A Quick and Simple Guide to Diamond Carat Weight
The average diamond carat weight for an engagement ring is 1.18. It’s one of the most important factors used to decide on a gem
Carat is only one of the 4cs. The other 3 are color, clarity, and cut. You should consider them all when choosing a cushion cut diamond ring for your beloved.
The average cost of an engagement ring is $6,000. Carat weight is one of the most important factors in determining this price, but all of the 4cs play a part.
Read on to learn the history of diamond carat weight, how it differs from another measure known as the karat, and how to use it to choose a diamond.
Diamond Carat Weight
The word carat comes from a Greek word for fruit of the carob tree. The pods were used as a standard for measurements because they were almost always the same size.
The Fourth General Conference on Weights and Measures met in 2017. They decided that a diamond carat, also known as a metric carat, should equal 200 milligrams.
This measurement is also divided into 100 points. They’re used to describe diamonds that weigh more than 1 carat. A 1.08-carat diamond is also one point oh eight carats.
Carat weight is one of the most important factors when determining price because heavier gems are rarer. Knowing it is only enough to estimate the gem’s value. If you want a better estimate, consider the other components of the diamond 4Cs.
Carat vs. Karat
According to the Rare Metal Blog, these terms are easy to confuse but entirely different.
Karat refers to the amount of precious metals such as gold, platinum, palladium, or silver in a bar or coin. 24-karat is pure with no other metals, while 16-karat has 8 parts of other metals.
Carat is only used for diamonds and precious gems. It has no limitations for how high it can go. It measures the weight and size of a gem instead of its purity.
How to Choose a Diamond Size
Balance the 4 c’s as well as you can when choosing a gem. Get the best cut, clarity, color, and carat weight you can afford.
One of the most important factors is clarity. The fewer inclusions or mistakes you can see when you look at the gem, the better. It should also have a clean, attractive color.
Cut determines how much a diamond sparkles. Fancy shapes make the gem feel unique and can even make it seem larger.
Save money without sacrificing quality by purchasing diamonds that are slightly below the whole or half-carat marks. For example, a 1.90-carat diamond is cheaper than a 2-carat diamond.
Once you’ve chosen a diamond, you’ll need to find the right setting. Thin bands and halo settings make any gem seem bigger.
More Diamond Buying Tips
Diamond carat weight is one of the most ancient measures in the world. It’s not the same as the karats used to determine the purity of bars or coins made with precious metals, but it’s equally important.
Carats are only 1 of the 4 c’s that determine a gem’s quality. The other 3 are cut, clarity, and color.
Balance these factors as well as you can. Find a diamond with pure colors and no imperfections, choose a cut that helps it sparkle, and find a setting that makes it seem larger.
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