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).
The Afternoon's Find: This 0.80 Carat G Color SI1 Clarity Ideal Cut Round Cut Diamond
Getting a diamond that presents "clean" to the eye is important with a G color SI1 clarity diamond like this one - which is where the high resolution photo comes in so handy.
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Shape: Round Carat weight: 0.8 Cut: Ideal Color: G Clarity: SI1 Price: $2780 Certificate: GIA Depth: 61.9% Table: 55.0% Polish: Very Good Symmetry: Very Good Girdle: Medium to slightly thick Culet: None Fluorescence: None Measurements: 5.94*5.99*3.69 Item number: 1268881 |
Click here to search for other diamonds at James Allen.
Place this 0.80 carat weight in the right reference frame when you weigh up your purchasing options - there are going to be other diamonds of about the same size that could offer more in terms of their cost and properties. For a cost of $2780, this diamond is firmly in the normal range of diamonds bought for diamond engagement rings. A G color diamond such as this one is a good option balancing extreme white pureness and money considerations. If you've got some money but do not wish to splurge unnecessarily, this is a sensible color range to look in. The Girdle Thickness of this stone is "Medium to slightly thick" - you can consult my piece on girdle thickness if you want to find out more concerning how girdle thickness can be important. Although not quite as perfect a cut as Hearts & Arrows, the Ideal cut of this diamond results in it being significantly cheaper, because you're not paying a premium for a "perfectly" cut diamond.
If you can see the diamond in the flesh or see high quality photos of the diamond (like the one for this SI1 clarity diamond), this is where the most valuable deals are to be found - finding an SI1 or SI2 stone which is "eye clean" is a fulfilling experience that translates to less dollars spent.