The Actual Size of Diamond Carats

A diamond carat refers to a measurement of weight equal to 0.2 g. Although carats influence the size of diamonds, the cut of the diamond also affects the real and perceived size. Larger carat sizes of diamonds occur rarely in nature and are more expensive.

Size

The cut of a diamond determines its diameter, or how big it looks when viewed from above. For example, a deeply cut diamond has a smaller diameter, since more of the diamond is contained in the base. In addition, well-cut diamonds that sparkle appear larger than duller diamonds.

Tip

Diamonds slightly under popular carat weights often cost much less, even if they are virtually indistinguishable from the larger weight. For example, a 0.9 carat diamond will cost much less than a 1 carat diamond, but may look identical.

Misconceptions

The word carat is not related to the word karat, which is a measurement of the purity of gold. The word carat derives from the carob seed, which early diamond traders used as a measurement, according to Lumera Diamonds.

References

• Lumera Diamonds: Diamond Carat Size
• Blue Nile: Carat