Carat

The first traces of diamonds were discovered in India in some 3000 years ago. They were easily deemed to have high regard for their ability to refract light. The diamonds were first weighed using the seeds of the carob tree. The standard of measure was then established thus acquiring the name carat as the unit of measure.

Carat is a measurement of weight not only to diamonds but also for other gemstones. But don’t be fooled because gems of the same weight doesn’t necessarily translate that they are of the same size because other stones are denser where they bunch up more weight in smaller spaces.

The weight of the diamonds bears the heaviest load in determining its worth, although it is not everything. Diamond quality is not only determined by its weight alone, 2 diamonds with the same weight may significantly vary in price depending on other aspects. Along with the carat weight is its color, clarity, and cut. They are collectively known as the 4 C’s in diamond grading. But if all the other factors are more or less equally acceptable, the heavier the stone is, the higher the price it demands.

Historically, one carob seed equaled to 1 carat. But, today after unit of mass have been standardized, 1 diamond carat is known to be equivalent to 200 milligrams. Since diamonds are mined in smaller crystals, one carat is even subdivided to 100 points. So, smaller pieces can readily be weighed. For example, a diamond weighing 0.50 can be termed as 50 points or ½ carat.

When these stones are mines, smaller crystals are discovered greater than the larger ones, which make larger diamonds are more expensive. Obviously, 1 carat diamond rings will be more affordable than the 2 carat diamonds of the same qualities. They are priced according to rarity, since larger ones are rarer; they have the right to demand a higher price. A full carat diamond ring will always be more costly compared to a ring constructed from smaller pieces of diamonds even if is sums up to more than 1 carat. That’s just how diamond works.

It is important that you readily understand the comparison between 2 diamonds. The diamond which is heavier and has the larger carat does not always convert to a larger diamond. Dimensions and its cut play a major role in the overall appearance of your diamonds.

In a round brilliant cut, larger tables or the flat surfaces on top, makes a certain diamond look larger that it really is. This type of cutting technique makes the diamond to shallow which somehow loses its brilliance. Although some people are happy because their diamond looks bigger, others are concerned with the loss of its beauty.

There is no standard diagram or chart that can illustrate the different weights, because the variations in its cut and shape make two equally similar carat weights appear to be totally different.

A lot of people often take no notice of the other C’s in favor of acquiring the biggest diamond that they have long budgeted for. Although, size really does matter but quality is just as important for the diamond to be grand. You should never compromise quality over its size. Hence, every decision still lies in your hands and especially your preference.

In other sense, a Ferrari may not be as big and heavy as an Oldsmobile, but it certainly is more impressive, right? Some may prefer wearing a 2-carat ring but it doesn’t mean that they are more extravagant.

Although carat weight is a pretty big factor in judging a diamond’s worth, but it certainly is not all that. But in whatever sense it may be, the eternal beauty that the diamond possesses will always be top of the scale.