Understanding Diamond Carat
explaining the diamond carat
WHAT IS A DIAMOND CARAT?
Many people do not realize that term carat refers to weight. It is the unit used to measure the weight of diamonds and other gemstones. Carat refers to the weight of the stone rather than the visual size and is determined by the density and the shape of the stone.
DOES THE CARAT WEIGHT MATTER?
Carat weight can give you an idea of a gemstone’s size, but it is not the only aspect to consider. The top measurements – in millimeters – indicate how large the stone faces up (how big it looks). For example, a 2.00 carat diamond can face up larger than a 2.20 carat diamond.
How can this happen? The depth of the diamond is factored into the weight. For example, there is a 2.20 carat round diamond that measures 8.29 – 8.33 mm across the top and has a depth of 5.15mm. But alternatively, there is a 2.05 carat round diamond that is 8.35 – 8.37mm across the top and 4.89mm deep. The 2.05 carat faces up bigger than the 2.20 carat in this case.
While the carat weight is a good indicator of size, pay attention to the measurements also so that you can determine how the diamond will face up.
HOW IS A DIAMOND CARAT MEASURED?
Today, a carat equals the weight of a paperclip, which is 0.2 grams, or 200 milligrams. After you figure out how much the diamond weighs in grams, you can divide that number by 0.2 and determine the diamond's carat weight. Even though the carat weight of a diamond does not represent the actual dimensions of the diamond, there is a generally accepted carat to millimeter dimension chart.
HOW DOES CARAT WEIGHT IMPACT PRICE?
Diamonds are not linearly priced. Meaning, a one carat diamond costs more than two half-carat diamonds of the same quality. This is because a larger diamond is harder to find compared to a smaller diamond of the same quality. Generally, the larger the carat weight, the more expensive it will be.
The price per carat increases as the sizes increase. For example, a one carat diamond is not just double the price of a half carat diamond. The half carat costs less per carat than a one carat. The one carat is likely to be closer to 3.5 times the price of the half carat diamond.
Diamond Carat + Size Comparison Chart
