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).

What Does a 2.72 Carat, Princess Shape Diamond Look Like on a Hand?

Carat weight does not always mean a lot until you see it in context - this article provides a hand as "context" to simulate the apparent size of a 2.72 carat weight diamond with a princess shape. A princess shape stone with a carat weight of 2.72 is typically about 13.2 mm long on the side, although this can depend on the depth of the cut. The visual size for this 2.72 carat princess-shaped diamond will depend not just on the carat weight but also on the length to width ratio of the finger the diamond ends up on.

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There's no need to freak out if diamonds and the costs are making you worry; since a diamond will most likely appear bigger on a woman's hand, the diamond size you need may be smaller than you think.