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 Diamond Sizes of a 0.55 Carat Diamond

If you are thinking about how big a 0.55 carat diamond appears on a hand, here's a picture which provides a visual guide to this diamond's size. If you are hesitant to put too much stock in a simple picture, what you can do is measure the width of your finger and compare it to the 5.3 mm average diameter of a 0.55 carat diamond. This picture is scaled to show a size L 1/2 ring (Britain and other countries ), which is equivalent to a US size 6 . Be careful of reading too much into just a picture - a picture alone won't be entirely representative of all finger and hand types - you're best off getting an idea in store by trying on actual rings with your partner.

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Go searching for diamonds this size at James Allen by clicking on the banner below and dragging the carat slider to the appropriate setting:

Actual Diamond Photos from JamesAllen