How to Shop for a Diamond When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing (and Don’t Want to Learn)
By Alexis Elsey – GIA Graduate, Former Tiffany & Co. Gemologist, $10M+ in diamond sales, Founder of 57 Facets
If you're here, it probably means one of three things:
- You’re trying to propose and you want to get it right.
- You love your partner but you don’t love the idea of becoming a diamond nerd overnight.
- You’ve opened too many tabs, and now you’re scared of something called “fluorescence.”
First of all: You’re not alone. Second: You’re in the right place.
The Honest Truth? Diamond Shopping Isn’t Built for Beginners.
The way most websites explain diamonds makes you feel like you’re studying for the SATs. Cut, color, clarity, carat weight, table percentage, crown angle, certification type…
And don’t even get me started on the pop-up chatbots pretending to be helpful while shoving a thousand filters in your face.
Most sites don’t simplify it. They just give you more options and wish you luck.
You’re not supposed to know what VS2 means. Or if “Excellent Cut” is actually excellent. You’re not the problem. The industry is.
So… What Do You Actually Need to Know?
I’ve helped thousands of people buy diamonds — and most of them started just like you: smart, overwhelmed, and totally unsure what mattered.
Here’s what you actually need to focus on:
- 💎 Size: How big do you want the diamond to look on the hand? (Not carat weight — visual size)
- 💍 Style: Do you want something simple (Solitaire) or sparkly (Pavé)?
- 🎨 Metal: Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, or Platinum? Think skin tone, vibe, and future stacking.
That’s literally it.
Everything else? The spreadsheets, the certs, the panic about specs — that’s what I went to gemology school for, so you don’t have to.
Here’s How It Works at 57 Facets:
Step 1: You pick the diamond size (Small, Medium, or Large — shown on real hands, not math charts)
Step 2: You pick the setting style and the metal
Step 3: I hand-pick your diamond — GIA-certified, eye-clean, and sparkly AF
No guessing. No filters. No surprises.
Just a knockout ring that looks exactly how you hoped it would.
But Wait… What If I *Still* Don’t Know What to Pick?
You don’t have to.
If you're stuck between sizes or styles, you can:
- 💬 Text me directly for advice (yes, I’ll answer)
- 📝 Use the Concierge Form to describe what you’re thinking — I’ll take it from there
- 💡 Or just start with what feels right. It’s harder to mess this up than you think.
When the choices are curated, you can trust your gut.
This Doesn’t Have to Feel Like a Test
You already chose your partner. That was the big decision.
The ring should be the easy part.
At 57 Facets, I don’t throw 10,000 diamonds at you and make you guess. I hand-pick them. I curate everything. And I make sure what you choose is always the right choice.
Want to Try It?
Two choices. No crash course. Just confidence — and one really good ring.
About the Author:
Alexis Elsey is a GIA Graduate Gemologist and former Tiffany & Co. diamond expert who’s helped clients buy over $10 million in diamonds. She created 57 Facets to remove the panic and pressure from buying an engagement ring — and replace it with expert curation and calm clarity.