What Carat Weight Diamond Is Right For You?

The Carat System

The carat is the standard unit of weight for diamonds and many other gemstones. It takes its name from the carob seed, which early gem traders used as counterweights in their balance scales because of their fairly uniform weight. Today, one carat equals 0.2 grams, about the same weight as a paperclip. This modern metric carat was adopted in the US in 1913. Other countries soon followed, and it is now a universal unit of measurement.

What You Need To Know

Some things to consider when choosing your carat size:

• To maximize your budget, consider buying a diamond that is a step below your ideal carat weight. For example, instead of a 2.0 carat diamond consider buying a 1.8 carat. Diamond prices often increase at the full- and half-carat weights. Choosing a diamond just below these weights usually costs less.
• A diamond's cut impacts how large (and how bright) the diamond will appear. For example, a diamond that has a tall, narrow cut will appear smaller than a well-proportioned diamond.
• Keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will appear. A 1.5-carat diamond solitaire will look much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 8!
• Don’t confuse carat with karat, as in “14 karat gold,” which refers to gold purity.