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).
Pave Diamond Rings
Pave diamond rings are an alternative to “big stone” diamond rings that can be attractive for a couple of reasons. A pave diamond setting is a ring which is covered all over with (smaller) diamonds. You literally cannot see much of the underlying ring at all. The name “pave” is associated with the French language and connects to how the diamonds are laid out a little like cobblestones on an old style road.
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For budget conscious people, you can get a “half pave” ring which only covers half of the ring with diamonds – which would be the upper half that is more visible than the bottom half, generally. There are also comfort considerations to think about.
One (psychological) factor to consider with pave rings is worrying about the diamonds falling out. The small diamonds are generally more likely to fall out then well set solitaire rings, although many people with paves will have never had any problems. Almost a bigger concern than a diamond falling out is whether it’ll make you worry constantly - that sort of stress is not what you want with a diamond ring!
If you’re looking to shake it up a little, you can get loosely paved diamond rings – which don’t have 100% coverage but rather scatter the diamonds around the surface of the ring – so you can see some ring and some diamonds. This is obviously cheaper and if you like the look, a great option to save some money.
James Allen has some fantastic Pave set diamond rings - take a look right now by clicking on the banner below:
