Skip to Content

Diamonds, cuts, and what the paper really says

Carat Review
Carat Review

Posts

55 Guides, Newest First

Choose Your Subject

The Guide Library

55 Guides
Prices & Value4 Min Read

1/4 Carat Diamond Value: Natural, Lab and Resale

A 0.25 ct natural diamond may retail for hundreds, while lab-grown examples can cost less. Value the stone and mounting separately.

Metals & Materials3 Min Read

Does Brass Turn Your Skin Green? Yes—Here’s Why

Brass can leave a green mark because it contains copper. Learn why it happens, how to reduce staining and when irritation may indicate a metal allergy.

Sizing & Resizing2 Min Read

What Is 2½ Inches in Ring Size?

A 2½-inch finger circumference converts to about a US ring size 10½. Check the calculation, avoid a diameter mix-up and confirm the fit.

Cuts & Shapes9 Min Read

2-Carat Diamond Size in mm: How Big It Looks by Shape

Millimeter benchmarks for 2-carat rounds, ovals, cushions, emeralds, pears and princess cuts, plus how depth, girdle and setting change how big one looks.

Settings & Designs11 Min Read

Interlocking Wedding Bands: Fit Guide

Learn what locking, nesting, bridged and soldered designs mean, then check clearance, comfort, separate wear, resizing and price inclusions.

Settings & Designs12 Min Read

Stacked Eternity Bands: Choose by Fit & Coverage

Check full, three-quarter and half options against side-profile contact, complete-stack fit, comfort and resizing limits.

Engagement Rings11 Min Read

Antique Bezel Set Engagement Rings: How to Buy

Verify age claims, gemstone identity, condition, alterations, fit, price and purchase terms before choosing an antique or antique-inspired ring.

Sizing & Resizing6 Min Read

Is Your Ring Size Your Shoe Size? No—Measure It

There is no dependable conversion formula; measure the exact finger with a gauge or use a round ring that already fits that finger.

Grading & Quality12 Min Read

Men’s Black Diamond Studs: How to Compare

Check whether a listing is for one stud or a pair, then compare stone count, weight basis, millimeter size, color origin, setting and reports.

Care & Testing8 Min Read

Jewelry Safe With Drawers: Buying Checklist

Compare in-drawer safes with true internal drawers, then verify dimensions, anchoring, backup access, burglary and fire ratings, and insurer requirements.

Settings & Designs7 Min Read

Men’s Engraved Wedding Bands: What to Check

Check size, material, width, inscription details, proofing, total cost, delivery timing, and personalized-item policies before authorizing production.

Engagement Rings8 Min Read

How to Choose a Three Stone Oval Engagement Ring

Inspect the center oval in motion, choose side stones for harmony or contrast, compare all three face-up, and confirm costs with an itemized quote.

Grading & Quality12 Min Read

How to Compare 3 Carat Diamond Stud Earrings

Check each stone’s weight, origin, cut, dimensions, matching and reports, then verify the setting, backs, returns, delivery and warranty.

Engagement Rings8 Min Read

Promise Ring vs. Engagement Ring: What Each Means

A promise ring can mark many commitments; an engagement ring signals definite intent to marry. Compare timing, style, cost, and placement.

Care & Testing10 Min Read

Jewelry Protectant Spray: How to Choose and Apply It

Use one only when the maker supports the complete jewelry assembly and provides current application, curing, aftercare and removal directions.

Settings & Designs11 Min Read

Tulip Setting Engagement Ring: Styles, Fit & Cost

See how plain, cathedral, accented and hidden-halo versions differ, what dimensions to request, and how to verify band fit and final price.

Sizing & Resizing19 Min Read

Cost of Resizing a Ring: Price Ranges and Fees

Routine resizing costs about $30–$200; metal, design and sizing direction affect the quote, while plating, stone work or shipping may cost extra.

Prices & Value22 Min Read

Most Expensive Diamond Color: Why Red Leads

Natural red generally leads on a typical per-carat basis, but no color wins every comparison between individual diamonds.

Lab-Grown Diamonds16 Min Read

Lab-Grown Diamonds Usually Pass Diamond Testers

The shared thermal response explains why, but an ordinary tester cannot reveal natural versus lab origin or always rule out moissanite.

Prices & Value20 Min Read

Moissanite Resale Value: How to Estimate Your Return

Use closely matched completed sales, local offers, component details and channel-specific costs to calculate likely net proceeds—not asking prices.

Sizing & Resizing17 Min Read

How Should a Ring Fit? A One-Minute Fit Test

Check knuckle resistance, comfort at the finger base, rotation, movement and removal—plus signs the ring is too tight or loose.

Settings & Designs20 Min Read

Three Stone Ring Proportions: How to Size Side Stones

Start with 0.25–0.30 of center weight per side for a center-focused look, 0.30–0.50 for balance, or 0.50+ for bolder coverage.

Metals & Materials16 Min Read

How Long Does Rhodium Plating Last?

Expect about 6 months to 2 years overall, while daily-worn rings have a practical planning range of roughly 6–18 months.

Lab-Grown Diamonds9 Min Read

Do Lab-Grown Diamond Grades Matter? Usually Not Much

Lab-grown grades help screen visible flaws, but a 1-carat D/VVS upgrade often buys paper prestige. See when color, clarity, and cut justify more.

Prices & Value10 Min Read

Is My Diamond Ring Overinsured? Check the Premium Math

Compare your ring’s appraisal with current replacement cost, calculate the premium gap, and learn when revising the insured value makes sense.

Sizing & Resizing8 Min Read

Is Platinum Cheaper Than Gold for a Ring? 2026 Math

Compare platinum, 14K, and 18K ring metal values at 2026 spot prices, then identify whether a platinum premium comes from metal or the quote itself.

Engagement Rings14 Min Read

Why Wedding Rings Go on the Left Hand: Tradition

A romantic “vein of love” legend supplied the symbolism; Western wedding rituals and repeated social use made the placement customary, not anatomical.

Settings & Designs24 Min Read

Double Prong Engagement Ring Guide: Pros, Cons & Buying Tips

A double prong engagement ring can look delicate, architectural, or distinctly antique-inspired. Paired claws may also create more points of contact around a…

Engagement Rings16 Min Read

How Long Does It Take to Get an Engagement Ring? Timelines by Type

How long does it take to get an engagement ring? A suitable finished ring may be available the same day, while a complex custom project can take eight weeks or…

Prices & Value20 Min Read

Why Are Diamonds Expensive? The Real Reasons Behind the Price

Why are diamonds expensive? For a natural diamond, the retail price reflects five broad contributors:

Prices & Value10 Min Read

Does the India Tariff Affect Diamond Prices?

Estimate the 2026 U.S. tariff exposure for natural and lab-grown diamonds by polishing origin, purchase type, and quoted price.

Care & Testing9 Min Read

Are Gemstone Identification Apps Accurate?

See when a gemstone app can shortlist a gem, read a stamp, or flag a fake—and when only a tester, jeweler, appraiser, or lab will do.

Lab-Grown Diamonds10 Min Read

Should I Wait to Buy a Lab-Grown Diamond?

Wholesale lab-grown prices are falling, but retail may lag. Use your quote, deadline, and expected pass-through to see whether waiting could pay.

Prices & Value18 Min Read

How Much Is a 2.5 Carat Diamond? 2026 Price Guide

Last updated: August 2026. The benchmarks below were compiled from dated retailer listings, seller pricing guides, and commercial inventory indices. They are…

Settings & Designs23 Min Read

Ring Setting Types: A Practical Guide to Choosing One

Ring setting types are easier to compare once you separate several ideas that jewelry sellers often group under the word setting. The term may describe the…

Metals & Materials22 Min Read

Different Types of Earring Backs: Uses, Pros and Cons

The best earring back depends on more than the earring’s value or appearance. Post construction, earring weight, rear profile, fastening effort, piercing…

Care & Testing21 Min Read

Jewelry Cleaning Cloth: How to Choose and Use One Safely

A jewelry cleaning cloth looks simple, but choosing one safely requires more than finding a package labeled “for jewelry.” The right option depends on what you…

Engagement Rings23 Min Read

How Do You Choose a Kite Cut Engagement Ring?

"Kite" may mean a stone's outline, a square stone's orientation, side stones or just an angular motif. Pin down the exact stone, point protection and band fit.

Sizing & Resizing17 Min Read

Average Women's Ring Size Is a Retailer Benchmark

Size 6 is useful shorthand for preliminary shopping, but it is not established as a verified national mean, median or mode.

Cuts & Shapes21 Min Read

How Do 3 Carat Princess Cut Diamond Rings Compare?

"Three carats" may mean one three-carat center or approximately three carats distributed across every diamond in the ring.

Engagement Rings23 Min Read

Affordable Engagement Rings Under $200: What Qualifies

A ring displayed at exactly $200 cannot meet a strict $200 final-cost ceiling unless checkout adds nothing. Some captured options are sets or promise rings.

Sizing & Resizing20 Min Read

Ring Downsizing Cost by Metal, Design and Condition

Plan on $30–$150 for many rings. Condition, settings and finish can raise the quote, while some constructions need another solution.

Grading & Quality16 Min Read

VVS Is a High Diamond Clarity Grade, Not Flawless

"Very Very Slightly Included" has two grades, VVS1 and VVS2. An individually verified eye-clean VS may provide the same practical clean appearance.

Lab-Grown Diamonds21 Min Read

3-Stone Lab-Grown Diamond Rings: Preset vs Custom

Some collections establish only that the center can be lab-grown. Written confirmation should identify all three stones as lab-grown.

Care & Testing20 Min Read

Which Mohs Hardness Test Kit Fits Your Job?

The right kit depends on what you will test, how often you will use it, which part of the Mohs scale matters, and whether a permanent mark is acceptable.

Prices & Value18 Min Read

5 Carat Diamond Value: Natural vs Lab

Identified natural examples had six-figure asking prices, while lab-grown examples were priced in the four- to low-five-figure range in the retail snapshot.

Cuts & Shapes16 Min Read

The Most Expensive Diamond Cut Has Exceptions

Retailer estimates put the round brilliant premium around 15% to 35% over many comparable fancy shapes. Rarity or branding can reverse the ranking.

Metals & Materials14 Min Read

The 750 Jewelry Stamp Is a Gold Purity Claim, Not Proof

It represents 75% gold, or 18K. But a false item can carry a convincing 750 stamp, so testing may still be needed to confirm the metal matches it.

Lab-Grown Diamonds16 Min Read

Lab-Grown Diamond Prices by Shape

One useful exact-weight reference: a 4.00-carat oval with G color, VS1 clarity and an Excellent grade was listed at $2,368.

Settings & Designs20 Min Read

What the Types of Bezel Settings Mean

Full and partial are the two most consistently recognized structural categories. Other labels may instead describe rim width, decoration, geometry or arrangement.

Lab-Grown Diamonds21 Min Read

2 Carat Lab Grown Diamond Cost by Shape

$1,000 can be enough for a loose 2-carat lab-grown diamond. Price the finished ring separately to account for the setting and other applicable costs.

Lab-Grown Diamonds24 Min Read

Lab-Grown Diamond Resale Value Is Buyer-Specific

A hypothetical $400 offer can be 20% of the original price and 50% of current retail. Net proceeds show what remains after every selling cost.

Cuts & Shapes17 Min Read

Marquise Diamond Size Chart Gives MM Benchmarks

At 1 ct, 10 × 5 mm is a useful face-up reference, though individual dimensions vary. The grading report shows how a specific stone compares.

Cuts & Shapes2 Min Read

What Is an Antique Cushion Cut?

Genuine old mine cuts typically run 10-30% below modern cushions of equal weight, but exceptional or documented stones can erase that discount.

Engagement Rings15 Min Read

Engagement Ring Hand Placement Has a Default

The left ring finger is customary, not mandatory. Right-hand wear may reflect culture, family practice, comfort or preference.