Want a ring that lasts a lifetime?
We get it. There’s an undeniable allure to 20+ carat engagement rings. You won’t find a jewelry item that commands more attention the second you enter a room.
And these days…
Rings like these are as popular as ever. The global engagement ring market was valued at approximately $79 billion in 2024. The market is driven by one fundamental need.
People want engagement rings that make a statement.
But what is it about these exquisite stones that make them so desirable? Who is buying them? And how can you tell a high-quality stone from a low-quality one?
We’ll show you.
Table of Contents
In This Article:
- Rarity & Beauty
- Size Matters
- The Celebrity Effect
- Expert Tips to Buy
- The Bottom Line
Rarity & Beauty
So what is it that makes a 20+ carat engagement ring special?
First of all, a 20+ carat ring represents the height of luxury. These aren’t stones that you’ll find at your local jeweler. In fact, only the most discerning buyers seek out stunning high-carat diamond rings for engagements, which you’ll find at specialist dealers like Leon Diamond who stock engagement rings up to 35 carats.
Now, you need to consider the size of a 20+ carat ring. The average engagement ring will have a center stone that weighs between 1 and 2 carats. This means that a 20+ carat diamond is between 10 and 20 times larger than the average engagement ring stone.
This has several knock-on effects. These diamonds have exceptional rarity in the diamond market.
They offer the best light performance in the world. All of those extra carats offer more opportunities for reflected light to create sparkle, fire, and scintillation.
You also get immediate luxury status. Just by looking at a 20+ carat diamond, you can tell that this ring is something special. And because they’re rare, they’re an investment too.
At this size, diamonds are a case of the real being truly irreal. A lower-quality stone will be noticeable instantly. By this point, any flaws in clarity or color are magnified. You can only source 20+ carat high-quality diamonds from the best mines. So only the most exceptional stones can make the cut.
In other words, the rarity of a 20+ carat diamond is matched by its inarguable beauty. No one will mistake one of these for anything but an exceptional investment piece.
Size Matters
You can also consider the way that size really does matter when it comes to 20+ carat engagement rings.
After all, they’re big. But these oversized diamonds are more than a show of opulence.
For instance, larger diamonds display unique optical properties not found in smaller diamonds.
The more light you have reflected, the more sparkle. Because a 20+ carat diamond is so big, it has more facets. Each facet is working that much harder to reflect light back and create fire, scintillation, and sparkle. The diamond’s size is directly related to its immediate visual impact.
But that’s not all. As the diamond’s size increases, the opportunities for inclusions and irregularities also increase. This means that lower-quality diamonds get discarded during the 20+ carat selection process.
The result? By definition, any 20+ carat diamond is high-quality.
As for setting a 20+ carat diamond, this requires a unique approach.
20+ carat engagement rings are big. And any jeweler that sets one of these stones is aware of the fact that it will need a special setting. The first job of this setting is to secure the stone. It also needs to accentuate it while not competing against it for attention.
Some of the most popular styles for setting 20+ carat stones include solitaire, halo, and three-stone settings.
The Celebrity Effect
You also have to factor in the fact that celebrities often like to set the tone for luxury engagement rings.
In 2014, Mariah Carey received a 35-carat emerald-cut diamond ring from James Packer, who reportedly paid $10 million for the stone. The engagement ring was covered by many media outlets, and it’s still talked about today. If anything, it helped to solidify the notion that larger diamonds were a valid purchasing option.
More recently, we saw Cristiano Ronaldo give Georgina Rodríguez a 30-carat oval diamond engagement ring worth an estimated $3 million.
We also can’t forget about Kim Kardashian and her $4 million 15-carat cushion-cut diamond ring from Kanye West.
What’s the deal with these events?
Well, the celebrity effect can’t be understated when it comes to these types of items.
Their purchases normalize the ultra-luxury diamond. It seems like a pipe dream for most people, but when a celebrity does it, it becomes more attainable. It’s a visible symbol of status. So for those with the means, they’re now a highly plausible purchasing decision.
For these reasons, the luxury segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate from 2025 to 2034.
Disposable income is at an all-time high in developed economies.
People are purchasing more diamonds. And if you have the financial means to do so, you want what the celebrities have.
Expert Tips to Buy
Buying a 20+ carat engagement ring isn’t something that you should take lightly.
As you can imagine, there are several important factors to consider.
First and foremost, the Four Cs matter more than ever at this size.
Color, clarity, and cut play an outsized role because the stone is so big. You’re likely to see inclusion you otherwise wouldn’t in a smaller stone.
Color issues are also magnified. You may see a larger stone with what looks like a “J” or “I” color. These are considered a mid-range to lower-quality stone in the jewelry industry.
Cut quality is also especially important. You may find that you don’t get the same level of light performance that you’d expect from an otherwise high-quality stone.
Certification is also important. A reputable 20+ carat diamond should come with documentation from a gemological lab.
Buying tips are important because not all 20+ carat diamonds are created equal. A skilled jeweler can source a 20+ carat stone based on your budget. When in doubt, you should also get insurance coverage as well.
The Bottom Line
20+ carat engagement rings represent the absolute pinnacle of jewelry.
They’re not for everyone. That’s the point.
But for those that are willing to make an investment and truly want a unique statement piece, a 20+ carat diamond engagement ring is a perfect way to go.
The reasons for this are clear. These rings are some of the rarest and most unique items that a person can own. They’re a combination of beauty, rarity, and practical value. Plus, they’re one of the only purchases that won’t drop in value once you own it.
A 20+ carat engagement ring is a lifetime investment.
As such, you need to approach the buying process carefully. For instance, make sure that you work with a trusted expert like Leon Diamond. And make sure that you do your due diligence before making a purchase.
The search for the perfect diamond is more than just a one-off process.
There are considerations to make. As such, you have to think about long-term value.
If you like trendy cuts and settings, they may not have the same staying power. Styles like oval, round, and emerald cut diamonds have stood the test of time.
Buying a 20+ carat diamond is a process. One that should be taken seriously. But if you do it right, you can enjoy all of the benefits these exquisite stones have to offer.
