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).

Budget Round Shape SI 1.75 Carat Diamonds

The first diamond in the 1.75 carat range is a real beauty at a price tag of $8820. There's a tiny inclusion in the center of the diamond but the diamond would look clean to the eye. Make sure you're aware of the medium blue fluorescence though.

Sponsored Links

The second diamond is an ideal cut with no significant inclusions as well, and is much more than a grand more expensive than the first, for no extra diamond size.

The third diamond is effectively the same price as the second (well ok, $120 more), and has an extra 0.02 carats, which is nothing. No major visible inclusions either. Overall, I'd definitely be going for the much cheaper first diamond.

1.78 Carat J Color SI1 Clarity Premium Cut Round Cut Diamond - $8820

Shape: Round

Carat weight: 1.78

Cut: Premium

Color: J

Clarity: SI1

Certificate: GIA

Depth: 62.3%

Table: 58.0%

Polish: Very Good

Symmetry: Very Good

Girdle:

Culet: None

Fluorescence: Medium blue

Measurements: 7.66*7.71*4.79

Item number: 1280866

Click here or on the photo to see the diamond at James Allen.

1.80 Carat J Color SI1 Clarity Ideal Cut Round Cut Diamond - $10290

Shape: Round

Carat weight: 1.8

Cut: Ideal

Color: J

Clarity: SI1

Certificate: GIA

Depth: 62.3%

Table: 55.0%

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Excellent

Girdle:

Culet: None

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 7.80*7.87*4.88

Item number: 1294947

Click here or on the photo to see the diamond at James Allen.

1.82 Carat J Color SI1 Clarity Ideal Cut Round Cut Diamond - $10410

Shape: Round

Carat weight: 1.82

Cut: Ideal

Color: J

Clarity: SI1

Certificate: GIA

Depth: 62.8%

Table: 56.0%

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Excellent

Girdle:

Culet: None

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 7.76*7.82*4.89

Item number: 1304724

Click here or on the photo to see the diamond at James Allen.

Don't forget you can use Engagement Ring Guru's exclusive James Allen discount code "ringgu10" to get 10% off any engagement ring setting. Here are 3 ring setting suggestions that will help get you started in creating your own complete ring using this diamond. You can also click here to search for other ring designs.

Option number 1: 18k White Gold Common Prong Six Brilliant Diamond Engagement Ring setting.

Option number 2: 5.4mm Half-Bezel 18k White Gold Diamond Solitaire Ring setting.

Option number 3: 18k White Gold Common Prong .30ct Brilliant Diamond Engagement Ring setting.