All About Diamond Carat Weights
When you hear about diamonds referred to as being of a certain number of carats, it is often not clear if that is a measure of weight or size.
A carat is the weight of a diamond or other precious stone. One carat is 0.2 grams. A carat is subdivided into 100 points. A half carat is 50 points or 0.1 grams. The more carats a diamond is, the more it will weigh.
Carat and diamond shape are related. Some diamond shapes have a shape that looks larger, or smaller than other shapes but with the same carat weight. This relationship can influence your choices when buying a diamond or diamond jewellery.
Top Diamond Buying Tips
A few tips related to diamond weight and size to help you find the perfect diamond.
Size Vs Weight
Weight isn't everything, size is important. The most popular diamond shape is the round brilliant, it is also the most expensive per carat. If you choose a shape such as the pear or marquise shapes their shape makes the diamond look more substantial than a round brilliant at precisely the same carat weight.
This means you can buy a diamond that looks larger than other stones at the same weight and either buy a more impressive diamond or save some money.
Setting Style
Diamonds that need a thick setting will tend to look smaller than those that can use a more delicate or slender setting type. You can buy a slightly smaller diamond for a delicate setting than for a thicker setting and the two will look similar with a good saving.
Value For Money
For any shape or grade of diamond, the most popular sizes are the full carat sizes. They are also the most expensive per carat. You can save money by buying a stone that is just slightly less than a full carat division.
For example, you should expect to pay less, per carat, for a diamond weighing 0.90 carats than for a 1.00 carat diamond. It is almost impossible to see the difference between the two.
Note:
Because carat is a measure of weight and not size, diamonds of the same carat size can have slightly different measurements due to differences in cutting between stones.
Images you see on your screen will not be exact in measurement due to variances between monitors and screens.