When choosing a diamond for your engagement ring I find that there are typically two groups that people tend to fall in to. The first group is more interested in the size of the diamond and the other is more interested in the overall quality of the stone. Both groups have merit and in understanding which group you belong to there are a few things that you should know about how diamonds are graded and priced.
I will be educating you about each of these qualities and what you should be thinking about when you are looking to buy a diamond in four blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about diamonds and how to make a more educated purchase.
PART 1 – The Value of Weight
Possibly the most important aspect of a diamond and what will affect its price is the physical weight of the stone. The weight measurement system used for gem stones is its carat weight. Don’t confuse carat weight with the karat that defines the quality of a particular gold.
In simple terms a 1 carat diamond is divided into 100 points which is equivalent to .2 grams. With a round brilliant cut diamond the diameter of a 1carat diamond will be approximately 6.5mm. The diameter of a ½ carat diamond will be 5mm, a 1 ½ carat diamond’s diameter will be approximately 7.4mm and a 2 carat diamond will be approximately 8.1mm in diameter. Notice that a 2carat diamond weighs twice as much as a 1 carat and will cost a great deal more is only about 1.5mm larger in diameter.
Please contact me if I can be of any help in your engagement ring search.
CONTINUE THE SERIES: Part 2 – A Well Cut Diamond
