ALL ABOUT THE DIAMOND CARAT

- What is a Diamond Carat:

Carat is a word that is sometimes misinterpreted. Contrary to what others might believe, it refers to the weight of the diamond, not its size. A metric carat is 200 milligrams.

Although carat is connected to size, carat weight and size aren't the same things. Depending on the cuts, two stones of the same shape and carat weight might seem drastically different.  

Another myth is that a higher carat weight is always preferable to a lower carat weight. While a large stone might be a prestige statement, carat weight has nothing to do with the sparkle. The effect of a well-crafted cut is a beautiful glitter. In truth, a diamond with a large carat weight but a bad cut may appear smaller than a diamond with a lesser carat weight but an excellent cut. 

- The Importance of Diamond Carat:

The value of a diamond’s carat is largely subjective, although it significantly impacts the stone's price. "Carat weight is frequently the most essential characteristic of the 4C’s utilized in calculating the price of a diamond," according to an expert. 

However, a diamond’s carat is just as valuable as you make it. Carat weight may be at the top of your must-have list if you want a really big stone. For those who do not believe a bigger stone is necessary, other qualities of the diamond are more essential than the carat weight.

- How Carat Impacts the Cost of a Diamond:

Typically, the bigger the carat, the more expensive the diamond will be. "If all other factors are equal (cut, clarity, and color), a diamond's price rises with its carat weight since bigger diamonds are more uncommon and coveted," but "two diamonds of similar carat weight might have drastically different prices depending on the other three C’s." 

To put it another way, while carat weight considerably influences the price of a diamond, it is not the sole determining element. Even if a diamond has a large carat weight, if the clarity is poor and the color is poor, the price will drop.

- The Brief History of Diamond Carat:

The word carat stems from an old process of measuring valuable metals and stones against carob tree seeds, which were thought to be evenly weighted. It wasn't until 1907 that the Fourth General Conference on Weights and Measures determined that one diamond carat was equivalent to 200 mg., or 0.2 grams, of the diamond. Carats can also be measured in points, with a whole carat equaling 100 points.

- Few things to Know About Carat:

° To save money, "buy shy." Choose a carat weight that falls between the whole and half-carat ranges. Consider purchasing a 1.90-carat diamond instead of a 2.00-carat diamond. This will save you a lot of money, and the tiny change will be undetectable.

° Spend a lot of money on the cut. Because it optimizes diamond brilliance, this is the most crucial component. If the cut is bad, even a high-carat diamond with superb color and clarity might end up dull and lifeless.

° Per carat, fancy forms are less expensive. The first essential thing to remember about fancy-shaped diamonds is that they are typically less costly than round diamonds of comparable quality. Furthermore, fancy shapes, especially when set in a halo setting, might look bigger than their real diamond carat in weight and size.

° Keep in mind the ring size. The diamond will seem bigger on a smaller finger. On a size 6 finger, a 1.50-carat diamond solitaire will look bigger than on a size 8 finger.

- Diamond Carat Size Chart:

When seen from the top down, this chart depicts how diamonds of various carat weights and shapes would appear. The length/width ratio, table, and depth of your diamond may differ from the chart.

- Money-Saving and Shopping Advice:

Many consumers consider the carat weight of a diamond to be the most important factor, believing that a bigger carat weight is inevitably more spectacular. There's nothing wrong with seeking a larger carat weight, but keep in mind that bigger isn't always better.

Top-grade diamonds excel in all four C’s, not just in carat weight. Don't overlook the other three C’s merely to acquire a bigger diamond — you might end up with a diamond with concealed flaws, poor color, or a dull gleam.

- Before you buy a diamond, here are a few more carat tips:

° Several settings may amplify the size of a diamond. The halo is a common setting for achieving this effect. The central stone is surrounded by a ring of tiny diamonds in this setting. The small-to-large diamond ratio skews the viewpoint to your advantage, making the central diamond appear larger.

° The carat of a diamond is affected by the band size. The use of a thin band gives a viewpoint that magnifies the main stone. The pavé band, which has little diamonds embedded in it, is a popular way to do this.

° Carat Total Weight (CTTW). The total carat weight of a jewelry piece is the total weight of all the diamonds in it. Make sure to ask about the weight of the individual diamonds in any item you're considering purchasing.