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Key Points
- Carat is specifically a measure of a diamond's weight, and by itself may not accurately reflect a diamond's size.
- We recommend you evaluate diamond size by viewing it from the top because that is how diamonds are presented when set into a ring.
To understand diamond size, carat weight should be considered in conjunction with two other criteria:
– Distance in millimeters across the top of the diamond.
– Diamond's cut grade.
Diamond Carat Size Chart
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As the name suggests, carat weight specifically refers to a diamond's weight. However, much as a person's weight does not necessarily correlate with height, carat weight, by itself, may not accurately reflect a diamond's size. To gain a precise understanding of diamond size, Blue Nile recommends considering carat weight with two other characteristics: 1) the distance across the top of the diamond measured in millimeters, and 2) the diamond's cut grade.
It is important to measure the distance across the top of the diamond as this is how we view a stone when set into a ring.
A diamond's cut grade should also be considered because, as we noted in the cut grade section, when a diamond is cut with the proper proportions, the maximum amount of light (or sparkle) is returned out of the top of the diamond. Thus, when a diamond is well cut, the light reflected out of the top makes it appear larger. In addition, much of the weight of a poorly cut diamond, for example, may be "hidden" in the base of the diamond, making the diamond appear smaller than its carat weight would imply.
It is therefore possible to have a diamond of a lower carat weight, but higher cut grade, that appears larger than a diamond with a larger carat weight, but poor cut.
Once you've selected your cut, color, and clarity grade, it's easy to determine the carat weight of diamond that will fit within your budget.
Much as there are 100 pennies in a dollar, a one-carat diamond is comprised of 100 points. Hence, 50 points is equal to 1/2-carat, and so on.
What Carat Weight Is Right For Me?
To choose the best carat weight of diamond, consider the size of her finger, the size of your setting, and your budget.
If a large carat weight is important to you, yet you're working within a strict budget, consider a diamond with a good cut, SI1-SI2 clarity, and an I or J color grade.
Diamond prices jump at the full- and half-carat weights. Diamonds just below these weights cost significantly less, and, because carat weight is distributed across the entirety of the diamond, small size differences are almost impossible to detect.
Keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will appear. A 1.5-carat diamond solitaire looks much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 8.
Not all settings will fit all diamond carats or shapes. If you have already selected a setting, check the diamond specifications of your ring.
For even more help determining what size is best is to get an idea of what she is expecting. If you research carefully, you can get answers without even raising her suspicions.
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