Today, a carat weighs the same in every corner of the world. The modern metric carat, equal to 0.2 grams, was adopted by the United States in 1913 and other countries soon after. Carat means weight of diamond which reflects its size. This means that diamonds ranging from 0.01 to 0. Because these small seeds had a fairly uniform weight, early gem traders used them as counterweights in their balance scales. For instance, 0.33 carats is generally expressed as 33 points, or 1/3 of a carat. Certain carat values called 'magic numbers' mark the points where diamond prices jump: 0.90 cts, 1.00 cts, 1.50 cts, 2.00 cts, 3.00 cts, 4.00 cts, and 5.00 cts. The carat, the standard unit of weight for diamonds and other gemstones, takes its name from the carob seed. One carat is divided into 100 points, with each point equaling 1/100th (.01) of a carat (ct.). So, for example, 25 points, 0.25 carats, and ¼ carats are all the same weight. The majority of diamonds used in fine jewelry weigh one carat or less. A carat is further divided into units called points. But the price differences between the two can be significant. Visually, there’s little difference between a 0.99-carat diamond and one that weighs a full carat. But two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different values (and prices) depending on three other factors of the diamond 4Cs: Color, Clarity, and Cut.Ī 50-point diamond weighs 0.50 carats. A jeweler may describe the weight of a diamond below one carat by its ‘points’ alone, for instance, a 'fifty pointer.’ However, a 1.08 carat stone would be described as ‘one point oh eight carats' or 'one oh eight.' Some weights are considered 'magic sizes': half-carat, three-quarter carat, and carat. Diamond price increases with diamond carat weight because larger diamonds are rarer and more desirable. For example, a 50-point diamond weighs 0.50 carats. Because even a fraction of a carat can make a considerable difference in cost, precision is crucial. Just as a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is divided into 100 points. Diamond weights higher than one carat are expressed in carats and decimals. In the diamond industry, weight is rounded to a hundredth of a carat. Diamonds and other gemstones are weighed in metric carats: one carat is equal to 0.2 grams. Diamond Carat Weight Measures a Diamond’s Apparent Sizeĭon’t confuse carat with karat, which refers to gold purity (as in 18K gold).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |