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 Size of 1.26 Carat Princess Shape Diamond
The image on this webpage shows the approximate size of a 1.26 carat weight princess shape diamond on the thing that will ultimately be important - a female hand. This picture will no doubt give you an approximate idea of how large a diamond will appear viewed on the hand, remember that the size of the ring you pick or need could be quite different in size to that shown in this image. 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 actually try a few different sized princess shape diamond rings on, armed with this prior knowledge.
Sponsored Links
Fingers that are long and slender will change how a diamond appears just as much as the diamond's carat weight - so look beyond just considering the 1.26 carat weight of this princess diamond. Diamonds are often magically "bigger" when you move them onto a woman's hand - so try to get a female shop assistant to put one on rather than putting it on your own male hand.
