Carat
The weight
The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats. Carat tells you more about the size of the diamond, expressed in the weight of the stone. One carat equals 0.2 grams or 100 points.
Carat here should not be confused with karat for gold, as in “18K gold,” which refers to the purity of the gold.
Just as a dollar is divided into 100 cents, one carat is divided into 100 points. Thus, a 50-point diamond weighs 0.50 carat. But two diamonds of the same weight can differ greatly in value, depending on their color, clarity, and cut.
Even a fraction of a carat can make a world of difference in price, and that is precisely why accuracy is so important. In the diamond industry, the weight of diamonds is measured to the hundredth or thousandth of a carat. Stones weighing more than one carat are indicated in carats with two decimal places.
Carob tree
Carat, the standard unit for the weight of diamonds and other gemstones, finds its origin in the seeds of the carob tree. In ancient times, gemstone traders used the seeds as counterweights on the scale because they had a fairly uniform weight. The modern metric carat, equal to 0.2 grams, was officially established in 1913 in the United States, and other countries soon followed. Today, 1 carat weighs the same all over the world.
More explanation about the 4Cs
Read more about color
Read more about clarity
Read more about the cut
The properties of a diamond
GASSAN adds a fifth C to this standard list: the C for Confidence. This way, with every diamond, you receive an internationally guaranteed certificate.
