3-carat Diamond Ring: A Guide to Finding the Right One

An engagement ring is something special for two people who are in love with each other. It speaks volumes about the affection they share for each other and is a testament to their desire to become one at a specific date in the future. That testament is usually a 1-carat diamond ring in various designs, cuts, and settings. Occasionally, a couple pulls all plugs and goes for a whooping 3-carat diamond ring.

What is a 3-carat Diamond Ring?

A 3-carat diamond ring is usually an engagement ring featuring a single center stone weighing 3 carats. While most solitaire diamond engagement rings feature a 1-carat diamond, some couples not burdened with budget issues go for a breathtaking 3-carat diamond.

A 3-carat diamond always makes a thunderous and bold statement—a significant way of declaring love without hyperbole. People who go for three times bigger than average often have a dramatic, maximalist style where more means MORE. A 3-carat diamond ring on a hand is guaranteed to turn heads.

How big is a 3-carat diamond?

Compared to everyday items you can see in your kitchen, a 3-carat diamond is almost as large as a piece of raisin. For a graphic comparison, refer to the chart below:

Quantitative chart of a 3-carat diamond size

Quantitatively, a 3-carat diamond weighs 600 milligrams. A round diamond’s diameter is about 9.2 mm. Hence, the standard dimension of a round diamond is 9.20 x 9.20 x 5.73 mm. And for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of diamonds, note that diamond size and carat weight are not always the same. A large diamond does not mean it has a more considerable carat weight.

The stone’s carat weight does not affect the diamond table surface area, depth, and other shape characteristics. These depend on the diamond shape and cut – both of which can affect how large or small a diamond may appear.

For example, a 3-carat diamond from one supplier may appear larger than the same carat weight from another because of the way it is cut. An oval shape diamond will look larger than a solitaire of the same weight.

So don’t let carat weight and size influence your decision when buying diamonds. Review several diamond shape options to see what appeals to you most. Don’t be influenced by celebrities sporting this or that diamond-carat weight and size – unless you can afford it. It will be more prudent to opt for one with a reasonable size but with lots of elegance and sparkle.

Most Popular 3-carat Diamond Cuts

Before anything else, it is worthwhile to dwell on diamond cut and shape. Both are used interchangeably but are different.

Cut refers to a diamond’s proportions and technicalities, such as symmetry, alignment of facets, and any noticeable defects. Shape, however, refers to the diamond’s geometrical shape. Of the two, cut is the most important and often used in the same vein as shape.

Outside of carat weight, cut is a diamond’s most important feature. It is responsible for the quality of a diamond’s sparkle. A poorly-cut diamond will appear dull even with a high color and clarity grade. On the other hand, a well-cut diamond will reflect and refract light for maximum brightness and sparkle. It affects the following:

Impacts appearance. Cut is critical, especially for large diamonds such as the 3-carat ones, because the slightest defects can easily be seen. While these can be ignored in 1-carat stones, 3-carats magnify them. These defects are not just about inclusions but also issues created during the cutting process. Remember that one of the main goals of a diamond’s cut is to hide flaws – not magnify them.
Affects light performance. Cut impacts the quality of the shape, which, in turn, makes or breaks the beauty of the stone. Each diamond shape has its physical dimension for optimum light performance. Choose a cut that satisfies all, such as the round brilliant, oval, princess, and radiant cuts.
Impacts size. A well-cut diamond will make the stone look larger than it is. Of course, there are other options you can go for to make your diamond center stone look larger than it is.
Influences price. It is needless to say that a well-cut diamond carries a premium – a considerable premium. The higher the cut grade, the more expensive the stone will be. Diamond experts all agree that the cut shouldn’t be compromised. So, if you have the budget, go for the highest grade cut. It does make a massive difference in larger stones such as a 3-carat.

People’s fascination with diamond brilliance, sparkle, and fire made the following 3-carat diamond engagement ring the most popular

3-carat Round Brilliant Cut Ring

The round brilliant cut is the most famous diamond cut. It took hundreds of years for diamond cutters to develop this shape that maximizes a diamond’s brilliance and fire.

A brilliant-cut is often defined as two pyramids placed base to base. This configuration is intended to enhance a gem’s sparkle while maintaining, as much as possible, the stone’s carat weight. The round brilliant cut has 57 facets – 33 on the crown and 25 on the pavilion.

Utterly versatile and timeless, the round brilliant can stand alone as a solitaire center stone or dressed up with pavé diamonds on the shoulders of the ring.

3-carat Princess Cut Diamond Ring

The princess-cut diamond is the second most popular engagement ring cut – next to the round brilliant. This is because you can get the same degree of brilliance, sparkle, and fire for less money.

This stone shape is intended for a woman drawn to excitement and a true romantic heart because the stone is known to manifest beauty, style, and edge.

3-carat Oval Cut Diamond Ring

Oval-cut rings are becoming popular because they look more modern than the traditional round brilliant. Its elongated form maximizes its carat weight, making it appear more prominent on the finger than a round brilliant.

Another reason people are going for the oval cut over the round brilliant is that it is as ostentatious-looking yet costs roughly 25% less than a round brilliant and has the same brilliance and fire.

3-carat Emerald-cut Diamond Ring

An emerald-cut diamond typically has 57 facets on an elongated rectangular shape with cut-off corners. It is marked with flashes of light instead of brilliance and sparkle due to its linear, straight facets.

*3-carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring*

Fashion-wise, emerald-cut diamonds will never go out of style as they symbolize eternal love and commitment. And if you love glamour, it would be heartening to know that celebrities like Grace Kelly, Liz Taylor, Beyonce, and Jennifer Lopez wear emerald-cut diamond rings.

3-carat Pear-cut Diamond Rings

Pear-cut diamond rings embody the meaning of engagement rings – tears of joy, romance, and love for your partner. They also symbolize strong will, empowerment, independence, and uniqueness of style for the woman who wears it.

Pear-cut diamonds are eye-catching, and because of their elongated shape, they look much larger than a round diamond of similar carat weight. And they do. They’re 8% larger on the table.

3-carat Marquis-cut Diamond Ring

A marquis-cut diamond typically has 58 facets, and its length makes it look much larger than all other diamond cuts. Marquis-cut diamond engagement rings are the best choice for couples looking for a ring that looks large yet fits a limited budget. Its elegant length makes the fingers appear longer.

Marquis-cut diamond rings are often associated with a creative, theatrical personality or one who enjoys a touch of drama with a bit of humor in their lives. The sharp points convey a sense of edginess – perfect for
brides-to-be with a strong personality and a sharp sense of self-awareness.

The Right 3-carat Diamond Ring

Are you looking for the “right” 3-carat, real diamond ring for you? The task is not that difficult. Most major diamond dealers, such as the Blue Nile, have inventories of diamonds of this carat size.

But you will never get the “right” one simply by dropping into the nearest store or logging into their website without first knowing, as much as possible, what you want to buy. Impulse buying is the surest formula for paying for something you will regret down the line.

Arm yourself with information to look savvy the first time you open your mouth. Information such as:

What is a good 3-carat diamond ring price

You need to know certain things before going out to buy a good 3-carat diamond engagement ring. For example, it is almost counter-intuitive that you must set aside a certain budget for anything you plan to purchase – including engagement rings. It is a fool man’s dream to aspire for something with nothing to pay for it.

Now, one of the price determinants of a diamond is its carat size. But it is not the only one. Other factors such as color, clarity, and cut come into play in determining its final price tag.

To give you an idea of the prices you are faced with for a 3-carat diamond engagement ring, it ranges from $ 19,000 to $ 100,000 – depending on the quality factors. Generally, however, you can buy a six-prong, round-cut diamond engagement ring with a VS1 clarity grade for between $ 20,000 and $ 30,000. But the center stone will be of a lower color grade.

Diamond quality factors

Unless you know diamonds from A to Z, the first thing you must do (after having a budget) is to have a preliminary inspection of some 3-carat diamonds you may have a fancy for. Ask for a GIA certification of each. Don’t even look at one without a certificate from a recognized body.

Carefully read the certificate of each stone you look into. Ask for the help of an expert even if you know some of the items therein. It is always better to be sure than sorry. And never take the merchant’s word if he/she suggests any certificate not issued by the GIA or the AGS.

Take extra note of the following:

Shape

There are about a dozen popular engagement ring diamond shapes in the market. While the shape is the most appealing characteristic of a ring, what suits you best is entirely personal. So carefully choose the shape and setting that suits your personality and provides stability to the ring.

Cut

The most popular engagement ring cuts have been thoroughly discussed, so refer to them if you are at a loss for what cut type is best for you. Well, there is no best cut. But some cuts maximize
brilliance and fire. It’s your call.

Clarity

Diamond clarity refers to the absence of inclusions and surface blemishes. Diamonds are classified into 11 clarity grades.

Gem experts normally recommend a VS2 to S12 for engagement rings. However, for a large stone, such as 3 carats, they recommend VS1 to SI1.

Color

The AGS (American Gemological Society) grades diamond color from 0 (colorless) to 10 (light yellow or light brown).

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) grades them from D to Z. More often than not, gem traders use the GIA color grading scale.

For 3-carat diamonds, jewelers recommend using diamonds in the near-colorless range – H to I. To the naked eye, they will appear just as clear as diamonds in the D to F range, yet cost much less. In street parlance, “diamond color is about what you don’t see.” So if you can’t spot the difference, don’t pay the extra cost.

Metal setting

The metal setting does not appear in any GIA or AGS report but is worth mentioning in the subject of engagement rings. The metal setting complements a 3-carat diamond center stone and gives it durability and security to keep the stone in place.

While the most commonly used engagement ring metal is either 14K or 18K gold, for a 3-carat diamond, look for a more sturdy metal like platinum.

Buying a 3-carat diamond engagement ring puts you in the “luxury” category. It’s very much the same as stopping buying a Calvin Klein in favor of a Gucci or from a Honda to a BMW. It is expensive and unreachable for most. But it is very worth it if you look at it from the viewpoint of value and quality. And the attention your loved one gets when wearing it.