Whenever my friends and I talked about diamond jewelleries, there were always 2 main confusions about the Diamond Carat. Confusion number one is the concepts of carat and karat. Confusion number two is the idea that it equates to the size of the diamond. Let us find out what Diamond Carat really mean.
Diamond Carat versus Karat
While shopping for a jewellery, the salesperson or designer will use the terms Carat and Karat quite often. Both Carat and Karat sound almost the same, it can cause confusion if you do not know what each term really means! Carat describes the diamonds or precious gemstones. Karat refers to the percentage of gold in the jewellery.
Diamond Carat is the unit of measurement for a diamond’s weight while Karat refers to the percentage of gold in an alloy. You can read up more about Karat in our previous article.
Is Diamond Carat referring to the size of the diamond?
Although usually used to make quick references to the size of a diamond, the carat size (expressed as ‘ct’) is the measurement of the weight of a diamond. A carat is equal to 0.2 grams, which is about the weight of a paper clip.
Depending on the proportions of the cut, two diamonds of the same shape and carat may have different size. The difference is caused by the cut proportions. A higher percentage of a deeply cut diamond total weight is hidden in its depth. As a result, a diamond with an ideal cut will have a larger diameter than a deeply cut diamond. The diamond size chart below lists the approximate diameter of the different carats.
Which Diamond Carat to go for?
The ideal diamond carat weight to go for depends on the ladies’ expectation. But here are some considerations and tips when selecting the carat.
First, the diamond price increase exponentially as the carat weight increases. This is because of the rarity of larger diamonds.
Second, avoid “magic sizes”. Some carat weights such as 0.5ct, 0.75ct, and 1ct are very popular. As a result, a premium price tag is attached to them. Go for a size shy of those magic sizes. There may be little difference visually but may be significantly different in prices.
Third, a smaller carat diamond with an ideal cut may appear larger than a larger carat diamond with a deep cut. A well-cut diamond reflects more light through the top of the diamond, affecting its brilliance. You can read more about diamond cut in this article.
Last, not all ring designs are suitable for all diamond carat weights and shapes. If you have a design in mind, feel free to contact or book an appointment with us to check the compatibility between the diamond and the design.
Interested to know more about the other aspects of the Diamond 4Cs? Check out the articles on Diamond Colour, Clarity, and Cut.
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