"HOW TO BUY A DIAMOND WITHOUT GETTING RIPPED OFF"
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Carat |
Diamonds are weighed in “carats”.
Two diamonds each weighing 1 carat (1ct) can have very different values since the quality is still determined by color, clarity and cut.
Large diamonds are found relatively infrequently in nature. For example, less than one percent of all women will ever own a diamond weighing 1 carat or more.
Since the bigger the diamond the rarer it is, the cost of
a 2ct diamond with the same color, clarity and cut as a 1ct diamond will be more
than twice the price. In fact, for a D VS2, a 2ct is 3 times the price
of a 1ct and a 3ct is 7 times the price of a 1ct.
Carat-Weight.
The carat is the measure of weight for all gems. One metric carat equals one-fifth gram, 200 milligrams or 1/142 ounce.
One carat is divided into 100 points. For example, a three-quarter carat is 75 points, a 1.1/2 ct is 150 points.
The Federal Trade Commission guidelines require jewelers to use the term "carat" when describing diamond weight to their customers. So, to be correct, the 75 point stone is 0.75 carat and the 150 point stone becomes 1.50 carats. In the trade a quarter carat is sometimes referred to as a 1 grainer and a 1 carat as a 4 grainer.
