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).
1.27 Carat Actual Size
This 1.27 diamond will look about the size indicated in the illustration, for a typical woman's fingers. I've used the most common engagement ring size, a size six, for the illustration; this ring size has an internal diameter of 16.5 mm or 0.65 inches. Your fingers may be significantly larger or smaller than the ones shown in the illustration, which are on the slim side - keep in mind yours probably look quite different. The ratio between your ring finger's length and its width will play an important 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 it's ending up on a usually smaller and more petite female hand, which will make the diamond appear significantly larger.
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Go searching for diamonds this size at James Allen by clicking on the banner below and dragging the carat slider to the appropriate setting:
