How is this possible??

[designchica]

After looking at hundreds of pictures of beautiful rings in this forum, I''ve noticed that sometimes a 1 and a 2 carat ring look about the same size. How can that be? Shouldn''t a 2-carat look twice as big???

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Volume/weight versus top surface area/diameter.

 

[Circe]

Cut, finger size, and setting can all influence our visual perception of how big a stone looks: hence the frequent cries of "Cut is king!" (a shallow stone might look bigger, but it's not likely to sparkle as much), calls for finger lipo, and prevalence of halos.

ETA: Looking at the post above me from Fleur, oh, yeah, that's a huge factor too: a properly proportioned 1 carat stone comes in around 6.5 mm, and a 2 carat at 8 or so ... so while there's a visual difference, you don't jump up to 13 mm. until you hit ... well, I don't know off the top of my head. A great many carats!

 

[designchica]

Thanks for replies; this gives me a better understanding.

My mom and my sister in law both have 2.06 carats but my mom''s ring looks bigger than my sister-in-laws. Mom''s is an emerald cut, SIL has a round diamond. I was shocked to discover they had pretty much the same carat size.

 

[UCLABelle]

Yep, depends on cut...

However, I normally notice my EC looks smaller than comparable 1.5 rounds (so your mom is lucky to have a big looking EC).

 

[designchica]

Date: 1/15/2008 12:52:15 PM
Author: UCLABelle
Yep, depends on cut...

However, I normally notice my EC looks smaller than comparable 1.5 rounds (so your mom is lucky to have a big looking EC).

Her''s must be more shallow than yours. It looks huge, especially when I make her take it off so that I can put it on my much smaller fingers. I swore it had to be closer to 2.5 carats but she swears it is not. It must be really shallow.

 

[UCLABelle]

Could be, but also, mine might be a little deep

 

[tberube]

Also good to remember that emeralds can look larger than rounds of the same size because of their elongated shape.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/15/2008 11:53:40 AM
Author:designchica
After looking at hundreds of pictures of beautiful rings in this forum, I''ve noticed that sometimes a 1 and a 2 carat ring look about the same size. How can that be? Shouldn''t a 2-carat look twice as big???

It doesn''t really work that way as so many factors can make a difference. This chart will give you a rough idea of how the various weights can compare, but if you are ever choosing for yourself, check on your diameter measurements carefully to get a good idea of spread, or face up weight, that the diamond you choose looks the right size for it''s weight.

http://images.amazon.com/media/i3d/01/actual-diamond-size.pdf

 

[ringabling]

also, 2 carat even w/ similar %''s won''t be literally twice as big visually as a 1 carat because all the extra weight is distributed evenly, not just in the table/where you see it.
KWIM?