Introduction

The carat weight is the standard unit of weight for a diamond. Don't confuse "carat weight" with "karat," the method of determining the purity of gold.

•One carat is the equivalent of 0.2 grams.

•One carat is also divided into 100 points.

•Points are generally used to describe increments of weight within a carat.

•The weight of a 3/4-carat diamond can be shown as .75 carats or 75 points.

Carat refers to weight and not size. A 1-carat diamond will not be the same size as a 1-carat sapphire, due to the density of the gemstone material. Weight affects price. While a 1.00 carat stone weighs twice as much as a .50 carat diamond, the larger stone does not measure in size twice as much and yet it’s more than twice as valuable because it is rarer..Thus, large diamonds are rare and have a greater value per carat. For that reason, the price of a diamond rises exponentionally to its size. If you double the weight then the cost is about 4 times more. Therefore A one carat diamond solitaire ring is nearly always more expensive than a diamond ring made up of multiple diamonds that are similar, but smaller, even though they total one carat or more.

Carat Abbreviations

*The abbreviation ct is a shortened way to write carat, and refers to the weight of a single diamond.

*The abbreviation ct TW means carat total weight, and is used to express the total weight of multiple diamonds used in a piece of jewelry.

What Carat Weight is Best?

•First, determine your budget. One general rule of thumb when buying a diamond engagement ring is "two months salary." This is just a guideline, it's not carved in stone and your first consideration should be what you can comfortably afford -- not what the diamond industry or a jeweler tells you (they are not unbiased in this matter).

•Deciding on carat size is really about striking a balance between size and quality. If she prefers larger jewelry items, and you are working within a budget, you can still find a larger diamond of excellent quality gem by selecting one which is graded slightly lower in terms of color and clarity.

•Consider her finger size, remember that slender fingers make small diamonds look bigger. If she has small fingers, a 1-carat diamond will look proportionately large -- and an even larger stone may appear stunningly big.

•Consider her lifestyle, for example is she works as a cleaner or doing manual work she may find herself bumping her new ring if the diamond is very large.

•Think about what sort of setting will hold the diamond. You'll have to be sure that the setting you choose is made to fit the carat weight of your diamond.

•One of the best ways to determine which size will suit her better is to find out what size she is expecting. If she has never told you consider speaking to some of her friends as they may probably know.

•The girdle or edge thickness is also important as has a direct impact on the spread of the diamond. If a diamond has a very thin girdle, the stone can have a better spread, but it can chip more easily. Medium to slightly thick girdles are safest, but thicker girdles add extra weight or reduce the spread. If you want a larger size diamond for your chosen carat weight look for a diamond with a thin girdle. Ensure the girdle is thin, and not Extremely Thin or Very Thin as these can be cleaved or chipped when setting in jewellery.

•The magic weights are 1/2ct, 3/4ct, 90 points, 1ct, 1.5ct, 2ct etc. 'Under-sizes' are diamonds that weigh just below a magic weight. If you want a bargain 1ct diamond why not go for a 0.95cts, comparing to a 1 ct diamond of the same proportions even most jewellers wouldn’t be able to tell the difference and you could save up to 30%. Due to these factors there is a shortage of under-sizes in the market as diamond cutters always aim to achieve a magic weight. Contact one of our diamonds experts for under-sizes availability and more information on carat weight.