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).

1.89 Carat Size on Hand

This 1.89 diamond will look about the size shown in the illustration, on a typical woman's hand. I have used the most common engagement ring size, a size six, in the image; this ring size has an internal diameter of 0.65 inches of 16.5 mm. The hand of the woman shown in the picture has quite long and slender fingers - which may not be what yours look like - if your fingers are differently shaped, bear in mind that the ring you buy may present quite differently on your finger. The visual size of the diamond and ring can be affected by whether you have thick or thin fingers, and also depends on their length. Try and avoid making the mistake I made of looking at a potential diamond engagement ring placed on my own, male finger - remember that it is ending up on a usually smaller and more petite female hand, where it will likely not shrink quite as much as when placed on a male hand.

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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:

Actual Diamond Photos from JamesAllen