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).
2.17 Carat Princess Shape Diamond Sizes on Hand
Carat weight does not always mean a lot until you witness it in person - this page uses a hand as "context" for the apparent size of a 2.17 carat size diamond of princess shape. The precise size of a 2.17 carat weight princess shape diamond depends on other factors such as cut, but is usually in the ballpark of around 7.9 mm along one of the straight edges of the diamond.
To give you more of an idea of what the picture is showing, the ring shown is a US size 6, which is the same as an L 1/2 ring size in places like Australia or Britain.
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A good tip to follow is to use pictures like this one to initially narrow down your size range; then you can go into stores and try diamonds out in person, armed with this prior knowledge.
