| DIAMOND EDUCATION |
|
Carat Weight |
Diamond Color |
Diamond Clarity | Diamond Cut |
| CARAT WEIGHT |
| Rarity |
| Of the 4 C's, Carat Weight is probably one of the most important considerations
with respect ot 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 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 it 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. |
