The Four C's
Carat | Color | Cut
| Clarity
The
word "carat", (abbreviated 'ct') refers to the
weight of the diamond. It is a basic unit of measurement for
all gemstones and one carat equals 1/5th of a gram. A small
paperclip weighs about a carat.
It is important to understand that larger
diamonds are rarer than small diamonds, therefore they
are worth more. What can be confusing is that diamond pricing
isn't linear: for example, a one carat diamond, all other
factors being equal, is not twice as much as a half carat. It
is over 3.5 times the price!
Certain sizes such as 0.50ct, 0.75ct, 1.00ct
and 1.50ct, are psychologically important to consumers. Just
remember, larger diamonds cost more per carat than
smaller diamonds. Therefore there can be a large difference
between a 0.99ct diamond and a 1.00ct diamond, even though
they will visually look the same.
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