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 0.88 Carat, Princess Shape Diamond Look Like on a Hand?

This page gives you an idea of how big a 0.88 carat weight princess shape stone will look when viewed on a typical female hand. The size of a woman's hand vary a lot between women - being in public is evidence enough - so this picture can only show the apparent diamond size for one particular ring size. Consider the ratio between the width and length of a finger - this ratio will affect how large and suitable a diamond looks when it's finally placed on the finger.

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Diamonds are often magically "bigger" when you place them on a woman's hand; because of this fact, make sure you ask a woman in the shop to put one on instead of putting it on your hand, which is probably much larger.