We are back talking about diamonds, one of our absolute favorite subjects. We have covered 3 out of the 4 C's in depth including color, cut and clarity!
Today is all about carats...
Out of all the 4 C's, most people think carat is the most important one when cut is actually a more critical variable to consider because this is what gives the diamond its brilliance and fire (sparkle). It is still important to consider though so let's take a look!
First, what is a carat? A carat is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs. More specifically, a “carat” is 200 milligrams, so carats actually refer to a diamond's weight, not size.
And carat is not to be confused with karat which is, when used with gold, is a unit of purity!
Each carat can be divided into 100 points, which allows for very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. Yeah, we're getting into a little math here! Diamond weights greater than one carat are expressed in carats plus decimals.
With other variables being equal, the price of a diamond increases with diamond carat weight. Remember though that two diamonds with equal carat weight can have very different price tags depending on the three other factors of cut, clarity, and color.
HOW DID THE CARAT SYSTEM START?
The measurement of carats began with carob seeds. Early traders used the small seeds as counterweights in their scales because they believed that these seeds had exceptional uniformity. Eventually, seeds gave way to international standardization starting in 1871 and finalized with the metric carat in 1907. Now the carat is the same weight all over the world.
When it's time to go diamond shopping, think of carat and cut together as they greatly affect each other. A poorly cut large diamond can actually look smaller than a well cut smaller diamond!
And if you're thinking of diamond shopping, here are a few of our favorite diamond engagement rings.
We're honored that Mullen Bros. Jewelers ranks #1 in overall customer ratings among all jewelry stores in Southeastern Massachusetts and we will continue to take care of our neighbors and friends, one jewel at a time.
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