Diamond Carat Weight

As with all precious stones, the weight – and therefore the size – of diamonds are expressed in carats. The carat originated as a natural unit of weight: the seeds of the carob tree. Diamonds were traditionally weighed against these seeds, however, the system was later standardized and one carat was fixed at 200 milligrams (1/5 of a gram).

One carat is divided into 100 “points” so that a diamond of 25 points is described as a quarter of a carat or 0.25 carats. Size is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond, though two diamonds of equal size can have unequal prices, depending on their quality. Diamonds of high quality can also be found in all size ranges.

Carat Weight has no bearing on a diamond’s colour or clarity. It does, however, have a significant impact on Cut.

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