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 Size of a 2.51 Carat Princess Shape Diamond
The photo shown on this webpage shows the ballpark width of a 2.51 carat size princess shape diamond on the hand of a woman. To give you more of an idea of what's in this image, the ring shown is a size six in the US sizing system, which is the same as an L 1/2 ring size in places like Australia or Britain.
The size of a female hand can vary hugely - being in public is evidence enough - so this picture can only provide the apparent diamond size for one particular ring size. Think about the ratio between the length and width of your finger - this ratio will affect how massive and suitable a diamond appears when it is finally placed on the finger.
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Later after the diamond is purchased, it's likely you might be pleasantly surprised because the diamond appears larger on a woman's hand than you first thought, compared with when seen in isolation.
