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Carat

For many people, carat represents the most important C of diamond buying. After all, it is a direct indication of a diamond’s size. But did you know that a one carat round diamond may appear larger than a one carat princess cut? There’s more to understanding carat than meets the eye.

What is Carat Weight?

A unit of measure called metric carats weighs diamonds and gemstones. One carat equals 0.2 grams, which is probably lighter than you think (it’s about the size of a paperclip). Carat is only a measure of a diamond’s weight. Two diamonds can weigh the same, but one may appear larger if it has more surface area. This is true in the case of round versus princess cuts.

Carat Weight and Cost Explained

If you look at the difference of cost between a one carat and two carat diamond, you’ll see a great discrepancy. Diamonds are valued by their carat weight, but the cost will change based on even a small fraction of a carat. Even if all other things are equal (i.e. color, clarity and cut), you will likely pay more for a diamond that weighs 0.01 carat more.

Industry Lingo to Describe Carats

When you’re describing your diamond’s carat, or the carat you want, be very specific. A diamond with a carat of 1.03 is described as such. So you would say, one point oh three carats.

History of the Diamond Carat

Have you ever wondered why we weigh diamonds in carats and paperclips in grams? It all started with the carob seed. Early gem traders would use the carob seed to balance their scales, and the carat measurement was born. It was officially adopted by the United States in 1913 and other countries weren’t far behind.

 

 

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