Purchasing a diamond can be a challenging task. Many of us are not experienced to buy diamonds and it requires expert advice to select the best and the most suitable option in the market.
You must have come across the 4 C’s of a diamond that stands for cut, color, clarity and carat weight. Carat weight is one of the most important factors that may an influence on your ultimate purchase.
With carat being the most important factor, it is the most misunderstood as well. It actually refers to a diamond’s weight and not its size. The reason why diamond carat weight is the most important factor because it corresponds directly to the worth and value of piece of diamond.
Given the importance of carat weight, most jewelers know that most diamonds are being sold more often if they go beyond certain weight and sizes. Most of the time the diamonds are cut to retain as much rough weight compromising the quality and beauty. This results into customers buying the biggest stone they find. This is one of the silliest mistakes any buyer can make.
There is a general misconception that heavier the diamond, the larger it looks. In order to determine the carat weight of a diamond, you need to consider its cut as well. Here are some general buying tips you must take into account while considering carat weight:
- Calculate the distance across the top diameter of the diamond because this is how it will be viewed when set into a ring.
- Consider the diamond’s cut grade. A well cut diamond will look larger compared to other options.
- A small carat weight diamond will look larger with a higher cut grade whereas a larger carat weight diamond would look smaller with lower cut grade.
- Diamonds appear larger on smaller fingers.
These were some general tips that applies to all of them. Nevertheless, here are some variables that every purchaser must consider before finalizing the deal:
- Your budget will determine the carat weight you choose. Keep in mind that cost of diamond increases exponentially as the carat weight increases. You will feel this at 0.50 and 1.00 carat marks.
- Consider the purposes of your ring. The importance of occasion will help you determine the carat of a diamond.
- Each and everyone have different values. It totally depends on you how you want to spend your money. It is recommendable to start with small and upgrade to a larger stone but again it is up to your preference.
- It is better not to be too much concerned with point differences. Carat weight is evenly distributed across the stone so small size differences are not much visible to human’s naked eye. Instead of buying a 1.00 carat stone you can opt for one that lies between 0.92 and 0.98 to save a great deal of money.
These were some points you must take into account before purchasing a diamond. Even though it is a tough decision, consider this guide and other experts to get the best option for you.
