Engagement Rings are Getting Bigger
Engagement ring styles evolve slowly. Classic looks that stand the test of time are as popular now as they have ever been. That's why when we start seeing lots of couples making the same change to their engagement rings, we pay attention. Recently, we started seeing more and more couples choosing engagement rings with bigger center stones. Are two carat engagement rings now the new one carat?
To find out if what we've noticed was a trend for the whole market, not just for our customers, we turned to a survey of engaged couples by the online wedding community The Knot. The Knot's engagement ring survey asks 9,300 recently engagemed couples about every detail of their engagement rings. The survey is a great way to track changes in engagement rings and trends over the years.
For these couples, the average engagement ring center stone was 1.7 carats in size. Half of all engagement rings range between 1 and two carats and a full third were larger than 2 carats in size. This is an 8 percent increase in the average size in the past year.
The trend is real. And, if our recent orders are any indication, the trend toward larger carat weights is growing even stronger this year. You've probably noticed it on your social media feeds too. Most couples are now choosing a two carat engagement center stone.
Why are couples suddenly choosing larger carat weights? There are three reasons: one is a change in the kind of diamond they are choosing. The second is a change in engagement ring styles. The third is the growing popularity of fancy shapes.
Lab-Grown Luxury
The most important reason for the increase in engagement ring size is the growing popularity of lab grown diamond engagement rings. According to The Knot survey, last year half of couples chose lab grown diamonds instead of mined diamonds for their engagement rings. The 46% of couples choosing lab-grown for the center stone was about four times higher than the 12% reported in The Knot’s 2019 survey.
Lab grown diamonds cost less than mined diamonds and the difference in price increases along with the carat weight. A half carat lab diamond costs less than a half carat mined diamond. But a one carat lab grown diamond costs a lot less than a one carat mined diamond. And two carat lab grown diamonds? They are the biggest bargains of all.
Surprise! It turns out that people really like big, beautiful diamonds. (Imagine that.) Now that they can afford a bigger lab grown diamond instead of a smaller mined diamond they are voting with their wallets and trading up in size. When a two-carat lab grown diamond is the same price as a half carat mined diamond of the same quality, which one would you choose?
Of course, some couples also choose lab grown diamonds for environmental and ethical concerns. In The Knot's survey, about a third of the couples said having a lab-grown stone is important to them, twice as many as in 2019. Couples today are much more aware of their environmental footprint and much more likely to consider sustainability when making purchase decisions.
If the environmental impact of your engagement ring is important to you, make sure you choose a lab grown diamond that was produced using renewable energy. At Brilliant Carbon, we are proud to offer jewelry with lab diamonds grown using solar power and wind power.
Design Directions
The second trend that has resulted in larger diamond center stones in engagement rings is a shift in the designs that couples are choosing. Five or ten years ago, many engagement ring styles featured halos: circles of pave surrounding the center diamond.
With all their intricate details, halo engagement rings often appeal to couples looking for a romantic vintage inspired engagement ring, with plenty of pave in white gold. Halo designs also help to boost the apparent size of the center stone by adding sparkle around it. When couples choose a large lab grown diamond engagement ring, they don't have to add a halo to make the center diamond look bigger.
Halos are less popular now than they were five years ago. Instead, couples are choosing lab grown diamond solitaire engagement rings or solitaire styles with a pave band. Because the center diamonds are bigger, couples don't need to add a halo to get the big look they want.
For the past few years, bold modern engagement ring designs in yellow gold have become more popular. According to The Knot's survey, the number of couples choosing yellow gold engagement rings increased to 31% last year, up from 15 percent in 2019. (White gold is still the most popular color, with 39% of couples choosing white gold.)
Suit Your Fancy
One more reason for larger carat weight engagement rings is the growing popularity of fancy shapes. In larger carat sizes, the unique personality of fancy shapes like ovals, pears and emerald cuts really shines.
Round continues to be the most popular shape for an engagement ring diamond, chosen by 34% of couples, but its popularity has dropped about 15% since 2015, The Knot survey said. Oval is now the second most popular diamond cut, with 23% of couples choosing an oval engagement ring, up from 21% in 2015. Pear engagement rings, once rare, are now the choice of 8% of couples.
Fancy shape diamonds make a simple engagement ring more unique, especially in sparkling two carat sizes. With the affordability of lab-grown diamonds in fancy shapes, you can enjoy the brilliance and beauty of your engagement ring even more.
