﻿ Diamond-Carat-Weight - DCLA Diamond Exchange


A carat is a measure of the diamond’s weight. It is common belief that term "carat" is derived from the "carob seed stems" on the assumption that the seeds had unusually low variability in mass.

1 carat is equal to 100 points which is equal to 0.2 grams. While it is common to associate carat with the size of the diamond, since a bigger diamond would logically weigh more, it is not an accurate measure of the size of the diamond.

In order to understand the value of a carat, consider the weight of the diamond relative to the millimeter measurements of the diamond (when viewed from above) and the diamond’s cut or proportion grade DCLA.

The cut and proportion grade comes into play because a well cut diamond will show the size when viewed from above because of the light reflected back to the eye. Conversely if a diamond is poorly cut, it might be heavier in the pavilion or girdle - increasing its carat weight - but would appear smaller when set. This is why it is incorrect to assume that the carat weight of a diamond reflects the visual size of the diamond.

Selecting the Correct Carat Weight:

That’s simple enough - You will need to be certain of the size of her finger, the size of the ring setting and how much you’re willing to spend.

  • The size of the finger is important because small fingers will accentuate a diamond making even a 1.5 carat diamond look much bigger than it is.
  • Not all diamonds fit every setting.  So, if you have for example selected the ring already, you might be limited by the diamond that would fit that setting. Don’t worry though - we’ll make sure that you get the best diamond for which ever setting you have chosen.
  • If the carat weight is important to you, but you are working within a strict budget, you could consider diamonds with a good cut and a colour close to "J". This way, you still get the diamond you want without compromising on quality. Remember - You are buying the diamond, so it’s important to remove all the uncertainty associated with such an important purchase. We want you to go home happy with your purchase.