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).
Actual 1.57 Carat Diamond Size on Hand
If you are thinking about how big a diamond with a 1.57 carat weight looks on a hand, take a look at this picture which provides a visual guide to this diamond's size. Try to use the 7.6 mm average diameter for this 1.57 carat diamond through measuring the length and width of your finger to get an idea at home of how big the diamond would appear.
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This illustration displays a size L 1/2 ring (British and Australia), which is equivalent to a US size six . Be aware that picture like this one are limited in what they can show - women's hand sizes can vary hugely.
You also have to take into account the width and overall length of your fingers. Look at the difference between the size of the woman's hand and the man's hand in the image - you can see that the woman's hand is significantly smaller and more delicate (which is typical), so the diamond appears larger on her hand than it would appear to be on his.
Go searching for diamonds this size at James Allen by clicking on the banner below and dragging the carat slider to the appropriate setting:
