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Guide to Diamond Carat Weight Variation and Size Chart

Diamonds are weighed in carats, which are the standard measurement units. The term "size" is often used to misinterpret the meaning of diamond carat, which is actually a measurement of a diamond's weight.

A diamond's carat weight is a measure of its size expressed as a percentage. Furthermore, one carat (1ct) of diamonds weighs about 0.20 grams (200 Milligrams).

Understating Diamond Carat – 4cs

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For accurate measurements, each Carat of a diamond is divided into 100 points, where one point equals 0.01 carats.

This means that in terms of Carat weight, a half-carat (1/2) diamond is equal to 50 points OR 0.50 carat diamond, and a quarter-carat (1/4) diamond is equal to 25 points OR 0.25 carat diamond. Carats and decimals are used to express the weight of a diamond greater than one carat. A 1.08 carat stone, for example, would be referred to as 'one point eight carats.'

After determining Cut, Color, Clarity of the 4c’s, Carat becomes the most appealing factor in choosing a diamond. Because that decides the final value of a diamond. Diamond prices increases with the diamond carat weight. Size does matter, but larger diamonds are always sought after more. However, you should be aware that the prices of two diamonds with the same carat weight can vary significantly based on the other three diamond-specific factors (Cut, Color, and Clarity).

Because of this, while carat weight has the least effect on a diamond's appearance, it is the most important factor in determining a diamond's price.

Diameter (MM) and Price Per Carat Size Changes

To get a sense of how much a diamond costs, we need to look at an example. In order to simplify things, we'll use G color, Vs1 clarity, and an excellent cut grade for the four diamonds listed below. Please keep in mind that the price of a diamond is influenced by a variety of factors, including its carat weight. The following table is meant to give you a general idea of the price of diamonds based on their size.

Carat Weight Diameter (MM) Price Per Carat Total Price
0.50 ct 5.1 mm 3000 $ 1500 $
1.00 ct 6.4 mm 6000 $ 6000 $
2.00 ct 8.1 mm 12000 $ 24000 $
3.00 ct 9.3 mm 18000 $ 54000 $

The price and diameter increase as the carat weight increases, as shown in the table above.

Let's begin by looking at the percentage increase in diameter (MM) as a function of the Carat Weight (CtW).

Many people mistakenly believe the weight of the half a carat (0.50) is the same as the weight of a full carat (1.00). Diameter (millimeter) difference isn't half of it. On the other hand, a round diamond with a 0.50 carat weight is only slightly larger in diameter than one that weighs 1.00 carats. The millimeter difference between these two diamonds is only 1.3 millimeters, which is less than 25%. (from 5.1 mm to 6.4 mm) As a result, even though the carat weight doubles, the diameter does not.

Now, let's see how the price and size of a diamond are related.

As we can see from this table, the price increases as the carat weight increases. There is a direct correlation between increased carat weight and price per carat. For example, the price per carat rises from 6,000 to 18,000. However, the total value of a diamond increases dramatically as its size increases. This means that a 0.50 carat diamond costs about $1500 ($0.50 x 3000 $), whereas a 2 carat diamond costs 16 times as much ($2.00 x 12000 $). The larger a diamond is, the more valuable it is.

How Carat Weight Points Affects the Price

Instead of 0.69ct or 0.99ct, most diamonds are cut to a 0.70ct or 1.00ct weight. But the most important thing to know is that 0.98-0.99 carats are better than 1.00 carats. The size difference will be insignificant, but the money you save will be substantial.

Carat Weight Price Per Carat
0.90 ct – 0.99 ct E VVS 2 – 6000$
1.00 ct – 1.49 ct E VVS 2 – 8000$

In other words, a 0.98-carat diamond priced at $5,880, or about $58 per carat. In contrast, if you were to buy a diamond that is 1.00 carats in weight, it would cost $8000 (assuming the diamond has the same cut, color, and clarity). Due to their lower cost, round-diamond points should be given serious consideration.

Although a diamond's carat weight has the greatest impact on its value, it is the cut that has the greatest impact on its overall appeal. In addition, the price of a diamond will rise as its carat weight and size increase because larger diamonds are more valuable.

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