3/4 Carat Diamond Ring Guide
What you need to know about 3/4 carat diamond engagement rings
What you need to know about 3/4 carat diamond engagement rings
If you find yourself looking for a 3/4 carat diamond engagement ring, rest assured. That is one of the most commonly purchased diamond ring sizes. The average engagement ring size falls somewhere between 3/4 of a carat and one carat.
How much does a ¾ carat diamond ring cost?
How large is a ¾ carat diamond?
What quality ¾ carat diamond should I get?
What style ring should I get with my ¾ carat diamond?
Where should I buy a ¾ carat diamond from?
If you follow our guidelines you will manage to find the perfect balance of quality and value like this stunning diamond.
A 3/4 carat diamond ring can cost anywhere from around $800, for a low-quality diamond with a noticeable yellow tinge and/or easy to spot imperfections, to over $8,000 for a truly flawless diamond.
Both these prices are outliers, however. On the low end, an $800 3/4 carat diamond is likely to be below the minimum standards you’d want for a diamond ring. While on the upper end, spending big on a flawless three quarter carat diamond with the highest color grade means you’re spending too much of your budget on areas that will not be easily noticed by the naked eye.
The sweet spot in value for a 3/4 carat diamond ring is between $1,500 and $4,000. In this range you’re most likely to get the best bang for your buck in terms of the quality of your diamond.
One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to diamonds is that carat refers to the size of a diamond.
The truth is, there is no such thing as “carat size”. Carat is a measure of weight. 1 carat is equal to 0.2 grams. A 0.75 carat diamond therefore weighs 0.15 grams (150 milligrams).
In terms of size, a 3/4 carat round diamond will, on average, measure 5.8mm in diameter. For comparison, a 0.50 carat diamond measures 5.1mm, while a 1 carat diamond is 6.4mm.
These numbers are just averages though, and are based on a round brilliant diamond, cut to ideal proportions. The shape of the diamond, as well as the cut quality, can result in a slightly larger or smaller size for two diamonds of the same carat weight.
This 0.77 carat round diamond with an Excellent grade in cut, for example, features length-width measurements of 5.82mm by 5.85mm, putting its diameter slightly above the average for a diamond of this shape and carat weight.
On the other hand, a 0.75 carat round diamond, graded only “very good” in cut, measures 5.62mm by 5.69mm – quite significantly below average. Note that this diamond doesn’t have the cut parameters we recommend.
The other element that influences the size – at least, the visible appearance of the diamond – is its shape. Certain shapes have a larger or smaller surface area, making them appear bigger, even while the carat weight is the same.
Elongated shapes such as oval, pear and marquise cut diamonds appear larger than princess, asscher or radiant cut diamonds.
The choice of diamond shape is an important one when shopping for a diamond engagement ring. It’s also the hardest to give a recommendation for, as this choice is largely down to personal preference.
While it’s true that some diamond shapes appear larger than others, this does not necessarily make them the best choice. Size is not everything, and for some people, the classic, timeless look you get with a round brilliant diamond is preferable to a different shape with a larger surface area.
You’ll want to shop around and look at several different diamond shapes, to settle on which one you think fits your partner’s taste and preferences the best.
The most important thing to understand when you’re shopping for a diamond ring is the way in which diamonds are graded.
The difference in beauty between a diamond with low or high grades is quite extreme. As is the price – each jump in grade comes with a corresponding increase in price. So you need to know where to best allocate your budget in order to get the most beautiful diamond ring within your target price range.
Diamonds are graded on what we call the 4 C’s – Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. Carat we’ve discussed already, so here’s a rundown on the other areas in which a diamond is graded, and what to look for when shopping for a three quarter carat diamond ring.
Of the 4 C’s, diamond cut is probably the most important. Cut refers to the quality of the angles, facets and proportions of a diamond. Poorly cut diamonds are easily noticeable – they don’t have the same brilliance and fire as you expect from a diamond, and the proportions will look uneven and awkward.
Poorly cut diamonds, as we touched on earlier, can also appear smaller than average for their carat weight, meaning you may end up paying for a 0.75 carat diamond that actually looks like a 0.70 carat.
We recommend always looking for a diamond with an Ideal or Excellent cut grade. Anything lower is simply not worth it.
Color is another important grade to consider, and one which can have a big impact on the beauty, and the price, of your 3/4 carat diamond ring.
Diamond color is a rating of how white or colorless the diamond is. Each diamond has a grade from D to Z, with D being the highest, and Z the lowest.
Diamonds with a low grade in color have a distinct yellow or brown tinge, a generally undesirable trait in diamonds (unless you’re specifically looking for a fancy colored diamond).
Compared to cut, diamond color is more subjective. Color can appear differently to the naked eye, even between diamonds with the same grade. Other factors can make color grades more or less noticeable as well, such as the size and shape of the diamond, and the ring setting.
That’s why it’s important to inspect the diamond yourself, as well as viewing it in its setting, to assess whether you’re comfortable with the color grade.
It’s also important to understand that, above a certain level, higher color grades are barely (if at all) noticeable. Yet the price continues to rise with each grade, so it’s easy to end up paying for a grade that will go unnoticed outside of professional inspection.
The key is to find a diamond that appears colorless. Usually that will be in the G-I range (you can also go down to K color if you’re considering a yellow gold solitaire setting). Diamonds graded higher than this likely won’t look any different to the naked eye, yet will come with a much higher price tag.
To get an idea of the difference in price that comes with additional color grades, here are a couple of 3/4 carat diamonds with identical grades outside of color:
For each jump in color grade, we see a difference in $300-$400 in price (even more between I and J grades). That’s why it’s so vital you don’t overpay for a diamond that does not live up to its color grade.
Like color, diamond clarity is a quality that can be subjective, and requires inspection before you make a purchase.
Clarity refers to how many imperfections, blemishes and inclusions are present in the diamond and how big they are. Grades range from I3 (the lowest, meaning clear inclusions are visible), to FL (flawless – no inclusions at all).
The full grading scale is as follows, in order of highest to lowest:
Outside of being able to tell people your ring features a flawless diamond, there is little reason to pay for one of the highest grades in clarity. The differences between each grade, particularly at the upper end of the scale, are only noticeable under intense magnification, done with professional tools and expertise.
Instead, focus on a diamond that appears eye-clean. This means, when you view it with the naked eye, without magnification, you should not be able to notice any inclusions or blemishes.
Once you reach the threshold for appearing eye-clean, you’ll start paying a premium price for features that no one is likely to notice. Generally this is around VS1-VS2. You’ll most often find the sweet spot between beauty and value in this area. However, you’ll want to inspect the diamond before making a purchase, to ensure its grade aligns with how it appears in real life.
The final thing to understand in relation to how diamonds are graded – and perhaps most important – is who grades the diamond.
Each diamond should have a certificate from a third-party grading lab, giving a summary on the 4 C’s, as well as other aspects such as its proportions.
It’s vital you only buy a diamond that comes with one of these grading reports. Otherwise, a retailer could attempt to pass off a diamond as having higher grades than it really does.
Equally as important is which lab gave the report. Certain grading entities are known in the industry to be more or less trustworthy than others. The best labs are trusted to grade diamonds independently, without bias and without financial incentive, meaning you can be confident that the grades given are a true representation of the diamond’s quality.
We recommend buying only diamonds with a certificate from the GIA or AGS. While it’s still possible to get a diamond at decent value with a different certificate, your chances of being duped or overpaying go up significantly.
Another thing to consider when shopping for a 3/4 carat diamond engagement ring is the setting style. The setting can either elevate your three quarter carat diamond ring, or leave you with a beautiful diamond that looks out of place in the wrong setting.
One of the most popular setting styles is the solitaire setting. This setting features one diamond, presented high above the band, in a way that makes it the center of attention. The simplicity of a 3/4 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring suits any shape, style or size of diamond.
The hallmark of a solitaire setting is the use of four or six prongs to hold the diamond. These prongs securely hold the diamond in place, without taking attention away from the diamond itself.
See these 3/4 carat solitaire diamond rings for inspiration for your own buying journey:
Consider your setting at the same time that you’re picking out a diamond. Doing so may help you save money and find a more beautiful diamond within your price range.
The setting can sometimes mask low color grades. Lower grades, such as a K or J color, usually have a yellowish tint. Yet in a darker setting, such as yellow gold, these same K or J color diamonds may appear colorless. This can allow you to dip lower in color, and either buy a ring for less or put your budget towards a higher carat or clarity.
As for setting styles, some settings, such as a halo, side-stone or pavé setting, can add more brilliance and fire to the overall ring, elevating a small diamond and making it appear more beautiful.
You may be able to get better value by choosing a lower carat diamond and placing it in a halo setting, for example.
In the end, however, setting styles come down largely to personal preference. Each woman is different, with their own unique taste and style. Some will prefer a classic, simple solitaire setting, while for others a stunning halo or three-stone setting fits the bill.
Here are a few more examples of different settings for a 3/4 carat engagement ring:
2. Twisted Pavé Leaf Engagement Ring in 14K Yellow Gold with a 3/4 Carat Princess Cut Diamond
3. Six Prong Knife Edge Solitaire Engagement Ring in 14K White Gold with a 3/4 Carat Round Cut Diamond
4. Three-Stone Petite Trellis Engagement Ring in Platinum with a 3/4 Carat Round Cut Diamond
5. Twisted Halo Diamond Engagement Ring in 14K Rose Gold with a 3/4 Carat Round Cut Diamond
People in a certain budget range may end up considering both 3/4 carat diamonds and 1 carat diamonds. Your first thought may be the decision is an easy one – get the highest carat diamond you can. But realistically, there is more that should go into the decision of a 3/4 carat vs. 1 carat diamond.
A smaller diamond allows you to spend more of your budget towards Cut, Color and Clarity, as well as a beautiful setting. The size difference may not be as much as you think, either.
Here’s a quick rundown on the key differences between a 3/4 carat and 1 carat diamond:
Size: a round 0.75 carat diamond weighs 0.15 grams and measures approximately 5.8mm in diameter. In comparison, a round 1 carat diamond weighs 0.2 grams and measures approximately 6.4mm.
Price: the difference in price between a 3/4 carat and 1 carat diamond is more pronounced than the size difference, as the price per carat of diamonds goes up as size goes up.
There are countless places you could go to buy a 3/4 carat diamond engagement ring. However, not all jewelers offer the selection and expertise you need to find the perfect ring within your price range, for the best value. For more information, we have an in-depth review of the best diamond engagement ring retailers. Here is the short version.
There are several online diamond sellers we recommend above all others, for their range of high-quality GIA and/or AGS certified diamonds, as well as their ability to provide a great customer experience.
Here are the best places to buy a three quarter carat diamond ring:
Blue Nile is active since 1999 and they have a wealth of experience, combined with the largest inventory of GIA and AGS certified diamonds.
James Allen is the place to go for the best customer experience of any diamond seller, with best-in-class diamond imagery to help you inspect their range of GIA and AGS diamonds.
Brian Gavin is home of the best diamond cuts in the industry. The super-ideal cuts of the “Brian Gavin Signature” Hearts & Arrows range are the best it gets.
Let’s now touch on some of the most common questions we get from our readers in regards to 3/4 carat diamond rings.
A good quality 3/4 carat diamond ring should cost in the range of $1,500 and $4,000. This is the range in which quality and value intersects. You’ll be able to find a 3/4 carat engagement ring for as low as $800, or up to and above $8,000, but for these prices, your ring is likely to be either poor quality, or overpriced in relation to the visual appearance you get.
If you see the letters “CT TW” when shopping for a diamond ring, this means the total carat weight of the diamonds on the ring.
With some ring settings, such as pavé, side stone and halo settings, the ring features a number of smaller diamonds (known as accent diamonds), set along the band or beside the center stone.
A 3/4 carat diamond may also be called a 75 point diamond. Diamond carat weight is sometimes referred to in “points”, instead of carats. Each carat is equal to 100 points. This allows precise measurement of a diamond’s weight, usually for diamonds under one carat.
A 3/4 carat round diamond should measure approximately 5.8mm in diameter, if cut to ideal proportions. However, it’s important to understand that carat refers to the weight, not size, of a diamond, so not all 3/4 carat diamonds will be the same size.
The quality of cut can make a difference for the visible size of the diamond, as can the shape.
A 3/4 carat princess cut diamond ring, for example, will appear smaller than a 3/4 carat oval cut, due to the smaller surface area, or “face-up” area.
A 3/4 carat (0.75 carat or 75 point) diamond weighs more than a 1/2 carat (0.5 carat or 50 point) diamond. In most cases, a 3/4 carat will be bigger than a 1/2 carat diamond as well. Even in the case of different shaped diamonds, a 3/4 carat princess cut diamond (one of the diamond shapes that appears the smallest) should look bigger than a 1/2 carat oval cut diamond in terms of their overall face-up area.
A 1/2 carat diamond engagement ring looks particularly great on petite hands. 3/4 – 1 carat looks great on almost any hands.
While a 1 carat diamond ring sounds much more impressive, there’s a chance you can get a more beautiful diamond engagement ring for your budget by dipping a little lower in carat weight.
A 3/4 carat diamond ring is more than enough to catch the eye, and brings a significant discount in terms of price per carat than a 1 carat ring and above. This allows you to spend more of your budget towards a diamond with a high-quality Cut, and high grades in Color and Clarity, which may result in a more beautiful diamond than you could get at 1 carat or above.
If you need assistance in your search for a 3/4 diamond ring, or you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact our experts.
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