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).

0.15 Carat Actual Size (Princess Shape)

Carat weight isn't the be all and end all - the depth of the diamond's cut will also play a role in the apparent size of the rock - for a 0.15 carat princess like this one, the size would be around 2.9 mm typically. To give you more of an idea of what's in this image, the ring shown is a size six in the US sizing system, which is the same as an L 1/2 ring size in Britain or Australia. Fingers can vary in terms of their apparent width and breadth, which should influence your decision regarding diamond size and shape.

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There's no need to freak out if diamonds and the dollars involved are making you worry; since a diamond will most likely appear bigger on a woman's hand, the diamond size you need may be smaller than you think.