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).

What Does a 0.77 Carat Diamond Look Like on a Hand?

This page provides an illustrated example of the actual size of a 0.77 carat diamond on an average woman's hand. If you are hesitant to put too much stock in a simple picture, what you can do is measure the size of your finger and compare it to the 6.0 mm mean diameter of a 0.77 carat diamond. This photo displays a size L 1/2 ring (Britain and other countries ), which is equivalent to a US size six . The hand of the woman shown in the picture has long and thin fingers - your fingers may or may not be similar - if your fingers are differently shaped, bear in mind that the ring you buy may look quite different when worn. The ratio of the length of your ring finger and its width will play a pivotal role in how the diamond looks, which you should take into consideration.

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Compare the size of the woman's hand and the man's hand in the picture - it's obvious that the woman's hand is significantly smaller and more petite (which is typical), so the diamond appears larger on her hand than it would appear to be on his.

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