Quick and Easy Buying Guide

Carat weight: 1 carat = 200 milligrams = 6.5 mm diameter. Doubling weight doesn't double diameter.

Diamond clarity: FL/IF/VVS/VS = super expensive, near perfect. SI = best value if you can check a photo for obvious inclusions (defects).

 

Color: D-G = colorless, expensive, only if you have money to burn. H-J = best value. Can go lower in gold metal settings than white metal.

Cut: Better cut ratings let more light into a diamond, making it sparkle more. Very important property, don't skimp here.

Set a budget and minimum cut (Premium). Go J color for gold and I/H for white metals. Go searching for SI1/SI2 clarity diamonds at James Allen. Pick a diamond with small/no inclusions. Choose a ring setting and buy it risk-free (60-day returns).

A 0.50 Carat H Color SI1 Clarity Ideal Cut Round Cut Diamond for Purchase

The difference between this diamond being a cheap piece of junk and it having great value is whether you judge it to be eye-clean from the photo.

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Diamonds are forever. E-mail comes close. June Kronholz .

Shape: Round

Carat weight: 0.5

Cut: Ideal

Color: H

Clarity: SI1

Price: $1120

Certificate: AGS

Depth: 61.6%

Table: 55.6%

Polish: Ideal

Symmetry: Ideal

Girdle: Thin to slightly thick

Culet: Pointed

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 5.10*5.14*3.15

Item number: 1338488

Click here to see the diamond at James Allen.

Click here to search for other diamonds at James Allen.

This diamond's Ideal cut rating indicates it has very good proportions and very good or better polish and symmetry ratings. If you can see the diamond in person or examine zoomed in photos of the diamond (like the one for this SI1 clarity diamond), this is where the most valuable deals are to be found - finding an SI1 or SI2 stone that is "eye clean" is a satisfying experience that pays off in terms of money saved. Through lowering the carat size of this diamond (0.50 carats), it's possible you might save a few dollars that will go towards other costs. To get some additional pointers on the "Thin to slightly thick" girdle for this diamond, check out the article I wrote on girdle thickness. For a diamond, a price of $1120 really places it in the lowest price group of diamonds, especially for engagement rings.

This H color diamond is less colored than the bottom normal color ratings of J and below; it's a a balance-point between quality and budget, enabling you to get more in the other Cs of diamonds for example cut rating.