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).
0.99 Carat Actual Size
The photo shown here presents the real diamond size on a hand for a 0.99 carat diamond for a typical woman's hand size. If you don't want to rely entirely on pictures like this, what you can do is measure the size of your finger and compare it with the 6.5 mm average diameter of a diamond of size 0.99 carats. This photo displays a size L 1/2 ring (British and Australia), which is equivalent to a US size 6 ring. A person's fingers may be quite a bit thicker or thinner than the ones shown in the image, which are on the slim side - be sure to keep this in mind when you're looking at the picture.
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The ratio of your ring finger's length and the width of your finger will play a pivotal role in the final appearance of a diamond on your hand. Try and avoid making the mistake I made of examing a potential diamond engagement ring placed on my own, large male finger - remember that it is ending up on a usually smaller and more delicate female hand, where it will likely not shrink quite as much as when placed on a male hand.
Go searching for diamonds this size at James Allen by clicking on the banner below and dragging the carat slider to the appropriate setting:
