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).

Diamond Size on Hand of a 1.31 Carat Diamond

If you don't want to rely entirely on pictures like this, what you can do is measure the width of your finger and compare it with the 7.2 mm average diameter for a 1.31 carat diamond. The ring shown in the image is an average-sized size 6 ring; of course, the ring you get could be much larger or smaller than this one. Your fingers could be significantly larger or smaller than the fingers shown in the image, which are quite thin - be sure to keep this in mind when you're looking at the picture. The ratio between your ring finger's length and the width of your finger can play a pivotal role in the final appearance of a diamond on your hand.

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Compare the size of the woman's hand and the man's hand in the picture - it's obvious 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:

Actual Diamond Photos from JamesAllen