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 Size of 0.23 Carat Diamond

If you're thinking about how big a diamond with a 0.23 carat weight looks on a hand, here's a picture to give you an approximate idea. An average round stone with a 0.23 carat weight has a diameter of 4.0 mm; bear in mind that this can change if the cut is shallow or deep. The picture shows a ring which is US size 6; this is the same as an L 1/2 size in places such as Australia and Britain, and is an average ring size. The woman's hand shown in the picture has long and thin fingers - which may not be what yours look like - if your fingers are differently shaped, bear in mind that a diamond engagement ring may look quite different when worn.

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You also have to take into account the length and breadth of your fingers.

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