The Four C's
These factors determine the value of a diamond are called the 4
C's
The 4 C's include:
Cut, Clarity,
Color and Carat.
Carat
Diamond weight was first measured using seeds from the carob tree
because of their uniformity in weight. Later, more sophisticated
scales for determining weight were used. The “carat”
(ct.) weight of a diamond is not to be confused with the “karat”
(kt.) used in determining the gold content of an item. The standard
carat weight today is one-fifth of a gram or 200 milligrams. Diamonds
weighing less than one carat are measured in points. A point is
1/100 of a carat (ie. It takes 100 points to equal one carat.) Thus,
a diamond weighing 1/4 carat weighs 25 points. Even though a one-carat
brilliant-cut diamond may appear to be of less carat weight when
compared to a one carat marquise, pear or emerald cut- the carat
weight of each is the same. The larger the diamond, the more rare
it is. Thus, a two-carat diamond is much more expensive than a one-carat
diamond of the same cut and clarity.
Interesting Facts About a Diamond's Carat Weight
* While we use the term "weight," a carat is actually
very light. By weight alone, you can mail 142 one-carat diamonds
for a 34 cent stamp. The Great Star of Africa, which weighs 530.2
carats, could be mailed today by its weight alone for $1.28.
* The word "carat" comes from the carob seed. These seeds
of the locust tree are so uniform in weight that they were used
to balance the earliest gem scales.
* Carat weight is the least subjective of the diamond's characteristics.
A quarter carat diamond of finer quality can look more beautiful
than a half carat that is mis-cut, has prominent body color, or
inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. Nature has played
a cruel trick on us. The deeper mines go, the smaller are the rough
diamonds. Diamonds that come directly from nature weighing over
two carats (required in order to have a finished diamond of one
carat) are very rare. As you go up in size, the rarity increases
and prices for similar grades increase proportionately. Thus, a
one carat polished diamond will cost more than twice as much as
a half carat diamond of the same cut, color and clarity.
Benefits
Knowing the weight of the diamond is of value because the larger
its size the more rare it is, making the diamond more valuable.
Regardless of its weight, each diamond's quality is judged on the
basis of cut, color and clarity.
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