our guide to diamond shapes and pricing.

How Big is a 1.50 Carat Diamond: Actual Size

On average, a 1.50ct diamond in the round brilliant cut will measure approximately 7.3mm by 7.3mm in diameter. In comparison, a 1 carat round brilliant cut diamond is approximately 6.4mm in diameter, making the 1.50 carat stone appear slightly larger to the eye. 

The exact measurements for any specific 1.50ct diamond can vary based on the diamond’s cut parameters.

It’s important to remember that the term “carat” refers to a diamond’s weight, not its size. If you choose a diamond in a shape other than the round brilliant cut, such as the princess or oval cut, it will have slightly different measurements and may look bigger or smaller to your eye.

1 Carat vs. 1.50 Carat Diamonds

1.50ct diamonds are often compared to 1ct diamonds. The key differences between 1.50ct and 1ct diamonds are:

• Size. A 1.50 carat round brilliant cut diamond measures about 7.3mm in diameter, while a 1 carat diamond is slightly smaller at 6.4mm in diameter. This size difference is large enough to be quite noticeable on your fiancé-to-be’s finger.
  
  If you’re looking for a larger, more eye-catching diamond and have a suitable budget, a 1.50ct diamond will have more presence than a 1 carat diamond.

• Price. Diamond prices rise exponentially with carat weight, meaning a 1.50ct diamond will typically be more than 1.50 times the price of a 1ct diamond.
  
  For example, this 1.50 carat, I color, VS2 clarity, excellent cut diamond costs $8,026, while this 1 carat diamond of the same color and quality costs $4,590. Despite being 50% heavier, the 1.50ct diamond is 75% more expensive.
  
  If you’re looking purely for value for money and don’t care as much about the perceived size of the diamond, choosing a smaller diamond in the 1 carat range might be a better option for you.

• Quality. There’s no difference in quality between diamonds of different carat weights. A 1.50ct isn’t “better” than a 1ct diamond — it’s simply a larger, heavier stone that commands a higher price.

1.50 Carat vs. 2 Carat Diamonds

Many people with an engagement ring budget in the $8,000 to $20,000 range look at both 1.50 carat and 2 carat diamonds. The key differences between diamonds in this range are:

• Size. As you’d expect, a 2ct diamond will look larger than a 1.50ct diamond. With this said, the difference isn’t extremely big — a 2 carat round brilliant cut diamond will measure about 8.1mm in diameter, compared to 7.3mm for a 1.50ct diamond.
  
  As you can see in our guide to carat weight and diamond sizes, there’s not that much of a difference in perceived size between a 2ct and 1.50ct diamond.

• Price. Like with a 1ct and 1.50ct diamond, there’s a significant difference in price between a 1.50ct and 2ct diamond.
  
  This 1.50ct, I color, VS2 clarity diamond, which we also used for the comparison above, is $8,026. Despite only being 33% heavier, this 2.01 carat diamond of the same quality is $14,373, or a full 79% more expensive.

1.50 Carat Diamond Engagement Rings: Inspiration

1.50 Carat Solitaire Engagement Rings

• Round Brilliant Cut Solitaire Engagement Ring in 18k Yellow Gold
• Oval Cut Solitaire Engagement Ring in Platinum

1.50 Carat Halo Engagement Rings

• This Bridge Halo Setting in White Gold with this 1.50ct H/VS1 Cushion Cut
• This Floral Yellow Gold Halo Setting with this 1.52ct I/SI1 Round Cut

1.50 Carat Pavé Engagement Rings

• This 1.50ct I/VS1Round Brilliant Cut in a Pavé Cathedral Engagement Ring in 14k Rose Gold
• Emerald Cut Pavé Engagement Ring in Platinum

1.50 Carat Vintage Engagement Rings

• This Leaf Pavé/Halo Setting in Yellow Gold with this 1.51ct I/VS2 Emerald Cut Diamond
• This gorgeous Oval Bezel Setting with this 1.51ct H/SI1 oval diamond

1.50 Carat Diamond Color

Color is one of the most important factors to look for when buying diamonds, especially those in the 1.50ct+ range. 

Diamonds are graded for color using the GIA scale, which runs from D (the best color grade, for clear, colorless diamonds) to Z (heavily tinted diamonds with yellow or brown color). The more colorless the diamond, the better the grade and the higher its value.

Our guide to diamond color goes into the color grading system in more detail, as well as how a diamond’s color can affect its appearance. 

Diamond prices can increase by a significant amount with each color grade, often without a very large difference in appearance between one diamond and another. 

For example, this 1.55 carat diamond has a D color grade and costs $14,124. There’s no doubt that it’s a gorgeous, colorless diamond. But place it beside this 1.51 carat, G color diamond and it’s difficult to see any difference, especially when they’re viewed without magnification

Meanwhile, the G color diamond is priced at $11,361 — almost $3,000 more than the D color diamond. 

In general, we recommend limiting your search to diamonds in the G to I range, especially if you plan to choose a ring that’s made from a metal like white gold or platinum, as these metals tend to display the color of a diamond the most. 

Diamonds with a G, H or I grade are considered “near colorless.” To the naked eye, they appear just as colorless as diamonds in the D to F range, all while costing significantly less.

If you plan to choose a yellow or rose gold engagement ring, it’s often okay to go a little further down the scale and choose a diamond with a J or K color grade. This is because the yellow or rose gold color of the ring will help to conceal any color that can be found in the diamond.  

For example, this 1.52 carat, K color, VS2 round cut diamond is available for $6,653. Set in a white metal, the color of this diamond would make it look tinted. However, it would look vibrant and beautiful in a yellow or rose gold setting. 

One factor to keep in mind is that the quality of a diamond’s cut is more important than its color grade, at least from an aesthetic perspective. A well cut diamond will help to conceal its internal, whereas a poorly cut diamond will display any yellow or brown tint more clearly.

Need help choosing the right color grade? Contact us and we’ll help you find the best 1.50 carat diamonds for your tastes and budget.

1.50 Carat Diamond Clarity

A diamond’s clarity refers to its visual appearance. The fewer inclusions and blemishes that can be found in a diamond, the better its clarity.

Diamond clarity is graded on a scale, from IF (internally flawless) to I3 (inclusions, third degree). An internally flawless diamond has no internal or external imperfections and will look flawless to the naked eye and when observed under magnification and bright lighting.

Flawless diamonds are both extremely rare and extremely expensive. They’re also not a great choice from a value for money perspective, as the difference between a flawless diamond and one with small, barely visible inclusions is virtually impossible to see with the naked eye.

Like with color, we don’t recommend buying a diamond with the highest clarity grade. Doing so is very expensive. Instead, we recommend choosing a diamond that appears clean to your eye, with no obvious, visible inclusions or blemishes.

To illustrate this difference in price, look at this 1.56 carat, IF clarity diamond. As you’d expect from an IF clarity diamond, it looks perfect. However, this 1.50 carat, VS1 clarity diamond also looks clean to the eye and costs $3,180 less. 

Eye-cleanliness is particularly important in a 1.50ct diamond, as the large table of a diamond this size can make inclusions more visible than they would be in a smaller diamond. 

The minimum clarity of a diamond can also vary based on its shape. Some shapes, such as the cushion cut, do a great job of hiding inclusions. Other shapes, like the emerald cut, have a very large table (and also thanks to the way it’s cut) that can make inclusions and blemishes more visible.

In general, we recommend VS2 clarity grade or better for most 1.50 carat diamonds. A clean VS2 clarity diamond will usually have inclusions and blemishes, but they’ll generally be invisible to the naked eye.

In some cases, an SI1 diamond might also be eye clean and a suitable choice. At the other end of the scale, we generally don’t recommend going higher than VVS2. Beyond this point, you’re paying for clarity that you won’t ever notice once the diamond has been set in a ring.

Shopping Tips for a 1.50 Carat Diamond

• Choose an excellent or ideal cut diamond. The better a diamond’s cut, the more light it will reflect, creating the stunning look with which diamonds are associated.
  
  As always, we recommend buying an excellent or ideal cut diamond. A diamond with an excellent cut will have stronger brilliance, fire and a much more impressive appearance than a poorly cut diamond.

• Stick to the G to I color range. As we recommended above, choosing a diamond with a color grade in the G to I range (near colorless) will give you better value for money than choosing a diamond with a color grade in the D to F (colorless) range.
  
  Diamonds in the G to I range will appear just as colorless to the naked eye as colorless diamonds, all while costing far less. Even with a large 1.50 carat diamond, the difference is almost totally imperceptible without the use of a jeweler’s loupe.

• For a yellow or rose gold setting, choosing a lower color grade is okay. Yellow and rose gold can help to conceal the slight yellow tint of a diamond with a lower color grade, making it okay to go below the G to I range if you choose either of these metals.
  
  For the most part, it’s best not to go below the J to K range. For more information on the best color grades for optimal value for money, check the recommendations in our guides to different diamond shapes.

• Choose a VS2 clarity grade or better. The VS2/VS1 clarity grade offers the best value for money, especially for a diamond of this size. Most of the inclusions and blemishes in a VS1 diamond of 1.50ct will be invisible to the naked eye.
  
  We don’t recommend going below the VS2 clarity grade for a 1.50ct diamond, as the large size of the diamond means that inclusions are often visible at lower grades (even though you can still find eye-clean SI1s.). Above all, make sure that you choose a diamond that’s eye-clean.

• Pick the shape you like best. There’s no “perfect” diamond shape — instead, the best option is to pick a shape that looks pleasing to you. Our diamond shape guide covers all of the widely available diamond shapes, with information on each one’s characteristics.

• Choose a setting that suits your tastes. Your choice of setting has equally as much of an impact on the appearance of your ring as your choice of diamond. If your setting has pavé, halo or side-stone diamonds, it may also affect your choice of a center diamond.
  
  We recommend using our list of engagement ring styles to choose a ring that suits your tastes, preferences and budget.

• Buy your ring online. We strongly recommend buying your diamond online, rather than from a local jewelry store. Shopping online means you’ll spend less and have access to a much larger selection of diamonds than any local jewelry store can offer.
  
  You can find more information on our recommended online diamond jewelry vendors below.

Best Places to Buy a 1.50 Carat Diamond

As we explained in our guide to buying diamond jewelry online, we highly recommend buying from a trusted online vendor instead of a brick-and-mortar jewelry store. 

Buying online gives you access to a larger selection of diamonds than any offline jewelry store can offer. Because of the economics of e-commerce vs. traditional retail, you’ll also be able to save a significant amount of money compared to what you’d pay to buy a diamond offline.

This means that you can either buy a better diamond for the same price, or spend less to get a diamond of equal quality. 

Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to vet and review a diverse range of online and offline diamond vendors. We highly recommend the following sellers:

• James Allen. James Allen offers a huge range of diamonds, including many in the 1.50ct range, as well as beautiful settings. Their product photography is the best in the industry, allowing you to see each diamond in detail before you decide what to buy.
  
  James Allen’s pricing is extremely competitive and they offer a large range of diamonds with GIA or AGS certification. Their customer service is excellent, with a generous return policy and lifetime warranty.

• Blue Nile. Another fantastic choice, Blue Nile has the largest diamond inventory of any online vendor, with competitive pricing and an equally diverse selection of settings.
  
  Like James Allen, Blue Nile sells GIA and AGS certified diamonds, with a good selection of diamonds in the 1.50ct range. Their customer service is professional and reliable, with a free lifetime warranty and excellent return policy.

• Brian Gavin Diamonds. Brian Gavin Diamonds is a great choice if you’re looking for an exceptionally well-cut diamond. With 20+ years of experience, this is the place to shop if you’re looking for the crème de la crème of brilliant diamonds.

• Leibish & Co. Leibish & Co. specialize in colored diamonds. If you’re looking for a pink, yellow, champagne or other fancy colors of exceptional quality, Leibish’s large inventory and a great range of settings makes this an excellent place to shop.

About the author

Michael Fried

Mike learned the diamond business from the ground-up at Leo Schachter Diamonds - one of the world's top diamond manufacturers. He has been recognized as a diamond industry expert by Time, People, Money, The Daily Mirror, NerdWallet, The Times Herald, Yahoo Finance Australia, The Art of Charm, The Washington Diplomat, The Next Web, and more.

Top Recommended Vendors

Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Blue Nile is currently running a limited time sale offering 15% on settings site-wide. Click here to browse some great settings.

Click to Visit

What we love about them:

• No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
• Lifetime Warranty
• Free Shipping
• Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
• Provide insurance appraisal
• One free resizing within the first year of purchase
• High quality images of about half of their diamonds
• 24/7 Customer Service
• 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
• Best in class fulfillment

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James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab created diamonds online.

Click to Visit

What we love about them:

• No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
• Lifetime Warranty
• Free International Shipping
• Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
• Provide insurance appraisals
• One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
• Free ring inscriptions
• Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
• 24/7 Customer Service
• Best-in-class packaging