Here's Why Off Size Diamonds Might Be the Secret to The Ring of Your Dreams

It’s completely normal to have your heart set on a certain loose diamond size for your ring, like a 2 carat or 3 carat stone. Bigger is always better, right? Not necessarily.

While bigger bling might grab more attention, you’ll be dropping more dollars to get it — sometimes thousands more for just a fraction of a carat. But what do you do if your dreams and budget don’t align? Consider an off size diamond.

Not familiar with off size diamonds? You’re not alone. Find out everything there is to know about off size diamonds and how they just might bridge the gap between your dream bling and your budget — and find the right one for you.

What are off size diamonds?

Also called special sizes, off size diamonds are stones that aren’t round carat weights like 1 carat, 1.5 carats, and so on.

Most of the pre-set rings you’ll find online — or in a bricks-and-mortar jewelry store — are all round numbers, like 1 carat, 2 carats and so on. The reason is simple: The round carat diamonds are typically the most popular choices, so stores are more likely to show those rings off to buyers. However, they’re not always the more economical option.

That isn’t quite the case here at With Clarity, where we have you craft your own ring by picking a diamond. But many of our customers still seek out those popular sizes, though we have thousands of diamonds to choose from. Many of which are those off size diamonds that are plenty gorgeous and probably more budget friendly.

Why you should consider off size diamonds

Diamonds don’t appear out of the earth as the polished-and-cut stones you see in engagement rings. Instead, they resemble regular rocks that are then transformed into jewelry-worthy pieces using an intricate process.

The diamond cutting process requires jewelers to take off some of the stone to create the shape and size they want. Some of the rough diamond is lost during the process, meaning that in order to create a 2 carat stone they need a larger piece to work with. Unfortunately, there aren’t as many large rough diamonds as there are smaller ones, so the price goes up.

That’s where off size diamonds come into play. Not every stone will fit into a whole or half carat size, but plenty do hit those fractions of carats — like a 1.3 or a 1.7 carat diamond. They aren’t as popular as their whole-size counterparts, making it easier for you to get a larger weight stone for less money.

Here’s the truth: People want the status of saying they have a 2 carat when most of us probably can’t tell the difference between a 2 carat and a 1.9 carat diamond. Even a 1.7 can even be a good range if you're looking for a 2 carat center stone.

How to find off size diamonds

As we mentioned, most jewelers will only show off the round carat sizes. So, how can you get your hands on a special size stone? Just ask your jeweler for help.

At With Clarity, we have access to thousands of stones certified by the Gemological Institute of America, including off size diamonds. Feeling overwhelmed by the selection? We have gemologists on staff to do the hunting for you. Get in touch with one of our expert gemologists. They’ll ask you about your diamond preferences to find the right off size diamond for your dreams and budget.

Not ready to pick up the phone quite yet? You can still get custom picks tailored to your needs, straight from our diamond pros. Fill out the form below so we can get to know you and what you’re looking for in a diamond. Once our gemologists know you, they’ll hunt down 3 diamonds they think are a perfect fit and send them straight to your inbox.