Carat Weight

Understanding Diamond Carat Weight: A Guide

At Stienhardt & Stones, we believe that each diamond has its own brilliance and narrative that defines its worth including its carat weight besides the obvious beauty. It doesn’t matter whether you are buying a diamond for an engagement ring or any other timeless jewelry; one has to appreciate carat weight for one to make the right choice.
Display of various diamond sizes with corresponding carat weights and millimeter measurements, ranging from .25 CT to 2 CT+.

What is Diamond Carat weight?

A carat weight determines the physical weight of a diamond and does not parametrize its dimension. One carat is 0.2 grams, which is approximately the weight of a standard paper clip. In ‘points’ measurement, one carat also equals 100 points. A 0.50 carats diamond for instance would be 50 points.

Carat weight does alter the size of the diamond in relation with other factors such as center diamond cut and shape which will also determine the size of the diamond.
A round and an oval diamond gleaming amidst rough blue stones held by tweezers against a dark background.

How Does Carat Weight Affect a Diamond?

1. Appearance:

  • Larger weight categories almost always look good and are able to get all attention focused on them.
  • The cut quality on the other hand, to an extent, affects the visual size and brilliance of the diamond and can make smaller diamonds look bigger and vice versa.

2. Price:

The two cannot be separated because the price of the diamond rises at an exponential rate relating to carat as the size and therefore the rarity increases with the size for instance, a 2.00 ct diamond will fetch a price much higher than the combined price of two 1.00 ct diamonds. Price changes considerably between carat weights.

3. Settings and Style:

It is common for larger diamonds to necessitate stronger settings while smaller diamonds are more conducive to complex designs or settings with many small stones that fit together.

How to Choose the Right Diamond Clarity

1. Consider Your Budget

Carat weight is one of the most destructive parameters on price. To give a more prudent push, one could opt for diamonds, which are a more intelligent purchase, just than the highly popular ones. For instance, a weight of 0.90 rather than the usual 1 carat. These diamonds are nearly the same but cost less price.

2. Match the Setting

Certain settings are capable of making smaller diamonds appear larger than would normally be possible. For instance, a halo setting can make a 0.5ct diamond appear like it is closer to 1ct.

3. Lifestyle Considerations

Wearing larger sized diamonds, for example, is more likely to cause problems such as catching on clothing or discomfort. The weight should be a compromise between the decorative and practical sides.

4. Individual Taste on Top

There are those who, for instance, seek larger sizes, whereas others would go for better quality regardless. At Stienhardt and Stones, you are assured of finding a Diamond range within your designs.

Explore Diamond Carat Weight at Stienhardt & Stones

Sate the needs and the demand of all the events and peoples taste, different diamond carat weights vary in our collection. From simple and elegant silhouettes to statement wearing pieces, our diamonds are picked and sourced from reputable suppliers based on the desired quality and brilliance.

Classic looking solitaire, or creative multi stone ring, whatever piece you dream of, Stienhardt & Stones will help you to find a diamond which will suit that design.

Let one of them be your perfect diamond! – Browse our collection or contact our team for professional assistance.
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FAQ's

The term carat describes the weight of a diamond rather than its size. A carat is equivalent to 0.2gm or 100 points. Although carat weight plays a role in the sizing of a diamond, it is also influenced by the cut and shape of the diamond.

Not really. Even though most people consider carat-weighted diamonds to be of higher value than other diamonds, the shape, or cut, and the color, and clarity of the diamonds are all vital components of a diamond’s beauty and splendor.

For an average size woman, the most common carat weight selected for an engagement ring is usually within 0.75 carats to 1.5 carats range depending on individual taste and the state of finances.

Diamond prices increase exponentially with the carat weight due to economic reasons since larger diamonds are rarer. For instance, a 2 carat diamond stone will cost way more than 2 one-carat diamonds put together.

Not always. The way a diamond is cut and the diamond shape makes a lot of difference on how big it looks. For instance:

  • A diamond that is cut well may appear bigger than one with the same weight but has been poorly cut.
  • The ovule, marquise, and pear shapes tend to look bigger than the round diamonds of the same weight.

The carat weight is further divided into 100 points. For instance:

  • 1 carat = 100 points
  • 0.50 carats = 50 points (half-carat diamond is also referred to this)

  • Select Super Grade Cuts of diamonds, because they have high sparkle and brilliance.
  • Prefer long shapes like oval, marquise and pear (instead of round).
  • Choose decorative settings such as halos or thinner bands to enhance the illusion of center stone size.

Certainly, there is a financial incentive for purchasing diamonds with slightly lower weights than the popular weights of 0.90 carats or 1.90 carats. The difference in appearance is the same, however, as these diamonds look very close to a full carat diamond which one could not tell apart even a hundred percent close up.

Comfort and weight are also affected as larger stones may, at times, feel weightier and hence, require stronger prongs. Consider how active you are when selecting the carat weight for the rings that will be on your hands every day.

Sure! The sparkle of a diamond is more attributed to the cut of a diamond than the weight of the diamond. The cut quality can even make small diamonds look beautiful and striking.