# Half-Carat Diamonds in Lebanon

URL: https://diamonds.com.lb/half-carat-diamonds-lebanon/ · Updated 2026-10-16

A half carat diamond is where a great many engagement rings begin, and for good reason. A well-cut 0.50 carat round sits neatly on the hand and catches the light beautifully, and at this weight cut does almost all the work. Here is exactly how big a half carat is, how it looks on the finger, and how to choose one well.

> **Quick answer:** A half carat (0.50 ct) round diamond measures about 5.1 to 5.2 mm across, a little under a third of the width of an average finger. Oval, pear and marquise shapes look larger at the same weight. For the best balance, choose an Excellent cut, G to I colour and an eye-clean VS2 or SI1, and consider a stone just under 0.50 carats: it looks the same and costs less per carat.

## How big is a half carat diamond?

A well-cut round half carat (0.50 ct) typically measures about 5.1 to 5.2 mm across. On most hands it reads as a neat, bright solitaire, clearly a diamond without looking heavy. Oval, pear and marquise shapes look larger at the same weight, and each certificate states the exact measurements of the stone.

Carat measures weight, not size: one carat is 0.2 grams, so a half carat weighs a tenth of a gram. What you see is the face-up spread, the width of the stone from above, and that depends on the shape and the cut. A stone cut too deep hides weight underneath and can measure 5.0 mm or less, so it looks like a smaller diamond.

### What a half carat diamond looks like on the hand

On a finger between US size 5 and 7 (roughly 49 to 54 on the European scale), a 5.1 mm round covers a little under a third of the finger's width. It reads as a clear, bright solitaire: noticeable and elegant, never heavy.

Picture the neighbours. A 0.40 carat round is about 4.7 to 4.8 mm, so most people cannot tell it from a half carat unless the two sit side by side. A 0.70 carat steps up to about 5.7 mm, and a [1 carat diamond](https://diamonds.com.lb/1-carat-diamonds-lebanon/) to about 6.4 to 6.5 mm, covering around two fifths of the finger. Doubling the weight adds only about a quarter to the diameter, because the extra weight also goes into depth. Our [carat size guide](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond-carat-size-guide-hand/) shows more, and our [ring size guide](https://diamonds.com.lb/ring-size/) helps you measure.

![A diamond engagement ring worn on a woman's hand](https://diamonds.com.lb/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ring-hand-1.jpg)
*How a half carat reads on the finger: neat, bright and easy to wear every day.*

## Half carat diamonds in stock now

**7 stones** in stock, from $600 to $850 Updated 22 October 2026

Real stones from our Beirut stock, sorted by price, each with its GIA or HRD report and a 360° video. Delivery is free and insured across Greater Beirut.

- [0.50 ct Round F VS2 (D2056)](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond/0-50-ct-round-f-vs2-d2056/): $600, GIA 2554667231
- [0.50 ct Round F VS2 (D2057)](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond/0-50-ct-round-f-vs2-d2057/): $600, GIA 7552768241
- [0.50 ct Round F VS2 (D2058)](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond/0-50-ct-round-f-vs2-d2058/): $600, GIA 7556471545
- [0.50 ct Princess F VS1 (D2037)](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond/0-50-ct-princess-f-vs1-d-2037/): $700, GIA 1525515184
- [0.50 ct Round F VS1 (D1919)](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond/0-50-ct-round-f-vs1-d1919/): $750, GIA 5446304900
- [0.54 ct Princess F VS2 (D2038)](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond/0-54-ct-princess-f-vs2-d-2038/): $750, GIA 2526624026
- [0.50 ct Round F VS1 (D2005)](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond/0-50-ct-round-f-vs1-d2005/): $850, GIA 6481136843

![Half carat round diamond solitaire engagement ring in white gold](https://diamonds.com.lb/wp-content/uploads/ring-settings-metal/ja2-064-white.jpg)
*A half carat solitaire: delicate on the hand, and every bit a certified diamond.*

## Half carat diamond size by shape

| Shape | Typical 0.50 ct size | Face-up impression |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Round | about 5.1 to 5.2 mm | The reference, and the brightest sparkle |
| Oval | about 6.3 x 4.4 mm | Looks larger than a round |
| Pear | about 6.8 x 4.5 mm | The point stretches the look |
| Marquise | about 8.2 x 4.1 mm | The largest face-up look of any shape |
| Emerald | about 5.5 x 4.0 mm | Elegant length, calm flashes of light |
| Radiant | about 5.2 x 4.2 mm | Brilliant sparkle in a rectangle |
| Cushion | about 4.8 x 4.5 mm | Soft, a touch smaller than a round |
| Princess | about 4.4 mm square | Compact, with crisp corners |
| Asscher | about 4.5 mm square | Deep and vintage, compact face-up |
| Heart | about 5.0 x 5.4 mm | Needs a precise cut to read clearly |

These are typical figures; the certificate states the exact measurements of every stone.

## "Half carat" on paper: the 0.50 to 0.59 band

A carat is divided into 100 points, so a 0.50 carat stone is a "fifty-pointer". When the trade says a half carat, it usually means 0.50 up to about 0.59 carats; anything from 0.45 to 0.49 is sold as just under the half.

The step at exactly 0.50 is real. The trade's benchmark, the [Rapaport price list](https://diamonds.com.lb/rapaport-price-list-explained/), quotes a price per carat in weight brackets, and 0.50 opens a higher bracket than 0.40 to 0.49. So a 0.50 costs more per carat than a 0.49, though nobody can see a hundredth of a carat, and demand for the round number adds to it. Some stones are even cut with extra weight left in a deep pavilion or thick girdle just to reach the line: a half carat on paper, smaller face-up. Three rules follow:

- A 0.45 to 0.49 looks the same as a 0.50 on the hand and costs less per carat.
- If you buy 0.50 or more, check the certificate: a well-cut round should measure about 5.1 mm or more.
- A 0.55 or 0.58 sits in the same per-carat bracket as a 0.50, so the extra spread comes without another step.

## The best 4C combination for a half carat

At this size the eye is forgiving about colour and clarity, and demanding about cut.

| The C | Our pick for a half carat | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cut | Excellent for rounds; fancy shapes judged on video | Brilliance makes a small stone look alive |
| Colour | G to I in white metal; up to J in yellow or rose gold | Warmth is hard to see in a small stone |
| Clarity | VS2 or SI1, chosen eye-clean | Inclusions are physically tiny at this weight |
| Fluorescence | None to medium | Rarely visible to the eye |
| Carat | 0.45 to 0.49, or 0.50 and up at 5.1 mm or more | The same look without paying the step for nothing |

Step cuts such as emerald and asscher show inclusions more openly, so move up to VS1 or VS2 for those. Our [colour and clarity chart](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond-colour-clarity-chart/) shows where to stop paying, and [the 4Cs explained](https://diamonds.com.lb/4cs-of-diamonds-explained/) covers every line on the report.

## Which shapes look largest at half a carat

For the most visible size, go long. Marquise, pear and oval spread their weight along a longer outline, so they look bigger than a round of the same weight and flatter the finger; the marquise, at around 8 mm long, looks largest of all. Elongated brilliants can show a darker bow-tie, which is why our [oval diamonds in stock](https://diamonds.com.lb/loose-diamonds/?shape=oval) are each filmed. Princess, cushion and asscher hold more weight in depth and corners, so they face up a little smaller than a round, which stays the brightest shape. Our [diamond shapes guide](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond-shapes-guide/) compares them all.

## Half carat engagement ring settings that work

- **Solitaire:** a slim band with four or six prongs; a finer band makes the centre look larger. See our [solitaire settings](https://diamonds.com.lb/engagement-rings/?style=solitaire).
- **Hidden halo:** small diamonds tucked under the centre stone, seen from the side, adding sparkle without changing the outline from above. Browse [hidden halo settings](https://diamonds.com.lb/engagement-rings/?style=hidden-halo).
- **Halo:** a visible frame of small diamonds, the most dramatic way to add face-up size. See [halo settings](https://diamonds.com.lb/engagement-rings/?style=halo).
- **Pavé:** small diamonds along the band add light while the centre stays the star. Browse [pavé settings](https://diamonds.com.lb/engagement-rings/?style=pave).

White gold or platinum keeps a G to I stone looking white; yellow and rose gold flatter a warmer I or J, as our [ring metal guide](https://diamonds.com.lb/white-gold-yellow-gold-platinum-guide/) explains. Rings are made to order in about a week to ten days, or set into a ready-made mounting in 24 to 48 hours with our express option.

## Half carat diamond price: where to see real prices

We do not quote prices in articles, because they move with the market and with every grade. A half carat's price comes down to cut, colour and clarity, whether it reaches 0.50, and the shape, since rounds generally cost more per carat than fancy shapes. Our [Lebanon diamond price guide](https://diamonds.com.lb/diamond-prices-lebanon-buyers-guide/) explains how these add up.

The simplest route is real stones: [our half carat stones are listed with their real prices in stock](https://diamonds.com.lb/loose-diamonds/), each with its certificate and 360° video. On a tight budget, open [the lowest budget band](https://diamonds.com.lb/loose-diamonds/?budget=under-1500) to see which weights and grades it covers today.

## Common questions about half carat diamonds

### How big is a half carat diamond in mm?

A well-cut round half carat measures about 5.1 to 5.2 mm across. An oval of the same weight is about 6.3 x 4.4 mm, a pear about 6.8 x 4.5 mm and a princess about 4.4 mm square. The exact figures are on each certificate.

### What does a half carat diamond look like on the hand?

On a US size 5 to 7 finger, a round half carat covers a little under a third of the finger's width: clearly a diamond, bright and elegant, never heavy. It looks slightly bigger than a 0.40 carat and clearly smaller than a 1 carat.

### Is a half carat big enough for an engagement ring?

For most hands, comfortably. In a fine solitaire or a halo it reads as a confident, classic engagement diamond. Cut quality and the setting decide the impression far more than the last decimal of weight.

### Should I buy exactly 0.50 carat or just under?

Just under is the quiet bargain. A 0.45 to 0.49 carat stone sits below the price step at 0.50, costs less per carat and looks the same on the hand.

### How much does a half carat diamond cost?

It depends on cut, colour, clarity and shape, and on whether the stone reaches 0.50. Rather than quote a figure that dates quickly, we list every stone with its real price: browse [our loose diamonds](https://diamonds.com.lb/loose-diamonds/) or start with [our lowest budget band](https://diamonds.com.lb/loose-diamonds/?budget=under-1500).

## How to buy a certified half carat with us

Every diamond we sell is natural and certified by GIA or HRD, with a report number you can [verify online](https://diamonds.com.lb/how-to-verify-gia-hrd-certificate-online/). We share each stone's 360° video and certificate on WhatsApp. Our stones are physical stock in Beirut, delivered free and insured across Greater Beirut in 24 to 48 hours. You come in person only to pay and collect, by appointment, and a deposit reserves a stone while you decide.

- [Browse our certified diamonds](https://diamonds.com.lb/loose-diamonds/) to see the half carat stones in stock now.
- [Build your ring](https://diamonds.com.lb/build-your-ring/) around the stone you choose.
- [Message us on WhatsApp](https://diamonds.com.lb/contact/) with your finger size and budget for a shortlist.