Carat
The Carat is a measurement of how much a diamond weighs. Each Carat is divided into 100 “points”. For example a half-Carat stone is considered a “50 point diamond”. All else being equal, diamond price increases with Carat weight because larger diamonds are more rare, and thus harder to source.
When looking for a diamond, Carat should be used as a guideline but not the determining factor in your selection. Carat is not necessarily the best indication of how large a stone will appear, rather the measurements of the diamond are a more important reflection of “size”.
0.02 Ct
1.7mm
0.03 Ct
2.0mm
0.05 Ct
2.4mm
0.10 Ct
3.0mm
0.15 Ct
3.4mm
0.20 Ct
3.8mm
0.25 Ct
4.1mm
0.50 Ct
5.0mm
0.75 Ct
5.7mm
1.00 Ct
6.4mm
1.25 Ct
6.9mm
1.50 Ct
7.3mm
1.75 Ct
7.7mm
2.00 Ct
8.1mm
3.00 Ct
9.1mm
4.00 Ct
10.2mm
5.00 Ct
11.0mm
The Carat selection for your diamond purchase will generally be determined by your budget, so it’s best to set parameters for your price range, assess a range of qualities (Color/Clarity), and then find your preferred balance between size (Carat) and quality (Color/Clarity/Cut).
Cut
The Cut is comprised of several measurements of a diamond’s proportions, arrangement and alignment of the facets, and quality of the polish, which all determine how the facets interact with light.
Color
A diamond’s Color grade refers to the presence or lack of tint in the diamond. Generally referring to a yellow tint.
Clarity
A diamond’s Clarity grade is based on the number, size, and location of the imperfections that naturally occur, and how easy they are to see.
