To find a stunning diamond, it's important to understand carat weights and what your options are for buying diamond engagement rings.

Diamonds are categorized by carat weight or simply how much they weigh. A diamond of a lower carat weight will generally be smaller.

One carat equals one-fifth of a gram. So, a five carat diamond weighs as much as one gram. Carat weight does not perfectly relate to a diamond's size, but the average size of a half carat round diamond is 5.1 mm in diameter compared to 6.4 mm for a one carat diamond.

Loose diamonds are priced per carat size but there is a price difference for every diamond. Each diamond has a specific price based on its cut quality, color grade, and clarity. A higher quality diamond in these aspects will cost more per carat.

The wholesale price reflects the accurate value of the diamond, but often you will pay the retail price set by the specific retailer. Whether or not the diamond was mined or lab grown also affects how much you'll pay.

A half carat mined diamond may cost you between $1000 and $4000 depending on quality. A half carat lab grown diamond will cost between $500 and $800.

A half carat diamond may cost between $1000 and $4000, but it is worth much more than its price tag. Make sure you consider how a specific diamond looks when shopping for a diamond ring. Two diamonds of the same carat weight will most often have differences in appearance depending on the diamond cut.

Natural diamonds have inherent differences in color and clarity grade, so it is important to factor that into the worth of your diamond.

A perfect diamond that is internally flawless is worth more than a diamond with very small inclusions. But finding a diamond with blemishes that are invisible to the naked eye will give you the best value for your money.

You don't need larger diamonds to turn heads. The best diamond is one that is beautiful, brilliant, and matches your unique style.

There are many fancy shapes that diamonds come in which means you can choose the exact diamond shape you want. Diamond prices also vary based on shape.

Your perfect ring may have a round brilliant cut diamond as the center stone or a cushion-cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds.

Some diamond shapes are known to make the diamond look bigger than it actually is. Round diamonds look large compared to their carat weight. Oval-cut diamonds and cushion-cut diamonds may even appear larger than round diamonds because they maximize surface area.

Thinner diamonds like the marquise-cut diamond may look smaller when set in a diamond ring.

Lab created diamonds are chemically and physically the same as natural diamonds. Lab grown diamonds are more affordable because they do not require the same mining, shipping, and processing steps of the supply chain that mined diamonds do. They are also an ethical alternative to mined diamonds so you know you're investing in responsibly sourced jewelry.

You'll spend less money on a lab grown diamond than a mined diamond, so you can use that extra money to buy a bigger carat diamond or splurge on a beautiful yellow gold setting.

If you're shopping specifically for a half carat diamond, you can easily narrow your search to only include this carat weight.

If you want to save money, you can search for diamonds with lower color and clarity grades. It is not necessary to buy a flawless and colorless diamond if the imperfections aren't visible to the naked eye. In addition, a slightly lower carat weight diamond such as a 0.48 carat diamond may save you even more without compromising on the size.

If you want to speak with a diamond expert, schedule a virtual appointment to ask questions and get guidance on finding the perfect diamond for you. Our experts can help you decide whether a .5 carat diamond ring or even a diamond with a larger carat weight is best for your preference and budget.

Clean Origin has a wide selection of half carat diamonds in every shape, and set in metals like white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum. You can shop for the popular round-cut diamond or find a new shape for your diamond ring. Clean Origin also sells beautiful diamond earrings.

With our collection of lab grown diamonds, you're sure to find a beautiful diamond perfect for you or to give to a loved one.