8 carat round diamond size
Round diamonds are one of the ‘spreadiest’ shapes of any diamond, which means that for a given carat weight, they appear larger than other shapes.
A typical 8 carat round diamond may be around 13.0mm × 13.0mm × 7.84mm.
Here’s how it looks compared to a 7 carat and a 9 carat:
One important thing to understand when you are looking at 8 carat round diamonds is that carat weight is a measure of weight rather than size.
Carat weight is therefore spread out throughout the volume of the stone ie. length, width and depth.
Round diamonds ‘face up’ smaller than shallower, elongated shapes like an oval diamond ring at 8 carats or an 8 carat emerald cut diamond ring, but larger than most squarer shapes like a cushion cut diamond at 8 carats.
Watch out: poorly proportioned diamonds
One thing to watch out for with higher carat weight round brilliant diamonds is that they may have been cut with a poor proportions, just to make it to 8 carats in weight.
This can result in diamonds that are overly-shallow or too tall, which will mean that their shape isn’t optimised to reflect light correctly.
A diamond that doesn’t reflect light well is one that looks dull and lifeless – definitely something to avoid.
It’s therefore a good idea to continue to prioritise ‘cut’ quality in 8 carat diamonds, just as you would for a lighter diamond.
8 carat round diamond color
As you likely know, diamond color is graded on a GIA-developed scale from D to Z, although most diamonds used in jewelry fall into the D to M range:
Higher carat weight diamonds tend to show up color more easily than smaller stones, especially in the corners where they sparkle less.
If you want to ensure your diamond doesn’t have a yellow tint, it’s important to try and keep the color as high up the scale as possible.
On the other side of the equation is the effect color has on price.
In most shapes, the price difference between an H color, I color and J color diamond can be significant,
With a 8 carat round brilliant diamond, the color grade you choose can be dependant on the color of the ring setting you are going to pair the diamond with. If you are choosing a white colored setting (platinum or white gold), then I color delivers a good balance of white appearance and value.
However, if you are choosing a yellow gold setting, then you can reduce the color of your diamond to K without it looking yellow, as it will still look white compared to the warm tones of the setting.
8 carat round diamond clarity
Clarity is a measure of the presence of inclusions (or flaws) within a diamond.
The clarity scale runs:
Round diamonds are a brilliant cut, which means that they are optimised to reflect light back from the bottom of the stone in the form of brilliant sparkle. This can mean that inclusions can be difficult to see under the facets, which is a good thing!
A good starting point for 8 carat round diamond clarity is SI1:
However, depending on the diamonds that are available at the time you are looking, you may need to increase this to VS2, or even higher, to ensure that the diamond is ‘eye clean’ and no flaws can be seen.
Pictures of 8 carat round diamond rings on the hand
Higher carat weight rings mean that additional considerations can be needed to be taken into account, depending on the ring setting style chosen.
These images of 8 carat round diamond rings on the finger will show you how big your ring could actually look.
8 carat round diamond pavé ring
When choosing a pavé or channel setting, there is a big decision to make.
Either can be a great option, but one thing to consider is the color of the side stones.
Small, brilliant cut stones can appear whiter than larger diamonds, which means that even if you do match the color by the color grade, they still may appear whiter.
In cases like these, especially if you are going a little lower on the color on your center stone, like in the image above, it can be a good idea to work with an expert to ensure that the side stones complement the center stone.
8 carat round diamond halo ring
At 8 carats, some may feel that a halo is unnecessary to increase the size and impressiveness of the ring.
However, if you do choose a halo ensuring the side stones are a good match for the center stone is essential, due to their proximity.
Even more so than with a pave or channel setting, working with someone who can color-match the side stones to the center stone is the best way to ensure that they complement each other well.
