Diamond Carat Weight
To Of the 4 C's, Carat Weight is probably one of the most important
considerations with respect to rarity, value, and consumer preference. In
fact, Carat Weight, or how much the diamond weighs is the most significant
value factor in a diamond. Because diamonds by nature are rare, a 2 carat
diamond is actually about 3 times more valuable than a comparable quality 1
carat size. Statistically a 1 carat is one in a million diamonds mined, and a
2 carat is one in five million diamonds mined. Therefore, all things
considered a 2 carat diamond is really "value priced" based on the
rarity factor.
Definitions/Concepts
To assist in you in selecting the right size diamond here is a review of some
key Carat Weight concepts. The term "Carat" is derived from the
"Carob Seed", which is today used as a food flavoring. In ancient
times this fairly consistent seed was used in "pan-balance" scales
to determine the weight of precious items traded like gold, silver, and yes
gemstones and diamonds! In the early 1900's the "Carat" was
standardized to equals 1/5 of a gram or .20 gm. Therefore, 5 carats = 1.00
gram. The Carat is further broken down into "points". There are 100
points to a Carat, just like 100 pennies to a dollar. Common diamond Carat
Weights sold typically range from 1/5 Carat (20 points) to 1 Carat (100
points) and larger! Diamonds smaller than 1/5 Carat are referred to as
"melee" diamonds, and are quite often used to accent a center or
feature diamond.
Pricing
Larger diamonds are much more rare, thus commanding a higher price/per/carat.
Carat weight affects the value of a diamond by about 10-20% for each step in
size difference. Also, "magic sizes" refer to major carat weight
categories, for example exactly 1.00 carat, or larger, and can prompt
"price premiums". To calculate the price of a diamond you multiply
the carat weight by the price/per/carat. For example: if a 1.25 carat diamond
was priced at $10,000 per/carat the diamond would be sold for $12,500.
Choosing The Right
Size
In
the selection process, most women today aspire to owning an engagement diamond
of at least 1 carat. Statistically, the average size sold for engagement is
between a half and three-quarter carat. The carat weight however, doesn't
necessarily reflect how the diamond appears. The most popular diamond shapes
sold are the Round and Princess Cuts. The outer diameter of a 1 carat round
diamond is about 6.5mm, however if the diamond is cut too "deep" it
will be smaller in diameter, or if it's too "shallow" it will appear
larger in diameter. When you review the section on "Cut Quality",
bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. The final decision is always up to
YOU, the consumer.
Back to selecting the right size. View and observe
the examples of different carat weights for round diamonds and their
corresponding sizes to determine what is right for you. Also, please note that
the appearance of these sizes may be affected by your computer monitor screen.
For an easy comparison of price and size, see the table below. Prices are
approximate and based upon D Color, internally flawless clarity, and excellent
cut quality.
