| This is the prime determining factor in the price of | | | | the overall appearance of the diamond with this |
| a diamond. As you might expect, the bigger the | | | | kind of a cut, unless you are specifically looking to |
| diamond, the more expensive it will be. | | | | make a large stone appear smaller (which is a |
| Carats are units of weight measurement. They | | | | rare case, indeed). |
| are used to measure most precious stones, | | | | An important factor in choosing a diamond is the |
| because of their ease. A carat equals 200 grams, | | | | size of the finger that will be wearing the diamond. |
| and makes expressing stone weight much easier | | | | For someone with thicker, wider fingers, it might |
| than using grams. Instead of having to label 3 | | | | make sense to spend extra money to get a |
| diamonds with weights of 200 milligrams, 207 | | | | larger diamond that is cut to maximize its |
| milligrams and 213 milligrams, the carat provides | | | | perceived size. A small diamond will look even |
| categories for diamonds to fit into, placing all of | | | | smaller worn on large fingers. The opposite is also |
| these diamonds in the 1-carat range. | | | | true. Someone with especially slender fingers can |
| Something to keep in mind is that a higher carat | | | | get extra mileage out of a smaller diamond. |
| weight does not always translate to a larger | | | | The current cost breakdown of the carat scale |
| looking stone. Even among stones of the same | | | | looks approximately like this: a diamond with a |
| shape, other factors (especially cut) can greatly | | | | clarity rating of SI1 and color of G at .50 carats |
| influence the perceived size of a diamond. A cut | | | | will go up approximately $1,100 per carat when |
| that gives a diamond a large table (the uppermost | | | | raised to the next carat category (.70 - .89 |
| flat surface of a diamond) will make a small | | | | carats). In the next carat range (.90 - .99 carats) |
| diamond look bigger. However what you get in | | | | the price will go up an additional $800 per carat. In |
| perceived size, you lose in brilliance. | | | | the 1.00 -1.49 carat range, the price per carat |
| Oppositely, a diamond that is cut wide at the | | | | rises by about $800 per carat. Another $1,200 |
| girdle (a diamonds widest point) will make a large | | | | per carat is added in the range of 1.50 - 1.99 |
| stone look smaller. There's not much benefit to | | | | carats. |