All About Diamond Carats, Choosing Engagement Diamonds by Weight
In case you haven’t heard of the four “C’s”, guys, they are: Carat weight; Color; Clarity; and Cut. These are the four major points that need you need to be aware of when choosing an engagement diamond for your sweetheart. In this post I’m going to talk about the weightiest of the C’s: Diamond Carats.
Learning About Diamonds, One C at a Time
Most people when looking for a diamond start with carat which is the weight of the diamond. “I’d like the look at a one carat,” is commonly heard. And one carat is a nice size and a nice easy size. However there are things to know when you look for a diamond and weight is your first step. Read on.
Why it’s Called a Carat and Understanding Jeweler Jargon
Carat stems from the word “carob.” Imagine an ancient balance scale with a gemstone on one side and carob seeds on the other. Since each carab seed weighed the same, they were excellent for weighing purposes. Carat is abbreviated as ct. Today one carat weighs 0.2 grams.
Think of one carat as 100/100ths. So a .75ct diamond is 75/100ths of a carat, and also called a 3/4 carat diamond. And .25cts is 25/100ths of a carat or a quarter carat. It helps to know the various ways the weight is referred to. Jeweler’s might say, “Here’s a pretty half carater.” They mean it’s about a half carat.
What’s the Difference Between 1 Carat and 1 Carat Total Weight?
Total weight (TW.) refers to the combined weight of a number of smaller diamonds on a ring. So you could have a 1 carat (ct.) center diamond and .75cts Total Weight (TW.) of side diamonds.
The reason this is important to know, is that if you intend to get your girlfriend a one carat diamond and someone shows you a ring with lots of little diamonds and says, “it’s one carat,” it’s nice to know that they are referring to the total weight of all the diamonds on that ring. And not trying to fool you.
I have talked to guys who were crazy confused by this. Explaining this made their eyebrows go back to normal. One guy called a store to see if they had one carat engagement rings. The guy said, “we sure do and we have a special,” and named a very low price. My client went in and was shown a cluster of diamonds that was one carat in total. “Here’s the one carat diamond ring dude.” Yeah, No!
Luckily in addition to being a bunch of little diamonds which seemed wrong to him, they were very gray and cloudy. He showed me a picture. I congratulated him on not proposing with that cloudy awful ring.
How to Read the Diamond Ring’s Price Tag
So if the price tag on the engagement ring says; 1.12ct /.75cts.TW, it’s saying the center diamond weighs 1.12cts and the side diamonds weigh .75cts when weighed and added together. Whenever you see TW (total weight) know that this is an added up figure of multiple gems. TW never stands for a single gemstone.
A price tag that says 1.12ct/RB/.75cts TW RB/.35cts TW Bag would translate to 1.12ct Round Brilliant, your center gemstone, .75cts TW of Round Brilliant cut gemstones and .35cts. of Baguette cut gemstones.
Different jewelers use different abbreviations for different cut shapes. Ask how their abbreviation system works and the price tags will tell you a lot about each ring under consideration and will make it easier for you to compare each one realistically.
More Jeweler Talk, What Are Points?
Each carat is divided into 100 points. Thus, .50cts or a 1/2 carat, equals 50 points. A 3/4 carat size equals 75pts. So a Jeweler could write this about a half carat diamond: .50cts, meaning it is 50/100ths of a carat, but in conversation he’d say, “it’s a 50 pointer,” or “that’s a half carat” or she might say, “this is a half cararter.” It’s nice to know the talk, to better communicate with your jeweler.
Your jeweler may say, “this diamond that we’ll use on the side is 33 points.” The translation is this diamond is 33/100ths of a carat, or a third of a carat, or .33ct. They might also say, “this is a 33 pointer.”
The Price Per Carat and Why it Keeps You Guessing
The supply of diamonds is like a pyramid. At the bottom are the smaller diamonds. In other words there are a lot of smaller diamonds. As you move up the pyramid, the supply narrows and there are less diamonds available. The more scarce diamonds are the larger diamonds. Each aspect of a diamond in grading pushes that diamond into a certain pricing per carat. As I discuss later there are price jumps at 1ct, 2cts, 3cts, etc.
The factors that effect the price per carat are all four of the 4C’s. They are: Carat weight; Color; Clarity; and Cut. We focus in this blog on carat weight. I just wanted you to know that all four of the C’s come into play when pricing diamonds.
If you’re looking at a .50ct diamond and you say, “how much?” You might get the response, “this diamond is $3,000.00 per carat, or $1500.00.” You might be thinking, which one is the price?
Then a bit later you might be looking at a 1.10ct diamond and ask, “how much for this one?” Your jeweler might say, “Hmm, well this one is $7145,00 per carat,” they pull out a calculator and say, “this diamond costs $7860.00.” They smile. You cringe.
Why is the price of the diamond more? The last one he seemed to be discounting from $3,000.00 to $1500.00. That’s what happened right? And this one he mentioned a price of $7145.00 and then said it cost $7860.00. Kind of a crap sales pitch you might be thinking. What’s really happening is, your jeweler is doing that jeweler talk thing, where they forget that you just learned what a carat is. Sort of. You think you get it. To ask you now to take the leap to price per carat is asking a lot. I get it.
I’ll try not to bore you here. Because the scarcity of diamonds happens in ranges they price diamonds by the carat in ranges as well. So that .50ct diamond was in the $3,000.00 per carat range. Your jeweler multiplies the weight of your diamond by the price per carat that number crunchers in special places determine. I don’t figure out the price per carat of your diamond. The diamond market gods determine that this cut is more scarce and in demand, and that color is more common and less in demand. And they write it down. And we jewelers pay for the privilege of seeing that data.
So the fact that the .50ct diamond is less expensive in it price per carat than the 1.10ct diamond, tells you that there are more .50ct diamonds out there than there are 1.10ct diamonds.
Let’s say you see a .57ct and you like that one too. You ask, “is that also $3,000.00 per carat?” Your jeweler looks it up and says, “why yes. It is the same.” Then he points to another diamond nearby and says, “But this .65ct diamond is $3,200.00 per carat.”
Now that you are not confused by the concept of price per carat, can I just say that littler ones are way cheaper than bigger ones? And because of scarcity, a one carat diamond will be more than twice as much as a .50ct diamond.
Why Diamond Carats Total Weight, TW., is Different from Just Carats, When Buying
A one carat (1ct.) round brilliant cut diamond set in a simple four prong setting of medium quality, could cost you $5,000.00 to $6,000.00. That’s a ring with one diamond.
A one carat (1ct. TW.) round brilliant cut multi-diamond band ring might cost you $2000.00 to $3000.00. The smaller diamonds do not cost as much per carat as the larger single gem price.
Isn’t the Total Weight in my Girl’s Ring the Most Important Thing?
Nope! Just know that the center or largest diamond in the engagement ring is the most important diamond in the ring. Don’t get romanced by a multi-diamond 3ct. TW. mish mosh of little diamonds with the largest gemstone weighing in at .30cts.
That may sound impressive, but a 1 ct. diamond at the center always trumps a bunch of little diamonds.
This doesn’t mean that she doesn’t want some of those nice side diamonds, just that you need to start with a large central diamond as the priority, then go for your accent diamonds.
That Magic One Carat Size
Whole numbers are magic numbers. What do I mean? I mean that many girls want the diamond in their engagement ring to be at least 1ct in weight. They want to know—and be able to tell their friends—that the diamond in their engagement ring weighs at least one carat.
Not “just under a carat.” Not 95pts. But a full on carat—or more! Got it? Don’t ask me why. That’s just the way it is.
This “Perfect Size/Weight” Diamond Demand, Results in Some Pricing Shenanigans
A sizable price jump occurs at 1ct. Other big price jumps occur at 2cts, 3cts, 4cts, etc. A full 2ct diamond will set you back a lot more money than a 1.90ct diamond will.
The thing is, Jewelers and diamond cutters know all about this desire for full carats by women, too. They know Julie wants the one carat diamond. She doesn’t want the 95 pointer. She wants the full carat.
That’s why diamond cutters who cut too many diamonds in weights like .95, .98 and .99 change professions. That’s also why there are far fewer barely-under-1 ct. diamonds than there are over-1 ct. diamonds.
The Price You Pay for That Full Carat Diamond
It means that diamond cutters and then Jewelers, charge a premium for a one carat diamond. All other aspects being equal, you will pay considerably more for 1.02ct diamond than you will for a .92ct one.
Sometimes to get that magic one carat size diamond cutting shenanigans happen. In the picture above, on the right, the cutter added useless depth at the girdle. (The widest point). The cutter got the extra weight. Don’t be the customer that buys this dreadfully cut diamond, just because it’s the right weight.
So You Still Have Choices in Diamond Weight
This means that a 1.00ct. diamond with crappy color and OK clarity and with little sparkle and pizzazz might cost considerably more than a sparkly diamond with perfectly good cut, nice color, and excellent clarity that weighs .85cts.
And here’s the kicker, I bet you can’t tell which is bigger! OK, I exaggerate, but you get my point.
It Can’t Hurt to Ask
Armed with this information, talk to your Jeweler. Maybe he will bring out the fabulous .92ct diamond that he was reluctant to show you because it was just under a carat.
Is One Carat a Certain Size?
There are different cutting styles and faceting patterns for cutting diamonds. For this reason, diamond carats are not a guarantee of a certain size when you measure the diameter of a diamond.
What’s a Guy to Do, Go First For Diamond Carats or the Other C’s?
So…what do you do? Don’t settle for a crappy looking diamond—whatever the weight. Spend a few more dollars for something with great color, and cut that will still sparkle and shine and look good fifty years from now.
Can We Talk?
If at all possible, talk to your sweetie. (Free advice: Communication is the key to a good marriage!) She may be fine with the 92 pointer. Not all women have to have the full carat—especially if it means bankrupting the family.
Nobody can tell the difference between five or eight points of diamond weight, anyway—especially once set in a ring.
Why Certificates Matter
I recommend GIA, Gemological Institute of America diamond grading reports. The number is etched on the girdle of your graded diamond. You can use the weight on the report to compare with the diamond you are looking at. Sometimes diamonds get switched around accidentally. Verify that your diamond is what they say it is. Checking the weight is an easy first step.
Why is the Price Not on the Diamond Grading Report?
Diamond prices change. This report is about the diamond. All four of the C’s in thorough detail. Each diamond is like a snowflake. It is individual. The grading report details the differences that make your diamond special.
Once you buy that diamond, take your diamond grading report to your appraiser and they’ll figure out it’s value in today’s dollars. Diamond prices fluctuate depending on the demand, in your case for the weight, shape, color and clarity of your diamond. Then insure the engagement ring. I wrote about insuring diamonds.
You Can Always Trade Up in Diamond Carats the Future
Finally, lots of couples don’t have a lot of money when they’re first starting out and can’t afford a larger stone. Don’t worry. It’s all about the love…not the rock. Get something nice, but that you can afford.
Ten years down the line when you’re more established financially, you can always exchange the smaller diamond for a bigger one. Couples do this all the time.
Now you know a little about the weightiest “C”, diamond carats. You’re that much closer to being able to comfortably shop for an engagement diamond. Way to go!
Calla Gold
Diamond Seller and Educator
Also see my posts on:
Choosing diamonds by color:
Diamond color
Choosing diamonds by cut:
Choosing diamonds by clarity:
Love the 4 C’s! And so true it’s about the love not the rock! More pearls of wisdom from our fabulous Personal Jeweler, Calla Gold!
Appreciatively,
Lynn
Dr. Lynn K. Jones, Certified Personal and Executive Coach
http://www.lynnkjones.com
Lynn,
I’ve been putting off tackling the 4 “C”‘s. There is so much to it. I’m delighted that you’re finding it pleasing!
I will be doing each “C”, hopefully one a week. It’s hard to know where to stop because there is so much to know.
Your Fabulous Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I now dub this one of my favorite posts of yours. 1) I love etymology. Never knew that carat was derived from carob 2) Loved the explanation of TW vs C and the value of full carat denominations. For the record, I don’t care about the weight of my wedding and engagement ring stones. I’m the one to show the .92 pretty stone to. Lots of great info her Ms Calla Thang
Kymberly,
We must be separated at birth, I love words, etymology, making up new ones and like that.
I’m loving being your Ms. Calla Jewelry Thang. I don’t actually know what it means, but it sounds
fun.
Calla Gold
Calla Gold-great educational diamond information for young folks to think about. The couple should certainly communicate and realize that they can always trade up for a larger diamond in the future. No reason to go into too much debt.
Alison,
Thanks for your feedback. I’ll admit I’m not wearing the same little diamond I got married in. I outgrew it. It happens.
At the time I got married it was perfect and I wore it for many years before moving up. Well maybe not that many!
Calla Gold
I had never heard of Carat weight before, I mean to be thought about on its own. I’d heard of the 4 “C’s,” but wasn’t real clear on what they were and which one or two were the most important.
I’ll just say that in choosing my next diamond I’ll be calling Calla Gold Jewelry!
And now that I’ve read this I can talk about the weightiest “C” of them all, Carat weight.
Thank you I always learn so much from your blog posts!
Madeleine
Hi I have read most of this, but my ring has about 8 tiny diomonds out side and one bigger one in middle. I’m still lost about what the 2 stands for it doesn’t say ct after the 2. Is it meaning carat still even without ct after it? I don’t mean to sound dumb lol
Hi Tasha,
It sounds like the only dumb one around is the person who wrote the description on your ring. I’ll guess that the total weight of all the diamonds is 2 carats. Otherwise I don’t know what they’d be talking about. It is ideal for them to tell you the carat weight of your center gemstone and then the total weight in carats of your side gemstones.
Maybe they need to read my blog. lol
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Hi Calla,
I’m sharing this on my FB page. Great information for anyone looking to buy diamonds.
Hello Nancy,
That is very nice of you to share this information with your clients. I wanted to make the 4C’s information relatable and readable. I’m glad you like it.
Your Jeweler Friend,
Calla
I love that the word carat came from carobs as the counter weight…an interesting bit of history. Do you have to be specially trained to see color and clarity? Or can the lay person do that?
Hi Dani,
There are gemology courses at GIA, (Gemological Institute of America), and other institutions to teach one to identify gemstones with the help of specialized equipment. Interesting women do especially well at spotting the fine nuances between close color tones.
If a lay person has an excellent example of a gemstone and holds up another one next to it they can often pick the better of the two. But without the ideal color to hand, a lay person is safer not purchasing gems other than from reputable jewelers.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Great information Calla.I really appreciate your site.
Hello Aaron,
I appreciate your feedback.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I just brought a 2.32 ct ring is it real I paid like almost a 100.00 dollars for it. Also its Gold but I don’t want my girlfriend to walk around with a fake ring please I really need help
Hi Lakeshia,
I don’t understand your question. A 2.32ct in what gemstone? If it’s gold how can it cost $100.00. It sounds massively fake to me.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
How do you tell it a diamond is real
Hello Brandon,
If it’s loose lay it down over a line drawn on a piece of paper. If the line is visible it is not a diamond. If you are buying a diamond, the smartest way to go is to go to a reputable jeweler. And buy a certified diamond. It never hurts to get a second opinion within the time limit of your return window.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla