How big is a carat?
Slide the carat weight to see a diamond at scale, then learn what really matters when you buy.
Shown at scale on a 17 mm finger. Screen sizes vary.
Estimates for a round brilliant cut. Fancy shapes, especially elongated ones, can look larger for the same weight.
The 4Cs, simply
Cut
Drives sparkle more than anything else. Prioritize it first.
Color
Graded D to Z. Near-colorless (G to I) looks white in a setting and costs less.
Clarity
A grade that is clean to the eye, such as VS2 or SI1, usually looks the same as a higher one.
Carat
A measure of weight, not size. Just under a round number, such as 0.9 ct, often costs noticeably less.
Lab-grown or natural?
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds with the same chemistry and appearance, and they usually cost less. Natural stones tend to hold value better. Ask for a grading report from a recognized lab either way.