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).
1.98 Carat Weight Princess Diamond Shown on a Hand
This article has a handy photo showing you the apparent size of a 1.98 carat weight princess shape stone, when it's actually on a typical woman's hand. If you have got a ring in your possession and you know what it's size is, you can compare it to the US size 6 ring shown in the image on this page - this will assist you in getting a concrete idea of the diamond size shown in the photo. Photos can sometimes be notoriously deceptive - I've tried to make this one as clear as possible, but remember viewing the stone in person will give you a totally different impression of size to viewing it on the web.
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Consider the ratio between the length and width of your finger - this ratio will affect how large and appropriate a diamond appears when it's finally placed on the finger. If you're a male trying to calculate the right diamond size to get your partner, remember that the diamond will invariably look a lot larger on her smaller, more petite hands.
