“Let your diamonds speak for you” -Unknown
Welcome back to our fourth installment into our October deep dive of the diamond world! Last week we went over the clarity of a diamond, what exactly that is, and why it matters.
This week we are going to discuss the last of the four C’s being the literal carat weight of a diamond. This tends to be the most known about of the four C’s because it references the physical size of a diamond one purchases.
Welcome back to our fourth installment into our October deep dive of the diamond world! Last week we went over the clarity of a diamond, what exactly that is, and why it matters.
This week we are going to discuss the last of the four C’s being the literal carat weight of a diamond. This tends to be the most known about of the four C’s because it references the physical size of a diamond one purchases.
To find the origin of the carat we must go back to a time long ago. A time long before humans referred to weight in terms of grams or ounces. Back in this time many Mediterranean traders carried Carobs, or longer green beans that contained seeds inside with them on their travels.
Just like in today’s world the gem’s value was discerned based off its weight, and the weight was measured in equal carob seeds. Over time this was evolved into a Carat unit of measurement. Today one carat is approximate 0.2 grams.
To many a carat is a term often used to describe a diamonds physical size, but it is meant to describe its physical weight.
When it comes to the price value of a diamond, as we’ve stated in previous posts, there are several factors that can impact a direct value.
The overall rule is that because diamonds are a rarer stone the bigger of carat weight a diamond is the more expensive it can be, and the higher value it can hold.
However, just because a diamond is a bigger weight doesn’t always mean it’s better than others of a smaller weight. Other aspects such as Color, Cut, and Clarity need to be assessed in calculating the gem’s value
Additionally, back when we discussed the cut of a diamond, we also discussed the depth of a diamond and how it can’t be cut too shallow or too deep.
There is a direct correlation between a diamond’s weight and its diameter. Because of the way diamonds are cut it is impossible for a well-cut diamond of a smaller carat weight to have a larger surface area of an identically cut diamond of a larger carat weight.
Overall, carat weight is a factor to take into consideration when purchasing a diamond, but it is the cut grade of a diamond that should be looked at as well.
A diamond with a better cut grade can often appear much brighter to the naked eye, even if the diamonds are of the same exact carat weight. Just remember that sometimes quality can be more important than direct size or weight.
With that we have gone over in detail the grading scales that go into a diamond’s Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight. All four of these aspects are taken into consideration when apprising diamonds and their value.
Join us next week for our final entry into our diamond month as we take a look at how all four of these factors coincide with the purchase of a new diamond. Next week we are taking diamond buying!