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What difference in size is visible to the eye?

RunningwithScissors

RunningwithScissors

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 29, 2019
Messages
3,826
How much difference in size is needed in MRB diamonds for an average eye to notice the difference?

Does it change with the size of the diamonds? For example, are smaller increases in size more noticeable on smaller diamonds then they are on larger ones?

I'm dreaming about two future projects and want to figure out how much I'd notice size increases.

Project one is a tennis bracelet. Would I see any difference if I use .4 ct diamonds instead of .45? (I know this might seem like splitting hairs.)

Also, I'd thinking about a future size increase for my diamond stud earrings. Would a bump up from 1 ct to 1.25 ct (each diamond) be noticeable enough? Or would I need to go up to 1.5 to really tell a difference when standing back and seeing myself from a couple feet away? (The distance you'd stand when having a conversation with someone in a non-pandemic world.)

If stores were open I could answer the earring question by trying them on, but alas...
 
The visible difference to the naked eye is in mm diameter of the stone. That is, that SPREAD of the diamond, measured in mm’s.

Most people will notice a size difference around 2mm+. Some, under 2mm.
 
You are especially sensitive to visual differences so I think you would very easily notice size increases. I am not sure about .4 versus .45 stones for the tennis bracelet, but yes, I think a size increase from 1 carat to 1.25 carat for earrings would be noticeable enough.
 
OdetteOdile said:
You are especially sensitive to visual differences so I think you would very easily notice size increases. I am not sure about .4 versus .45 stones for the tennis bracelet, but yes, I think a size increase from 1 carat to 1.25 carat for earrings would be noticeable enough.
Click to expand...


i agree. a 1.00 carat RBC versus a 1.25 makes for a noticeable difference, for sure---- ESPECIALLY if you compare 'em side by side.
 
The visual difference depends on the size of the diamond. For instance, if you compare .85ct stone with 1ct stone, you really might need just .15 ct to see the size difference. However, if you have 2ct stone, you might need at least .25ct upgrade to see the size difference (and it might not even be all that visible unless compared side by side.)
 
OdetteOdile said:
You are especially sensitive to visual differences so I think you would very easily notice size increases. I am not sure about .4 versus .45 stones for the tennis bracelet, but yes, I think a size increase from 1 carat to 1.25 carat for earrings would be noticeable enough.
Click to expand...

Especially on ear lobes!
 
He smaller the gem, the more apparent the size difference is as a % increment. To the eye the size difference between a .50 carat and a 1 carat is easily noticed. Once the size goes over 3 carats, a .50 carat increase is barely noticeable.
As for earrings, it does depend on your ear lobes.
I have humongous earlobes. 2 carat each ear and still plenty real estate left over. Put the same earrings on DD and they look ridiculous and threaten to engulf her whole ear !
Ditto porky fingers vs size 4 fingers.
Sigh.
 
Some charts to illustrate the differences in size. I can see the difference in 0.2mm generally.

mmcomparisonchart.jpg

Diamond-carat-size-comparison-infographic-corey-egan-pin_1024x1024.jpg

And yes the smaller the gem the bigger the difference appreciated so a 10 carat stone + or - 0.2mm would be less obvious than a 1 carat stone + or - 0.2mm where it will be much more obvious a difference in size.
 
You would definitely see a size difference in the earrings but not so much in the tennis bracelet I am guessing.
 
rainydaze said:
Ok. Is it me or in the chart that you posted @missy do the 1.75ct and the 2ct look larger than the 2.25ct and the 2.5ct??

I might be losing it....
Click to expand...

LOL no you are right! :lol:

Ohhh emmm geeee. We are all losing it I think. :lol-2:
 
RunningwithScissors said:
How much difference in size is needed in MRB diamonds for an average eye to notice the difference?

Does it change with the size of the diamonds? For example, are smaller increases in size more noticeable on smaller diamonds then they are on larger ones?

I'm dreaming about two future projects and want to figure out how much I'd notice size increases.

Project one is a tennis bracelet. Would I see any difference if I use .4 ct diamonds instead of .45? (I know this might seem like splitting hairs.)

Also, I'd thinking about a future size increase for my diamond stud earrings. Would a bump up from 1 ct to 1.25 ct (each diamond) be noticeable enough? Or would I need to go up to 1.5 to really tell a difference when standing back and seeing myself from a couple feet away? (The distance you'd stand when having a conversation with someone in a non-pandemic world.)

If stores were open I could answer the earring question by trying them on, but alas...
Click to expand...

Side by side, I would see a difference in both the bracelet and earrings.

I do not think I would notice the difference in the bracelet if the two were not side by side.

With the earrings, I would see a difference with an upgrade to 1.25ct each. Depending on your earlobe, a I feel an upgrade to the 1.5ct each to see a substantial difference would be a more desirable change. I upgraded my diamond studs from 1ct to 1.5ct each diamond several years ago and it was the perfect upgrade for me. Nordstrom has 3 prong 3ct tw cz studs that you could try out at a reasonable price.
 
20200417_080156.jpg

I don't know the mm sizes but here are 3 diamond bracelets that I have:

.33s from HPD
.20s FIY from HPD
.16s bought locally in SF

I can see a difference between the .16s and .20s, the difference between .20s and .33s is obvious
 
Thank you everyone for chiming in, I appreciate it.

@cflutist -- your photo is a huge help. I can see a very small size jump with the 0.04 mm increase. I can see a much larger jump with the 0.13 mm increase. (And your photo is eye candy too! All that blingy goodness - gorgeous!!)

@missy -- thanks the size comparison charts are very helpful (and they keep us on our toes! :lol: )

Thinking, thinking, thinking...
 
Hi @RunningwithScissors ! I think for the in-line bracelet you won't see the difference With that said, I think the way the chart translates online is more valuable for comparison purposes but not for what the actual size of the stones are (I think it shows them larger than they are IFL, and I think you will not be happy with stones of that size for the bracelet... I think you will want something larger).
I think for the studs, you will see a difference (assuming their mm size are comparable for usual avg size for ct wt... if your 1 ct stones are more spready yet the new stones not so much, then the difference may not work).
 
@RunningwithScissors

I should clarify, those were .16ct, .20ct, and .33ct diamonds, not mm sizes.

However this might help.

At one time I was considering a tennis bracelet with .50ct diamonds (Wink quoted 75K for it).
I purchased 5.25mm CZs so I could compare with my existing bracelet. They would be the approximate size of .50ct diamonds.

5.25mm CZs.jpg
 
I have a platinum estate piece that is a graduated in-line bracelet where the largest stones are approx. .28 ct, (4.15mm) and I will say that IMO those stones are quite large (at least for me). Last November I got a much smaller in-line bracelet with stones of approx 2-pointers ea (so a very dainty bracelet) that I wanted for everyday wear as I wasn't comfortable with the bracelet of much larger size unless I was going to a formal event.
 
Having a line of identical stones would bring up small differences; if the stobes are very consistently cyt, sizes might be 4.7 mm vs. 4.9 mm or 8% area increase (not nothing) which I prefer for a feel of size.

Either will be spectacular, IMHO & still go everywhere.
 
OdetteOdile said:
You are especially sensitive to visual differences so I think you would very easily notice size increases. I am not sure about .4 versus .45 stones for the tennis bracelet, but yes, I think a size increase from 1 carat to 1.25 carat for earrings would be noticeable enough.
Click to expand...

I was just going to say that what applies to most people will probably fall short for someone who can consistently pick the D out of a colourless lineup of precision cuts :bigsmile:

@RunningwithScissors Your visual acuity is both a blessing and a curse! For the bracelet - the setting might be a "visual size equalizer" (ie. Four prongs or bezels will void most of a tiny size difference).
 
For me personally, a 0.5 ct increase would clearly show a size difference when viewing the stones separate. Viewing stones side by side, I would say 0.25 difference. In the real world, if you’re upgrading, I would go with at least a 0.5 ct bump assuming all are ideal cut, etc.
 
missy said:
Some charts to illustrate the differences in size. I can see the difference in 0.2mm generally.

mmcomparisonchart.jpg

Diamond-carat-size-comparison-infographic-corey-egan-pin_1024x1024.jpg

And yes the smaller the gem the bigger the difference appreciated so a 10 carat stone + or - 0.2mm would be less obvious than a 1 carat stone + or - 0.2mm where it will be much more obvious a difference in size.
Click to expand...

Is it my eyes how one the chart 2ct is bigger than 2.25ct and the 2.5ct? Am I going crazy with my eyes?

Edited , I see some other had mentioned about what I see because I read further, and I see that I am not the only one. Lol
 
Last edited:
rainydaze said:
Ok. Is it me or in the chart that you posted @missy do the 1.75ct and the 2ct look larger than the 2.25ct and the 2.5ct??

I might be losing it....
Click to expand...

Lol. I was just going to comment on that!
 
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