What is A Diamond Worth? How Carat Weight Adds Value and CostThe larger and heavier the diamond’s carat weight, the more it is worth -- and the more it is worth, the higher the value and price in accordance with the rarity of the increased size. Diamonds are measured very precisely by weight using a unit of measure called carats. (Do not confuse this type of carat with the carat (or karat) abbreviated K and used to indicate the purity of gold). The heavier the gem quality stone, the more rare and the more valuable it is. And the price per carat increases as the weight of the stone goes up. A small difference in carat weight can mean a huge difference in price. The price per carat goes up fast when the weight of the diamond increases. Larger stones are far more rare than smaller stones. This rarity makes larger stones extra valuable on a per carat basis. A two carat gem will cost more than twice the price of a one carat gem – due to its increased rarity it will cost more per carat. Note: A Carat is Divided into 100 Points (Pt.)Diamonds are weighed very precisely because weight is so important to their value. Each carat is divided into hundredths called points (abbreviated as “pt.”) and points are often used to describe stones under a carat. For example, a stone weighing three fourths of a carat could be described as 75 points or 0.75 ct.Diamond Price Tip: Price Jumps and Carat WeightDiamond prices reflect rarity, and the larger or heavier a stone the more rare it is. The exact weight is important because slight differences can cause big price shifts. There is a huge price difference between a stone weighing 0.98 ct. or less than a carat, and one weighing 1.01 ct or over a carat. The one carat mark is a significant price point.Diamond Price Quote and Total Carat WeightFor a piece of jewelry with more than one diamond on it, such as a diamond tennis bracelet, the phrase “total carat weight” means the carat weight of all the stones on the piece added together. For example, a three stone diamond ring might have a center stone weighing 0.95 ct. or just under a carat, plus two 0.40 ct. accent diamonds. This ring would have a total carat weight of 1.75 cts. or one and three quarter carats, meaning the carat weight of all three diamonds combined.Pricing: Total Carat Weight vs. a Single Diamond PriceFor this example, we’ll compare two rings with stones of similar quality. One ring has the three stones as described above with a total carat weight of 1.75 carats. The second ring has a single diamond weighing 1.75 carats all by itself. The ring with the three diamonds will cost less than the ring with the single stone – even though the diamonds weigh the same. The reason for this is the relative rarity of the larger stone makes it far more valuable.What is Carat Weight Converted to Grams or Ounces?The international unit of measure used for diamond weight is metric carats with the abbreviation ct. A carat is not very heavy: it is the equivalent of only 0.200 gram or about 0.007 ounce or in other words it takes about 142 carats to weigh about an ounce!Using Carat Weight to Value or Price a DiamondOverall, carat weight is the simplest to measure of the four C’s or value factors (cut, clarity, color and carat weight) that go into pricing a diamond. In some cases, the size or number of carats may be more important to you in making your decision as to which diamond to purchase. In other cases, you may want to decrease the weight of the diamond as a trade-off for obtaining better clarity or a higher color grade, or even to buy a diamond that is smaller but has a better cut. You might even want to go a tiny bit lighter just to get below a certain price point and thus drop the price per carat substantially. This is a personal choice entirely up to you – and your budget!
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