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 Search is Finished: 0.35 Carat G Color SI1 Clarity Hearts & Arrows Ideal Cut Round Cut Diamond
Getting a diamond that presents "clean" to the eye is the name of the game with this SI1 clarity, G color diamond - but this is made easier by having the zoom photo shown here.
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Shape: Round Carat weight: 0.35 Cut: Hearts & Arrows Ideal Color: G Clarity: SI1 Price: $580 Certificate: AGS Depth: 61.5% Table: 56.7% Polish: Ideal Symmetry: Ideal Girdle: Thin to slightly thick Culet: None Fluorescence: Negligible Measurements: 4.52*4.56*2.79 Item number: 1236852 |
Click here to search for other diamonds at James Allen.
The G color of this diamond provides value for your dollar, as it is not a member of the expensive premium color grades D-F. Spending only $580 on the diamond, you can save more cash to put towards other expenses, for example a wedding reception.
If you look at this 0.35 carat stone and immediately say, "that stone is too small", think about whether it's possible to compromise by reducing other properties such as color or cut in order to get for a bigger diamond. This diamond has a girdle described as "Thin to slightly thick", which plays a role in the shine and apparently width of a diamond, as written about in my diamond girdle page. In terms of diamond cut alone, a Hearts and Arrows cut diamond gets you as close to a perfect diamond as you can hope for. This rarest of diamond cuts is shown to a consumer who is following a special interest in maximizing the cut of the diamond, and consequently the appearance of the diamond due to its superior light catching qualities.
If you can see the diamond in person or examine zoomed in photos of the diamond (like the photo for this SI1 clarity diamond), this is where the most valuable deals are to be found - finding an SI1 or SI2 stone that is "eye clean" is a fulfilling experience that translates to less dollars spent.