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).
Actual Diamond Sizes on Hand of a 1.19 Carat Diamond
This 1.19 carat round diamond has a diameter of about 6.9 mm which you can see in the illustration. This image displays a size L 1/2 ring (Britain and other countries ), which is equivalent to a US size 6 ring. The woman's hand pictured has quite long and slender fingers - your fingers may or may not be similar - if your fingers are differently shaped, bear in mind that a diamond engagement ring may present quite differently on your finger. Do not forget to consider not just the size of your hand as a whole, but also whether you have long and thin digits or squatter ones.
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Don't make the mistake I made of examing a potential diamond engagement ring placed on my own, large male finger - remember that it is going to go on a generally 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:
