When trying to save money on a diamond engagement ring, fractions are your friend. Diamonds are valued by their size in carats, but the rates don’t always go up proportionally. Prices are usually set by size range, rather than incremental increases with each fraction of a carat. So, while a 1.9-carat diamond and a 2-carat diamond have only a one-tenth difference in size, the 2-carat stone will be significantly more expensive than the 1.9, because 2-carat diamonds enter a new price range. The diamond industry calls these carat sizes “magic numbers,” where the typical diamond price will rise, such as 1.5 to 2 carats versus 2 to 3 carats.
This concept has gotten a lot of attention recently due to a popular clip from Netflix’s “Indian Matchmaking” going viral on TikTok. It shows a founder of the jewelry brand Sonu Company (@sonu.company) explaining, “Every time we hit that whole number, diamond prices jump exponentially.” Per the jeweler’s recommendation, anyone in the market for a diamond ring should subtract a couple tenths of a carat from their desired size to avoid spending unnecessary money.
Now, doesn’t this mean you’ll get a smaller stone than you want? Technically, yes, the diamond will be smaller, but a fractional difference in carat size isn’t noticeable to the human eye, so it certainly won’t detract from your enjoyment of your beautiful engagement ring.
