Diamond CARAT WEIGHT

• The most well-known and misunderstood characteristic of the 4Cs is Carat Weight. It actually refers to the diamond's weight, not its size.
• A diamond's cut impacts how large the Carat Weight will appear. Smaller carat weight diamonds will appear larger with higher cut grades.
• To maximize your budget, consider buying a diamond that is slightly below your ideal carat weight. For example, instead of a 3.0 carat diamond consider buying a 2.9 carat weight 
• Diamond's Top Diameter
• 1. It is important to measure, in millimeters, the distance across the top (diameter) of the diamond as this is how it is viewed when set into a ring.
  2. A Diamond's Cut Grade
     A diamond's cutdiamond's cut grade should also be considered. When a diamond is well cut (grades Very Good or higher), the light reflected out of the top making it appear larger.

  How do these two Carat Weight factors help when purchasing a diamond?

  The diamond's diameter and cut grade reveal that smaller carat weight diamonds will appear larger with higher cut grades (Very Good and Ideal). On the flip side, a larger carat weight diamond could appear smaller with lower cut grades (Good, Fair and Poor).

  Expert Buying Tips

  • If a large carat weight is important to you, yet you're working within a strict budget, consider a diamond with a good cut, SI1-SI2 clarity, and an I or J color grade.
  • Diamond prices jump at the full- and half-carat weights. Diamonds just below these weights cost significantly less, and, because carat weight is distributed across the entirety of the diamond, small size differences are almost impossible to detect.
  • Keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will appear. A 1.5-carat diamond solitaire looks much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 8.