What is Diamond Carat Weight?

When shopping for a diamond, you've no doubt heard references to the 4 C's of diamonds. Diamond carat is one of those popular ”c's” to consider when evaluating a diamond, and it's a term used to describe how much the diamond weighs. A single diamond carat is equal to the weight of 200 milligrams, or .2 grams.

Diamonds are described two different ways in regards to the diamond carat. An abbreviation of “ct” is used to describe the weight of a single diamond stone while an abbreviation of “ct TW” is used when describing the total weight of an entire piece of jewelry- when it has more than one stone in place.

It's important to recognize that two stones may have the exact same carats, meaning they have the same weight measurement, and yet they are completely different in size and appearance.

This is due to the actual density of the gemstone. The more dense a stone is, the more weight they have, and sometimes a smaller stone will actually weigh more than a larger stone because of density.

The Value of the Diamond is Effected by it's Weight.

When selecting your diamond ring, you can choose between a single, solitaire style setting (a single diamond on the ring) and a setting that has multiple, smaller stones to make up the ring. The value of a solitaire one diamond carat will actually be more than if you buy a ring that has two diamonds that add up to one carat or greater.

Larger sized diamonds are more rarely found when mining diamonds, making them more valuable and expensive than purchasing the same amount of diamond carats in smaller stones.

Selecting Diamond Carat

So how do you determine what size diamond to buy? Do you want a diamond carat of 1, or 2, or do you want a ring with multiple, smaller stones? The answer to this will depend greatly on your budget, as well as the person who will be wearing the ring.

A diamond will look larger on a slender finger, so keep that in mind if the recipient of the ring has thin hands. The actual diamond carat measurement is probably not as much of a concern as the appearance, shape, and setting of the ring. Particularly because a 1 carat diamond ring will not look half the size of a 2 diamond carat ring, it's far more important to select a ring that is pleasing to look at than it is to buy one with the most carats you can afford.

Determine how much money you have to spend, and then decide on the cut of the diamond. Once you have these two pieces of information narrowed down, you can start browsing the diamonds in your price range, in the style you want, and find out what diamond carat you are in the market to buy.

Books about Diamond

	THE DIAMOND: 5 Cs -- Cost, Carat, Clarity, Color, and Cut List Price: $29.95
	THE DIAMOND: 5 Cs -- Cost, Carats, Clarity, Color, and Cut. Includes the guide how to buy a diamond, the physics of diamond, “Diamond 4Cs Magic Box” for simultaneous evaluation of the 4Cs, a Stefan’s invention based on Raman scattering of multi laser beams off a diamond to be graded, and an account of the laboratory created diamonds.

	The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life List Price: $14.95 Sale Price: $8.36
	The now classic work on Buddhism and business from the foremost American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism— reissued in a tenth anniversary edition with compelling case studies that showcase its principles in action around the globe...

	Sparkling Diamonds: From Minerals to The Smithsonian Collection - From Colors, Cutting And Carats To Emeralds, Rubies And Sapphires List Price: $49.78
	The Diamond HistoryHave you ever wondered what the origins are of such self-decoration? Was there a meaning behind it? Or did we just start wearing beads, necklaces and earrings as our awareness of self increased and as we evolved?2 Minerals Are CrystalsThe earliest forms of jewelry were items that early humans found naturally, such as shells or bits of bones...

	Diamonds, Quality, Grade, Shape & How to Buy the Best Diamonds List Price: $4.77
	"Diamonds, Quality, Grade, Shape & How to Buy the Best Diamonds" will help you learn the ins and outs of buying and selling diamonds.

	Precious Objects: A Story of Diamonds, Family, and a Way of Life List Price: $24.00 Sale Price: $13.40
	In the middle of New York City lies a neighborhood where all secrets are valuable, all assets are liquid, and all deals are sealed with a blessing rather than a contract. Welcome to the diamond district...

Dazzling Diamond: The Beginner's Guide To The Wonderful World Of Diamonds and Diamond Rings List Price: $0.99

[ATTENTION: The Price of this Ebook will increase to $2.99 soon!]In ”Dazzling Diamond: The Beginner's Guide To The Wonderful World Of Diamonds and Diamond Rings” you will not find thousands of pages of irrelevant information so if you are looking for a long book with filler and fluff – please Don't Buy This Book!If however you are looking for a a LASER-focused edition with only the very best Hand-Picked information on diamonds you have just stumbled upon the definitive detailed guide...

	Blood Diamonds: Tracing the Deadly Path of the World's Most Precious Stones List Price: $16.95 Sale Price: $5.80
	First discovered in 1930, the diamonds of Sierra Leone have funded one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. These "blood diamonds" are smuggled out of West Africa and sold to legitimate diamond merchants in London, Antwerp, and New York, often with the complicity of the international diamond industry...