DIAMOND CARAT WEIGHT

The weight of a diamond is measured in Carats. Each Carat is equal to 0.2 grams or 200 milligrams. A Carat also contains 100 points or cents. So a half Carat diamond can also be referred to as a 50-cent diamond or a 50-point diamond. Diamond Carat is different from the ‘Karat' used to qualify the purity of gold

Carat Weight And Size

The weight of a diamond is one of the easiest things for a jeweler to determine since it is measured using extremely sophisticated tools. One important thing for laypersons to realize is that the size of a diamond does not increase in proportion to its weight. So a 2-carat diamond is not double the size of a 1-carat diamond.

Carat Weight And Price

Similarly, the cost of diamonds also does not follow a set pattern. In fact the larger a diamond much higher its price. A single 2-carat diamond can cost almost 2-3 times as much as a pair of 1-carat diamonds of similar quality.

Part of the reason for this exponential increase in price is that larger diamonds are very rare and hard to come by. The process through which diamonds are formed is extremely stressful and larger diamonds don't occur as frequently in nature as smaller ones do. It therefore makes them that much more expensive.

Selecting A Carat Size

There are several factors that you should consider when selecting the size of the diamond.

1. One of the most important factors of course, is your budget. For an engagement ring a man is traditionally expected to spend approximately what he earns in 2 months. Of course, with changing social norms this need not necessarily hold true for all cases.

2. One way to stretch your money further is to opt for a higher carat weight but a lower color and clarity grade. Generally a SI2 clarity grade and I or J color grade diamond is considered of extremely good quality and can save you a pretty penny than going for higher quality diamonds.


3. Also factor in the shape and size of your sweetheart's hands. Generally, a smaller diamond can also appear quite large when placed on slender fingers.

4. Also, if your lady is used to working with her hands then you may want to choose a setting that holds the diamond very securely so that it does not fall off. In such cases, smaller diamonds are better than larger ones so that they are not obstructive and don't bump and get nicked when working.

Lastly, if you are still not sure what to buy why not just ask for her help? While the surprise factor is great, perhaps getting her involved in the selection process may be equally fun for you both.