“OMG, how many carats is your ring? Its HUGE!”
This is exactly the reaction you want your Fiancé to get after you’ve given her the dream engagement ring. The funny thing is that the carat weight is not what really makes a diamond look good. Carat simply refers to the weight of a diamond and has no indication of quality at all. Let me break down for you everything that you need to know about diamond carat weight; what carat weight is, why it is important, how it affects the price of the diamond, its correlation to the diamond’s size, and more.
What Is A Diamond Carat Weight?
The word carat was derived from the Greek word for the carob bean, keratin. In ancient times, the seeds of a carob pod were used as weights in balance scales because all the seeds had a uniform size, weighing an average of 0.197 gram.
When we say diamond carat weight, most of us assume that it refers to the actual size of the diamond, but in reality, it refers to the weight of the diamond. Most gemstones, including diamonds, are measured in metric carats which is also the international unit of measurement to determine the weight of a gem. One metric carat is equal to 0.20 grams or one-fifth of a gram. This metric carat is further divided in to a point system of 100 points.
So, if the weight of a diamond is 1.85 carats then it means that the diamond is 1 carat and 85 points. The point system plays a crucial role as even a slight difference in the points can change the overall value of your diamond.
Fun Fact: Carat ≠ Karat
The majority of us get confused between a carat and a karat. Carat is used to define the weight of a gem while Karat is often used to measure the quality of gold.
What Is The Impact of Carat Weight On A Diamond’s Price?
In simple terms, the higher the carat weight of the diamond, the higher the price of the diamond. One of the main reasons behind this is because not only are diamonds with higher carat weight more desirable, but they are also quite rare. However, when it comes to the overall price of your diamond, it is not just the carat weight that comes into play.
The remaining three C’s; cut, clarity, and color are also important and are crucial in determining the diamond’s worth. This means that even if you have two diamonds of the same weight, there can be a significant difference in their price based on the cut, clarity, and color of both the diamonds.
The Key To Diamond Carat Weight
Diamond Proportions (i.e. Diamond Cut)
Carat weight completely depends on the cut of a diamond. A perfectly cut diamond has the ideal proportions and dimensions that optimize its weight for the best presentation. For an example, imagine a block shaped diamond. It could be 5 or 10 carats but look worse then a 1 carat perfectly cut diamond. A diamond’s cut determines exactly how its weight is distributed throughout the stone therefore, these 2 Cs must work together. The best looking diamonds are not simply heavy, but instead have a balanced combination of the 4cs.
A lower carat weight (lighter) diamond can appear larger than a higher carat weight (heavier) diamond, depending on the quality of their cuts.
What Are Magic Sizes?
One of the best tips regarding carat weight to keep in mind while you are buying a diamond is to look for diamonds that are just a fraction below the full, quarter, and half carat weights. Diamonds at these carat thresholds are marked up for the higher demand they bring.
Most of us prefer buying things that have their value in round figures. In the diamond industry, these rounded off sizes are known as magic sizes. For example, a 1 carat, 1.25 carat, 2.5 carat, etc., are all magic sizes. Though these round figures have a symbolic appeal to most people when it comes to buying diamonds, it is always advisable to let go of this notion and stick to weights that are not rounded off. So if you are faced with a choice between a 1 carat diamond and a 0.99 carat, then opt for the 0.99 carat diamond because not only will you be paying less but it will also be impossible to detect any difference in the size from the naked eye.
Is there a correlation between the carat weight of diamond and its size?
There is no direct correlation between the carat weight of a diamond and its size. Diamonds that have the same weight can differ in their cut, diameter, and depth. So when you see two such diamonds of equal weights in a ring or a necklace, you will easily notice the difference in their sizes.
The diamond’s size is also impacted by the shape of the diamond. For example, you may have a round cut and an oval cut diamond of the same carat, but the round cut diamond will appear smaller.
Does high carat mean a better diamond?
We always believe that larger means better, but unfortunately, this is not true in the case of diamonds. It is true that the larger your diamond, the more expensive it is. However, that does not mean that the larger diamond is always heavier or more beautiful. Imagine purchasing a diamond that has a higher carat weight but the cut is poor; the diamond will hardly be worth flaunting.
On the other hand, even though you have a smaller diamond, if the cut is excellent, then rest assure that all eyes will be on your shiny and sparkling stones.
Is carat weight and total carat weight the same?
No, a carat weight and total carat weight is not the same. Carat weight refers to the weight of a single diamond while total carat weight refers to the total weight of all the diamonds present in the jewelry. For example, if you have a ring that has a 1.00 carat diamond in the center and is surrounded by smaller diamonds of 0.20 carats each, then the total carat weight of the ring will be 1.20 carat.
The total carat weight of the diamonds will impact its price. However, the price will primarily depend upon the size of diamonds used. For example, if I am deciding between two 1.30 carat rings, one ring that has a 1.00 carat diamond in the center with two .15 carat diamonds on either side, or another ring that has 1.00 carat center diamond surrounded by six .05 carat diamonds, are they the same price? Though both the rings have the same total carat weight, I will have to pay more for the diamond ring that has a 1.00 carat center diamond and two .15 carat diamonds in the side. The difference is mainly because of the actual size of the diamonds.
5 Tips For Buying A Diamond
If you are out looking for a diamond ring here are some expert tips that can help you in buying the right diamond.
1. Always pay attention to both the carat weight of the diamond as well as its cut. A smaller diamond with the right cut will make you happier than a larger diamond with a poor cut.
2. While shopping for diamonds, follow the policy of buy shy. This policy means that you buy diamonds that have a carat weight that is slightly lesser than the magic sizes. This is one of the best ways to ensure that you remain within your budget.
3. If you are all about flaunting your sparkles, then your ideal checklist should go in the order; cut, color, clarity, and then the carat weight.
4. For those of you who want to stick to a larger carat diamond, then it is best to look for diamonds that have a very good cut as well as clarity of SI1, and color grade of H-I.
5. Remember that the smaller your finger is, the larger the diamond will appear. So a 1 carat diamond may appear larger on a size 4 finger than on a size 8 finger.
Buy With James Allen
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Bottom Line
Now that you have a clear understanding of what diamond carat exactly means, you do not have to blindly depend on whatever your jeweler is saying. Do not be fooled by jewelers who want to up-sell you high carat but low quality rings. These type of rings will not only look worse but also cost you more. Please reach out to me if you have any other questions regarding your perfect engagement or diamond purchase.