Ask
most women what type of diamond engagement ring they would
like, and you will most likely hear “a big one!” When shopping
for a diamond, however, the old adage ”bigger is better“ may
not always be true. There is no doubt that a large diamond
is very impressive, but size is not the only factor associated
with the value of an engagement ring (see also Cut, Clarity,
Color). If you have a small budget, make sure you pay attention
to all 4 C´s of a diamond´s quality or you could end up with
a large diamond that lacks the fire and luster that makes
it stand out.
The size of a diamond is often referred to as a carat. Though
´size´ is the common term used, it is not technically correct.
Carat is actually the term for the measured weight of a diamond
and not necessarily its size. In fact, you can have two one
carat diamonds that look very different in size based on how
deeply they are cut. The depth of the diamond will not only
affect how big the stone looks but also its ability to reflect
light. Look to our Cut section of our Diamond Education pages
to find out more.
A carat is equal to 200 milligrams. At times you may also
see this represented in a points system. For example, a one
caret diamond is equal to 100 points, a 1/2 carat diamond
is 50 points, a 1/4 carat is 25 points etc. The diamonds you
see at Woodberry Diamonds are represented using the typical
decimal system shown in the table below. Not all possible
weights are shown here.
 |
Carat |
|
Decimal Representation |
|
Actual Weight |
|
|
½ carat |
|
.50 ct |
|
100 mg |
|
|
|
¾ carat |
|
.75 ct |
|
150 mg |
|
|
|
1 carat |
|
1.00 ct |
|
200 mg |
|
|
|
1 ½ carats |
|
1.50 ct |
|
300 mg |
|
|
|
2 carats |
|
2.00 ct |
|
400 mg |
|
|
You may also see the price of the diamond given by the price
per carat. For example a .75 carat diamond that is $1000 per
carat would be $750 for the loose diamond. The larger the
diamond the more rare, and therefore the more expensive the
diamond will be. Note: A ring with multiple diamonds
that has a total weight of one carat is not as valuable as
a single one carat stone.
The carat of a loose diamond is a major contributor to its
overall value. Large diamonds of good quality are rare and
can be rather expensive, so be sure to review all of the diamond
education information we provide and then make your purchase
based on the factors important to you and (most of all) to
the woman who will be wearing the diamond ring for the rest
of her life. |
