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).
1.96 Carat Diamond Size on Hand
The illustration displayed on this page presents the actual diamond size against a hand of a 1.96 carat diamond for a typical woman's hand size. If you don't want to rely entirely on pictures like this, what you can do is measure the width of your finger and compare it with the 8.2 mm average diameter of a diamond of size 1.96 carats. The ring pictured is an average-sized size 6 ring, but bear in mind the ring you get could be significantly larger or smaller. Your fingers may be significantly larger or smaller than the fingers of the woman in the illustration, which are on the slim side - be sure to keep this in mind when you're looking at the picture. You also have to take into account the width and overall length of your fingers.
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If you have been stressing about how expensive diamonds are but are still really set on getting one, here's something to cheer you up - the diamonds often look bigger when placed on the woman's hand, especially if her hand is small and petite.
Go searching for diamonds this size at James Allen by clicking on the banner below and dragging the carat slider to the appropriate setting:
