What Is a Diamond Carat?

Carat denotes the weight of a diamond, not the size. There is a misperception that a larger carat weight is always better than a smaller carat weight. While it’s true that a big rock can be a status symbol for some, carat weight is not related to sparkle. Beautiful sparkle is the result of a well-crafted cut. In fact, a high-carat weight diamond with a poor cut may look smaller than a diamond with a smaller-carat weight and a very good cut.

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More info on the diamond carat

Diamonds with higher carat weights are cut from larger rough crystals. These are invariably harder to source than small crystals. So, the relationship between carat weight and price depends on the rarity or availability of a rough crystal. Carat price is also a function of finding rough crystals with desirable colors, and internal and external characteristics that will positively influence clarity when the diamond is cut. These are other important factors of the 4 Cs that people investigating their diamond investment consider.

The Carat Chart

Carat weight can appear differently across different diamond shapes such as princess, pear, oval, cushion, marquise, emerald, heart, radiant, or round brilliant. A diamond may have a higher carat weight without appearing larger and two diamonds of the same carat weight can vary in size if one is cut deeper than the other. So as we’ve already noted, it is important to understand that carat weight does not necessarily denote size.

Sizes are shown for proportionality purposes only and do not denote size.