Carat WeightThe fourth and final C is carat weight, the standard usually used to measure diamonds. A carat equals 1/5 of a gram (or 1/142 of an ounce), each carat is further divided into points, each point representing 1/100th of a carat. In the final analysis, weight may be the least important of the four C's in determining value. Weight may be the easiest of the four C's to gauge accurately. All that is required is a delicately balanced scale capable of weighting extremely small weights. Yet despite the ease of measurement and the relative unimportance of diamond weight, there are some facts you should understand about weight and price.  For one, as diamonds increase in size, their cost tends to increase geometrically rather than arithmetically. Thus, a one carat diamond can cost four or five times as much as a one-half carat stone of equal quality. For another, as implied previously, weight does not always enhance the value of a diamond. In fact, when a stone is improperly cut, added weight may serve only to reduce its brilliance. For these reasons you should consult with a skilled gemologist regarding the question of carat weight, especially as it relates to the quality of the diamond's cut. Diamonds are usually valued in terms of price per carat. Accordingly, for the same color, clarity, and cut, a diamond that weighs more costs more. Also since larger diamonds are also more rare, the cost per carat of equal quality stones also increases as diamond size increases. For example, a one-half carat (1/2) diamond has twice the weight as a one-quarter carat (1/4) diamond, but for equivalent quality diamonds, the price per carat could be more than four (4) times the price per carat of the one-quarter (1/4) diamond. |
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