We are all fascinated with diamonds!
Diamond cuts and sizes intrigue us.
Carat size, one of The 4C's
(carat, color, clarity, cut), is the unit of measurement used to
describe the weight of a diamond.
A little Diamond History:
The word carat originated from the
carob tree - the tiny seeds of this tree are well known for their
uniformity and consistent weight. Traditionally, diamonds and gemstones
were weighed against these seeds until the system was standardized, and
1-carat was fixed at 0.2 grams. 1-carat is divided into 100 points, just
as 1 dollar is equal to 100 pennies. A diamond weighing one quarter of a
carat can also be described as weighing 25 points or 0.25 carats or
1/4-carat. Points are generally not used to describe weights over 1
carat.
Quick Conversion Chart:
25 points or 0.25 carats or
1/4-carat
50 points or 0.50 carats or
1/2-carat
75 points or 0.75 carats or 3/4-carat
100 points or 1.00 carats or
1-carat
As diamond carat size increases, both the diameter and the depth of the
diamond increase. This is why a 1.00-carat diamond (6.5 mm diameter)
does not look twice as wide as a 0.50 or 1/2-carat diamond (5 mm diameter).
Scarcity of Larger-Size Diamonds:
Diamonds are formed between 75-120 miles beneath the earth's crust
and can sometimes take thousands of years to surface where they can be mined. Most
diamonds were actually formed billions of years ago. So while all
diamonds are rare, the larger stones (1 ct or larger) are even scarcer.
So, generally speaking, larger diamonds have a greater value per carat.
This is why a diamond's carat size has the biggest impact on the price
of the diamond. Now you understand why a diamond twice the size will be substantially more money.
We have lots of educational guides for you to learn before you make a purchase. Please use the links below to view these guides.
Learn more about the 4 C's before you buy a diamond.
