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).
Princess Shape, 0.71 Carat Diamond Size on Hand
This article includes a handy illustration showing you the apparent size of a 0.71 carat size princess shape diamond, when it's actually on a typical woman's hand. The exact size of a 0.71 carat weight princess shape diamond will vary depending on the depth of cut, but is usually in the ballpark of around 5.2 mm along one square edge.
The illustration 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.
Sponsored Links
The size of a woman's hand vary a lot between women - just look around you when you're next in public - so this picture can only provide the apparent diamond size for one particular ring size. Diamonds are often magically "bigger" when you place them on a woman's hand; because of this fact, make sure you ask a female shop assistant to put one on rather than putting it on your own male hand.
