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).
1.60 Carat Actual Size (Princess Shape)
The exact size of a 1.60 carat size princess shape diamond depends on other factors such as cut, but will typically be around 7.0 mm along one of the straight edges of the diamond. If you've got a ring around the house and you know what it's size is, you can compare it to the US size 6 ring pictured - this will assist you in getting a concrete idea of the diamond size in the picture. Fingers can vary in terms of their apparent width and breadth, which should factor in to your decision about what shape and size of diamond to get.
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Don't stress if diamonds and the dollars involved are getting you down; since a diamond will most likely appear bigger on a woman's hand, the diamond size you need may be smaller than you think.
