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Explaining Carat Weight
And now we know why women like diamonds and
chocolate!
When you ask someone
what they want in a diamond, usually the first thing they'll say
is big. So let's talk first about carat weight.
What is a carat?
We already know it's a measure of weight, not size, but it's also
a word with a fascinating history. Carat is derived from carob,
the bean that's often used as a chocolate substitute. Carob trees
grow in the Mediterranean region, and in ancient times a diamond
of one carat, or carob, was equal in weight to a single bean, or
seed, of the carob tree. In the Far East, rice was used — four
grains equaled one carob bean.
Eventually the carat was standardized at 200 milligrams
(1/5 of a gram), and the grain was standardized at 50 milligrams.
Sometimes you will hear a diamond dealer refer to a one-carat diamond
as a four-grainer. Diamond weights are also referred to in points.
One carat equals 100 points, so a 75-point diamond would weigh 3/4
of one carat. (It's not a diamond with 75 points on it, as some
people think!)
THE
MAGICAL ONE CARAT
You've no doubt
heard or seen the marketing slogans, "A diamond is forever;"
"Say you'd marry her all over again with a diamond anniversary
ring;" and "A one carat diamond is one in a million."
These all come from ad campaigns by DeBeers, the world's largest
diamond conglomerate. Through their clever marketing they have established
the one-carat diamond as the minimum size to buy. That's one reason
for the substantial price jump when a diamond reaches one carat.
Another reason is that a good one-carat diamond is one in a million.
But don't be swayed by advertising. There's no magic in size, and
the average diamond purchased in the U.S. is 38 points — just
over 1/3 of a carat.
by Fred Cuellar,
author of the best-selling book "How to Buy a Diamond." More questions?
Ask the Diamond Guy®
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