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).

Found today: this 0.35 Carat F Color VS1 Clarity Premium Cut Round Cut Diamond

There's going to be a little price hike to have the VS1 clarity grading for this diamond rather than a VS2 diamond, as well as the obvious pricetag associated with getting a colorless F diamond.

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Shape: Round

Carat weight: 0.35

Cut: Premium

Color: F

Clarity: VS1

Price: $680

Certificate: GIA

Depth: 62.6%

Table: 56.0%

Polish: Good

Symmetry: Good

Girdle: Thin to slightly thick

Culet: None

Fluorescence: None

Measurements: 4.54*4.50*2.83

Item number: 1232513

Click here to see the diamond at James Allen.

Click here to search for other diamonds at James Allen.

The Premium cut rating for this diamond is a compromise between cut rating and diamond cost. VS is an abbreviation for Very Slightly Included - this VS1 clarity diamond has some minor inclusions which may or may not be visible under 10x magnification, but rarely visible using just the naked eye - however it can happen on the odd occasion.

By using only $680 on the diamond, you can save more cash to put towards other expenses, for example a wedding reception. F color diamonds are usually described as colorless diamonds, amongst the purest white diamonds you can get.

Do not ignore properties outside the four Cs, for example girdle thickness - which can be important due to reasons discussed in my girdle thickness article.

If you are checking out this diamond and thinking to yourself that you want to improve another property of the diamond which don't affect size, you may wish to reduce the 0.35 carat size for this diamond to achieve that end.