March 8th 2022

1.5 Carat Diamond Ring Guide: Updated Price & Size Charts

By Devin Jones

Looking for the perfect 1.5 carat diamond but not sure where to start? StoneAlgo's got you covered.

Did you know? While a 2 carat diamond costs roughly twice as much as a 1.5 carat diamond costs, a 2 carat diamond looks just 10% wider when viewed from above.

1.5 Carat Diamond Ring Prices

The average price of a 1.5 carat diamond is about $11,500 according to data from our 1.5 carat diamond price index. The below diamond price chart shows the price change over the past 30 days for 1.5 carat diamonds of all shapes, colors, and clarities. If you're looking for an even more specific price estimate you can use our Diamond Price Calculator. 

Diamond prices fluctuate over time just like any other asset price due to supply and demand, both for diamonds in general and for specific types of diamonds. For example, 1 carat diamond prices have underperformed 1.5 carat prices over the past year due to changes in consumer demand.

The Best Color Grades For 1.5 Carat Diamonds

Picking the right color grade is crucial to ensure you get a nice looking diamond without overpaying for quality that will go unnoticed. Choosing too high of a color grade means the buyer is overpaying for quality they can't appreciate visually (a near-colorless diamond looks colorless to most people but costs far less). Too low and the diamond may give off a yellow hue. 

Here are the most popular color grades for 1.5 carat round diamonds based on StoneAlgo users shopping in our massive diamond search engine including diamonds from Blue Nile, Brilliance, and 8 other top online jewelers.

1.5 Carat Diamond Color Grade Comparison

Check out the below 1.5 carat diamonds (all VS1 clarity) listed in order from D – K from top left to bottom right. When viewed from above they all appear incredibly similar in terms of color. However, you might notice there are significant differences in cut quality. You can tell by looking at the dark arrows pointing out from the center of each stone. 

Click a diamond for more details:

The D and G color diamonds above receive high Cut Scores based on our cut quality algorithm. You can see a selection of 1.5 carat diamonds with high cut scores (over 8.7) available from top online jewelers in our Diamond Search Engine.

For example, most people can't tell the different between a colorless D color and near-colorless G color diamond even when they're seen side-by-side. The price difference however is anything but subtle. The below 1.5 carat G VS1 diamond costs $12,500 while the 1.5 carat D VS1 costs $21,000.

Can you tell which diamond is G color and which is D color based solely on the images?

As you can see above, the difference in color is slight and this difference becomes even subtler when the diamonds are viewed “face up” in an engagement ring setting. That's because engagement ring settings can help hide the natural colored hue of a non-colorless diamond. Even without an engagement ring setting, a diamond will face up far whiter than it appears when viewed from the side. 

Here's are the same two diamonds from above with side views – is it easier to tell which is the G color and which is the D color now?

The diamond on the left has a slightly yellow tint when viewed from the side, but when viewed from above the difference between a G and a K is imperceptible.

At the 1.5 carat weight it turns out you can get a lower color grade than you'd expect without sacrificing the appearance of your stone. As you will see next, an I color is a safe bet, especially when paired with a yellow or rose setting. We have put together a diamond for each color (all of them are VS1 Ideal Cut 1.5ct). Starting with D-Color on the top left all the way down to K-Color on the bottom right. 

1.5 Carat Diamonds With Fluorescence

Generally speaking we recommend an H or I color for 1.5 carat round diamonds, but if you're looking to maximize value a J color diamond with faint or medium fluorescence would be an even better option. The presence of some fluorescence can help the diamond appear slightly whiter when exposed to UV light, not to mention that diamonds with fluorescence are typically less expensive.

The below J color VS1 diamond with faint fluorescence offers exceptional value and looks totally white and flawless to the naked eye. Further accentuating its optics is the super high degree of cut quality – this diamond received a Cut Score of 9.6 which places it in the top 5% of all GIA Excellent cut diamonds.

This 1.5 carat J VS1 with faint fluorescence for $8,405 could easily pass for a colorless stone, especially once its placed in an engagement ring setting.

It's worth noting that too much fluorescence can actually make a diamond appear hazy or oily – so we recommend avoiding very strong fluorescence completely. This affect can be difficult to discern in images, but becomes more easily identifiable in real life. Read our  Fluorescence Guide for more info on how fluorescence affects appearance and price.

1.5 Carat Diamond Rings On Hand

Isn't it hard to pick a diamond without seeing it on her hand? With this section we hope to give you a bit more clarity on what a 1.5 carat diamond looks like on various hand sizes (as well as ring/finger sizes).

Above is a 1.5 carat diamond on size 4 ring finger

Above is a 1.5 carat diamond on size 5 ring finger

Above is a 1.5 carat diamond on size 6 ring finger

Above is a 1.5 carat diamond on size 7 ring finger

Above is a 1.5 carat diamond on size 8 ring finger

1.5 Carat Diamonds In Different Setting Styles

When it comes to settings you have endless options to pick from, but you will definitely come across these 3 setting types which happen to be the most popular ones:

• The solitaire setting: in this setting the only diamond is the 1.5 carat center stone and hence the sole focus
• The halo setting: in this setting the 1.5 carat stone is surrounded by small diamonds all around it
• The three stone setting: in this setting two small (or big, its your call) stones are placed on either side of the 1.5 carat center stone

Let's go over a few examples to show what each setting looks like and what it means for the appearance of your 1.5 carat diamond.

1.5 Carat Solitaire Setting (Also Known As A Prong Setting)

The solitaire setting is definitely the most ubiquitous setting style, although there are many variants to it – you can choose how many prongs you want it to have or chose to have a split shank solitaire engagement ring, add a subtle row of diamonds underneath the center diamond, or go with your classic solitaire setting. 

The solitaire setting is so popular because it puts all emphasis in the center stone, it's simple and elegant, and it's also cost friendly. Having this in mind, you want to make sure you got a diamond to write home about, so if you choose a solitaire setting we'd recommend putting even more emphasis on the cut quality of the stone (you can find high Cut Score diamonds in our Diamond Search Engine).

You can expect to pay around $450 for a 18k yellow gold setting (like this one from Blue Nile).

1.5 Carat Halo Setting

Would you like your stone to appear even bigger than it already is? Then the halo is the setting for you. This setting consists of small diamonds that surround the center stone giving it the appearance of a single, large diamond. You can also play around with how these smaller stones surround the center stone – below they are organized in a square shaped halo setting around a round 1.5 carat diamond.

When it comes for the surrounding stones clarity and cut do not matter as much as they do for the center stone itself, but you do want to make sure you get a similar color grade to the center stone (within 1 grade typically, usually a lower grade). A halo engagement ring in 18k white gold starts at about $1,390.

1.5 Carat Three Stone Setting (3 Stone Setting)

Another way of achieving the visual effect described above, yet to a lesser degree, is to have two sides stones of whatever shape you like set next to the center stone. This definitely adds a personal touch to the setting and does not create too much distraction from the main diamond. Note: if you're purchasing a fully built three stone ring make sure to check if the carat weight is listed as "ctw" or "carat total weight" - this indicated the total weight of all three diamonds not just the center stone!

A three stone engagement ring in 18k white gold starts at about $3,220

1.5 Carat Pave Engagement Rings

Besides the setting, you can also choose how you want the band to look. One of the most common styles today is the pave style band, which consists of small diamonds that run the full length the band or else leave some space underneath the finger for the more durable metal setting itself.

A 1/4 carat total weight pave engagement ring in 18k white gold starts at about $1,450 (like this one from Blue Nile).

1.5 Carat Diamond Size Chart

One common misconception regarding diamond sizes and carat weights is that double the carat means double the size (in diameter or surface area). However, double the carat weight simply means that the diamond weighs twice as much. However, because diamonds are 3-dimensional much of that additional weight is eaten up by the depth of the diamond and hence it does not look proportionately bigger when viewed from above.

1.5 Carat Round Earrings

Diamond earring pairs are typically quoted in terms of carat total weight (ctw), so a pair of 1.5 carat earrings typically means two 0.75 carat diamonds for a carat total weight of 1.5 carats. 1.5 ctw stud earrings start at around $4,200 in price. However, the price varies depending on the clarity and color grades used, as well as the type of metal used in the setting (like gold or platinum) and the metals purity (like 14 karat gold earrings vs 18 karat earrings). Read our Diamond Stud Earring Guide for more details on earring pricing and how to pick out the perfect pair.