| The weight of a diamond is usually expressed in | | | | The weight also affects the price in that the |
| carats. The term carat originated in ancient times | | | | larger the carat weight, the fewer diamonds are |
| when gemstones were weighted compared to | | | | available. Diamonds loose approximately 40-60% |
| the carob bean, where one bean weighed about | | | | of their rough weight in the cutting and polishing |
| one carat. The term was standardized and | | | | process. Therefore, it can take over a two-carat |
| converted to the metric system in 1913 so that | | | | rough diamond to produce a 1.00 carat finished |
| the current carat equals 0.2 grams, which is a little | | | | diamond. Most diamonds mined are very small |
| more than 0.007 ounce. | | | | with larger stones relative rare. It can take many |
| Knowing the technical definition of a carat is one | | | | thousands of rough diamonds mined to yield one |
| thing, but the diamond shopper needs to | | | | that results in a 1.00 carat finished diamond. The |
| understand carat weight so they can make the | | | | price of larger carat weights increases with the |
| best purchase decision for their diamond. The | | | | rarity. For example, a two-carat diamond can be |
| carat weight of a diamond influences several key | | | | almost four times the price of a one-carat |
| factors that should be part of the diamond | | | | diamond with the same quality. |
| decision. | | | | Even with the same shape of diamond, the carat |
| Sometimes in the jewelry trade, the term carat | | | | weight does not tell you the size. It is similar to |
| weight is used synonymously with size. The | | | | asking how tall a 200-pound man is. Just as the |
| implication is that all diamonds that weight one | | | | height of a man can vary with the same weight, |
| carat are the same size and those that weight | | | | a diamond's length and width can vary for the |
| two carats are the same size. This is not | | | | same carat weight. The challenge is to find |
| accurate and an astute diamond shopper will work | | | | diamonds that have the right depth parameters |
| to understand the difference between size and | | | | to give them beautiful brilliance and sparkle in |
| weight. | | | | addition to big size for the carat weight. |
| The size of diamonds can vary with the same | | | | The weight of a diamond also affects the size, as |
| weight because the shape of the diamond can be | | | | diamonds get heavier the length and width do not |
| different. A one carat round diamond has a very | | | | go up as fast as the weight. For example, a two |
| different length and width than marquise shaped | | | | carat round diamond weighs 100% more than a |
| diamond weighing one carat. | | | | one-carat diamond but the surface area you see |
| The diamond industry has developed its pricing | | | | only increases 64%. |
| structure based on the carat weights that | | | | Note that as the carat weight goes up, the price |
| consumers request when they go into a jewelry | | | | per carat goes up faster and the size goes up |
| store. Even carat weights have taken on a social | | | | slower. The result is that as the carat weight |
| importance far above their simple weight so | | | | goes up it takes a lot more weight and even |
| consumers typically ask for whole carat weights | | | | more money to make the diamond noticeably |
| or simple fractions of a carat. For example, a | | | | bigger to the eye. |
| diamond shopper might ask for a half-carat, one | | | | Perhaps the biggest question a diamond shopper |
| carat, a carat and a half, or a two-carat so the | | | | has is what carat weight of diamond they should |
| diamond industry sets the price increases at | | | | purchase. Of course, their budget is going to be |
| these weights. A diamond weighing 1.00 carats | | | | limiting factor in determining what carat weight to |
| has a significant higher price per carat than one | | | | buy but the target carat weight is influenced by |
| that weighs 0.99 carats so diamond cutters to | | | | several factors including the size of the finger, |
| get the finished diamond weight at or over these | | | | type of mounting, and the carat weight of friends |
| requested carat weights. As a result, there are | | | | and family diamonds. |
| many more diamonds cut just over 1.00 carat | | | | Buying the right diamond requires consideration of |
| than just under. Knowledgeable shoppers know | | | | many factors and understanding the impact of |
| there are some great values at just under the | | | | carat weight is one of the keys to making the |
| even carat weights but with few diamonds cut, | | | | best purchase decision possible. |
| the demand is greater than the supply. | | | | |