There are popular diamond carat weights, but unfortunately, they are not among the cheapest. When making an expensive purchase, it always makes sense to look for ways to save some money without buying a low-quality stone. This guide will help you pick the right carat for your diamond and end up with a good stone at a reasonable price.
Carats and Diamond Prices
Carat weight is one of the most important determinants of diamond prices.
A carat is a unit to measure mass and one carat is equal to 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). In terms of gemstone weight, there is also a term “point”. A point is one-hundredth of a carat and 100 points are equal to 1 carat.
An increase in carat weight results in a disproportionate increase in the price of the stone. For example, a 2-carat diamond will never be twice as expensive as 1 carat stone. The actual difference in price is likely to be three or four times.
How Can I Save Money on Carat Weight?
The most popular carat sizes are round numbers (1ct, 2ct, 3ct, etc.) and their fractions (0.25ct, 0.50ct, 0.75ct, 1.50ct, etc.).
It’s important to know these in-demand sizes since the easiest way to save money on carats is simply to buy a diamond of lower weight.
Many people are not happy that the lower carat diamond will be smaller and less visible, but if you buy a diamond that is just below one of the most popular carat weight by few points, no one will notice the actual difference.
Always keep in mind that in reality diamonds don’t come in exact carat weights. It’s really rare that you see a stone that has been cut to be exactly 1.00ct. It will most likely be 0.99ct or 1.03ct. However, when you ask for a one-carat diamond, you may be shown stones that are slightly above or below this mark.
Also remember that the higher the carat, the more the stone costs. Always inquire about the exact carat weight, and ask for carats that are slightly below the benchmark if you want to save some money.
Don’t Focus Blindly on Carats
Of course, carats are important, but they are not the only factor that determines a diamond’s appearance.
For example, the diamond’s cut is also very important for how big the stone looks and the way it reflects light.
That’s why, even if you have a diamond that is high in carat weight but has a poor cut, it may end up looking smaller and less sparkling than the smaller one with a good cut.
Cover image credit: Diamond Foundry
