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What Is a Carat? You Don't Really Know, Do You?

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One of the most misinterpreted terms in the diamond industry is the word “carat”. For example, did you know that one of the most popular diamond names which is often referred to as “the world's largest manufacturer of diamonds” (and also happens to be a brand I frequently refer potential customers to because of their large inventory) places weights on its diamonds using carats... but only up to 2 carats?

Unless you've worked in a jewelry store, have owned a jewelry business, or have been in the gemstone industry for quite some time, it's entirely possible that you don't know what a carat is (or how many karats make up an ounce). Even if you're a regular shopper at Diamond Registry's, there's a good chance that your ignorance of carats hasn't been exposed. Well, today is your lucky day. You're about to learn everything there is to know about the carat weight.

What Is A Carat?

A carat is a unit of weight for gemstones and pearls. It is used to measure the mass of these gems, but it is not an accurate way to gauge the value of jewelry.

A diamond is measured by its weight rather than its size because diamonds are much denser than most other gemstones. One carat equals 200 milligrams (0.200 g), which is about 0.007 ounces (0.2 g). A cubic centimeter of water weighs 1 gram, so a stone weighing one gram would be 100% pure diamond by volume if it were completely transparent and colorless.

Carats can also be used as a measurement for other types of jewelry, such as pearls and gemstone beads. For example, a pearl necklace may be described as having "10 carats worth" of pearls on it if each pearl weighs 10 milligrams (0.010 oz). A single strand of pearls may weigh anywhere from 2-15 grams (0.002-0.006 oz).

The Weight Of A Diamond

The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. Carats are defined as 200 milligrams, which is about equal to 1/5th of a gram. Diamonds are sold by weight, so it’s important for you to know how much your diamond weighs.

Diamond carat weights range from 0.01 carats (1 milligram) to 100+ carats (100 grams). The most common weight for diamonds sold in the United States is 1/2-3/4 carat diamonds. Some popular sizes include:

  • 0.25 carat (5 milligrams)
  • 0.30 carat (6-7 milligrams)
  • 0.50 carat (10-11 milligrams)
  • 1-2 carats (15-20 milligrams)

Why Does The Weight Of A Diamond Matter?

The weight of your diamond is one of the most important things you should consider when buying a diamond because it can affect how much money you pay for it. The more weighty your diamond, the more expensive it will be, but there are many other factors that affect its price as well. For example, if you want to buy a very large diamond with a high carat weight, then you will have to spend more money on it than if you were to buy a smaller one with the same carat weight. This makes sense because large diamonds are harder to find than small ones, so they are more expensive because they are rarer than small diamonds.

Not To Be Confused With Karat

The word carat comes from the Greek word karatas, which means "berry." A carat is a unit of weight used to measure gemstones. One carat equals 0.2 grams, or 200 milligrams. In the jewelry industry, a diamond's weight is measured in carats.

Karat is a unit of purity that measures how much gold is mixed with other metals. For example, 14k gold means that it consists of 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metals (usually silver). Pure gold is 24k and 18k is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other components such as copper or zinc.

A Big Diamond Is Not Necessarily A Better Quality Diamond

Diamonds are measured by their quality, and the most important aspect of a diamond's quality is its cut. The cut is what determines how well a diamond performs in terms of light dispersion and brilliance.

The quality of a diamond's cut depends on several factors, including:

  • The proportions and angles of the facets;
  • The symmetry between those facets;
  • The polish and symmetry of the table;
  • The polish and symmetry of the girdle;

Bonus!

Sell your diamonds with ease with Diamond Registry’s comprehensive approach and vast global industry connections to help you find the best buyer for your diamond fast. Visit www.diamondregistry.com/sell-your-ring to take your first step to fast, easy and reliable way of selling your diamond.

Want to check and calculate diamond per carat instantly? Go to DR’s diamond price calculator www.diamondregistry.com/diamond-price-list/#calc-move-to to know how. Reliable and trusted carat calculator in the diamond industry since!

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