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).

Actual Diamond Size of a 0.94 Carat Princess Shape Diamond

This page includes a useful photo showing you the apparent size of a 0.94 carat weight princess shape diamond, when it's actually on a typical woman's hand. A princess shape diamond with a carat weight of 0.94 is typically about 5.4 mm long on the side; this can of course vary depending on cut.

While this picture will give you some concept of how big a diamond will appear viewed on the female hand, remember that the size of the ring you pick or need may be significantly larger or smaller than the size 6 in the picture.

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Pictures can sometimes be a little dependent on the viewer - I've tried to make this one as clear as possible, but don't forget viewing the diamond in person will give you a very different judgement of size to examining it on the internet. Think about the ratio between the width and length of a finger - this ratio will affect how big and suitable a diamond appears when it's finally placed on the finger.

Don't stress if diamonds and the costs are making you worry - because the diamond will appear larger on her hand, the diamond size you need may be smaller than you think.