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).
Actual 3.00 Carat Diamond Size on Hand
This 3.00 diamond will look about the size indicated in the photo, on a typical woman's hand. This 3.00 carat diamond (round shape) has a diameter of about 9.5 mm which you can see in the photo. The picture shows a ring which is US size 6; this is the same as an L 1/2 size in countries such as Australia and Britain, and is an average ring size. You should be aware that illustration such as this one are limited in what they can show - women's hand sizes can vary hugely. The visual size of the diamond and ring can be affected by whether you have thin or thick digits, as well as by their length.
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The "first impressions" size of the diamond depends heavily on what it is shown against - the hand - a tiny hand will make the diamond appear proportionately larger and vice versa.
Go searching for diamonds this size at James Allen by clicking on the banner below and dragging the carat slider to the appropriate setting:
