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 2.44 Carat, Princess Shape Diamond Look Like on a Hand?
This article includes a handy picture that gives you the apparent size of a 2.44 carat weight princess shape diamond, when it's actually on a typical woman's hand. Carat weight doesn't tell the whole story - the depth of the diamond's cut will also play a role in the apparent size of the diamond - for a 2.44 carat princess like this one, the size would be around 8.7 mm . The photo on this page has a ring of L 1/2 ring size, which is typical or perhaps on the small side of typical for a female ring.
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The size of a female hand vary a lot between women - just look around you when you're next in public - so this illustration can only show the apparent diamond size for one particular ring size. There's no need to freak out if diamonds and the dollars involved are getting you down - because the diamond will appear larger on her hand, you may not need to spend as much to get your desired effect.
