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The most familiar of the four C’s of diamond quality, diamond carats measure the weight of the gem.
While many people equate a high number of carats with high value, it is crucial to consider all the aspects of a stone – its shape, cut, clarity, color, and setting – when choosing the appropriate engagement ring.
When shopping for an engagement ring, one quality that is always discussed is the diamond carats. Carat is the measure of a diamond’s weight, though it is often confused with size. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams.
Raw diamonds are often many carats in weight. As raw stones, however, they are less valuable because that weight includes many flaws, inclusions, and other imperfections. After cutting, most diamonds are smaller than one carat, and the average size for a diamond engagement ring is approximately one-third of a carat.
The larger the diamond, the more scarce it is in nature, thus making it more expensive. A one carat diamond, for example, costs more than twice a half-carat diamond (assuming color, clarity and cut remain constant). However, cut and setting can make a diamond appear larger (or smaller) than its actual weight.
Some people believe that the bigger the size, the better the diamond. However, diamond engagement rings range from .25 to around 1 carat weight. The size you purchase should be a factor not only of your budget, but also of the preferences of your fiancé.
The other Cs - Clarity, Color and Cut - also influence a diamond’s price. Large stones with low prices may be inferior, low-grade diamonds with numerous flaws, a lack of sparkle, or other devaluing characteristics.
For many women, a diamond’s size should be determined by her hand. A large stone looks out of place on a petite hand, whereas a tiny stone may be lost or insignificant on a larger finger. The stone’s shape should also be proportioned to the hand, which may allow a smaller carat weight to look lovelier than a large stone with an improper shape.
Smaller stones can appear larger in several ways. Long diamond shapes, such as the rectangular emerald or the pointed marquis shape, create an optical illusion of a larger stone. If the diamond is set with high prongs, such as the classic tiffany setting, the stone appears larger as well. Side and accent stones are often used to enhance smaller center stones by wrapping around the stone and adding size to the ring. These smaller stones are often less valuable and unsuitable for separate use, but when added to a small center stone they increase its value by adding carat weight to the piece.
The term Total Carat Weight (TCW) refers to the total weight of all diamonds in the ring, including side and accent stones. Choosing a ring with a smaller center stone and several side stones may add up to a larger diamond carat weight (and possibly more expensive price) that what you may be considering for a single stone. When choosing between different ring styles, always be sure to ask about the total carat weight and compare that to the carat weight of the center stone (typically the largest in the setting).