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).
Budget Round Shape SI 1.25 Carat Diamonds
1.25 carats is sort of a strange carat size - it's a significant diamond in the "no man's land" between 1 and 2 carats. The first diamond on the list is quite cheap but has a moderate inclusion in the center of the diamond.
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Add another $1200 and you get a diamond with a smaller scratch in the center, which is probably not visible to the naked eye.
Add another $1200 on top of that again, and you get a massive 7.2 mm diamond with no eye-visible inclusions. Overall, I'd probably pick the second diamond.
1.25 Carat J Color SI2 Clarity Premium Cut Round Cut Diamond - $4300
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Shape: Round Carat weight: 1.25 Cut: Premium Color: J Clarity: SI2 Certificate: GIA Depth: 63.7% Table: 58.0% Polish: Very Good Symmetry: Excellent Culet: None Fluorescence: None Measurements: 6.77*6.83*4.33 Item number: 1263867 |
Click here or on the photo to see the diamond at James Allen.
1.35 Carat J Color SI1 Clarity Premium Cut Round Cut Diamond - $5500
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Shape: Round Carat weight: 1.35 Cut: Premium Color: J Clarity: SI1 Certificate: GIA Depth: 58.6% Table: 61.0% Polish: Good Symmetry: Very Good Culet: None Fluorescence: None Measurements: 7.22*7.25*4.24 Item number: 1246075 |
Click here or on the photo to see the diamond at James Allen.
1.46 Carat J Color SI1 Clarity Premium Cut Round Cut Diamond - $6680
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Shape: Round Carat weight: 1.46 Cut: Premium Color: J Clarity: SI1 Certificate: GIA Depth: 61.9% Table: 60.0% Polish: Very Good Symmetry: Very Good Culet: None Fluorescence: None Measurements: 7.20*7.24*4.47 Item number: 1297455 |
Click here or on the photo to see the diamond at James Allen.
Don't forget you can use Engagement Ring Guru's exclusive James Allen discount code "ringgu10" to get 10% off any engagement ring setting. Here are 3 ring setting suggestions that will help get you started in creating your own complete ring using this diamond. You can also click here to search for other ring designs.
Option number 1: 18k Yellow Gold Bar Set and 3-Sided Pave Diamond Engagement Ring setting.
Option number 2: 18k Yellow Gold 3-Stone Pear Shape Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring setting.
Option number 3: 14k Yellow Gold Round Brilliant Bar Tension Setting setting.
