Carat Weight

Carat refers to the weight of a diamond.  A carat equals 1/5 of a gram (or 1/142 of an ounce); each carat is further divided into points.  Each point represents 1/100th of a carat.  There is a definite relationship between the weight and the price of a diamond.

Weight may be the easiest of the four C's to gauge accurately. All that is required is a delicately calibrated scale capable of precisely weighing extremely small weights. Yet despite the ease of measurement and the relative unimportance of diamond weight, there are some facts you should understand about weight and price.

Carat Buying Tips

• As diamonds increase in size, their cost tends to increase exponentially rather than arithmetically.

• A one carat diamond can cost four or five times as much as a one-half carat stone of equal quality.

• As implied previously, weight does not always enhance the beauty of a diamond. In fact, when a stone is improperly cut, added weight may serve only to reduce its brilliance and cost you more money.

• A .75ct that is properly proportioned has the same diameter as the average 1.00ct diamond.

• Please consult one of Arthur's diamond experts to actually see and understand carat weight differences among diamonds.

How We Measure Carat  

At Arthur’s, we use the Mettler Toledo diamond scale, Swiss made for diamonds and other   precious stones. The Mettler Toledo scale will measure in carat and gram modes. It is also capable of weighing in pennyweight, troy ounces, ounces, grains, mommes, and taels.

 Learn more about the most visually brilliant diamond in the world…The Star 129.