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).
0.99 Carat Princess Shape Diamond Sizes on Hand
This page gives you an idea of how large a 0.99 carat weight princess shape stone will appear when seen on a typical hand of a woman. A princess shape stone with a carat weight of 0.99 is typically about 5.5 mm long on a side; this can of course vary depending on cut. The picture on this page has a ring of L 1/2 ring size, which is typical or perhaps on the small side of typical for a female ring.
A good tip to follow is to use pictures like this one to initially narrow down your size range, and then to go into stores and try diamonds out in person, armed with this prior knowledge. Think about the ratio between the length and width of a finger - this ratio will affect how large and appropriate a diamond appears when it is finally placed on the finger.
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Don't stress if diamonds and the costs are getting you down; since a diamond will most likely appear bigger on a woman's hand, you may not need to spend as much to get your desired effect.
