The word 'carat' comes from the carob tree whose seed was used as the standard of weighing precious stones. Less than 5% of all the diamonds made into jewelry are larger than one carat.
Carat is the gemologist's standard measure of a diamond's weight. The term “carat” refers to the weight of a diamond. One carat is equal to about 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. Carat size is also the diamond attribute that is most emphasized by marketers and often times familiar to consumers.
However, it is extremely important to understand that carat weight is not a factor which denotes diamond quality. It purely denotes the size of a diamond.
That’s why, even though carat weight may be the easiest of the 5 C's to tell by looking, you still have to know how to look. Many people cut diamonds with poor proportions in order to retain more carat weight—so they can charge more for the diamond. The unfortunate buyer ends up paying more money for a poorer quality diamond—one that really shouldn’t make the cut.
At Tivol, we always advise our customers to complement an interest in larger stones with good judgment of quality. This balance ensures the greatest long-term value and enjoyment.
