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).
James Allen Professional Online Jeweler
James Allen is a large online jeweler, established in 1998 by James Allen Schultz and spouse Michele Sigler. James Allen has grown rapidly to become one of the largest and most successful online diamond retailers. All stones are graded with reports from either the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gemological Society Laboratory. They offer a huge range of diamonds, excellent value - hundreds to thousands of dollars less than retail prices, extensive customer service and actual photographs of individual diamonds.
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Most importantly, James Allen stores photos of just about all of the diamonds available on their site. And not just any photos - high zoom photos that show you every detail of the diamond. They have a "virtual loupe" tool you can use to examine the diamond at high magnification. This is especially important if you're trying to get a bargain deal on an SI or I diamond - you can examine the diamond to check whether it has any eye-visible inclusions yourself.
To check out the awesome range that James Allen offers, you can click on the banner below. Once you see their range and get a feel for their company, you'll be able to see they are almost impossible to beat for value, quality, and peace of mind!
