Carat Expense Guide

Carat Expense Guide There are many factors to take into account when you are looking into buying a diamond, and the
carat weight is one of the most important. Within the diamond industry, carat weight is priced
through a number of factors, including the color and clarity as weighed against, and with,
various carat weights. All of this is published in the Rapaport Report, and diamond dealers use
this as a price guide for the per carat price for diamonds.

Ring Ring

Carat weight plays an important role in the pricing of your diamond, but it should not be the factor that outweighs all others. Each factor should be weighed alongside all others, but carat weight is the first that you can easily decrease in, without sacrificing the overall appearance of the diamond. In the end, the primary function of the diamond is an issue of aesthetics: you want the most beautiful diamond you can attain. It should be towards this goal that you assess all of the factors involved, in order to achieve the balance that will provide you with the diamond that will prove to be the perfect diamond for you.

Diamond Vase!

Another important point to be aware of is the factor of cut-off carat weights. These are also known as 'expense points' and having familiarity with them can not only save you money, but will also allow you to either reach or come close to the carat weight that you desire. Expense points refer to cut off points in carat weight where the cost can rise or decline exponentially. These points are at certain carat weights, such as the following: .50, .75, .90, 1, 1.5, 2 and so on. By staying just below these points, you can have a diamond that is negligibly less in weight, but notably less in expense. What this means is quite simple. If you are looking for a one-carat diamond, rather than choosing a diamond of one-carat or slightly larger choose a diamond that falls just below one carat, such as a .95 diamond. There will be no identifiable difference, especially once the diamond is set, and you could save a large amount of money.

Water Blues...

As you are deciding on your carat size, remember that the heavier diamonds are not necessarily better than smaller, less weighty diamonds. A smaller diamond with excellent cut, clarity and color will be far more impressive and arresting to the eye than a diamond with a large carat weight that has a poor cut, clarity and/or color. To illustrate the size factor further, think of what you would find more impressive in a car: a large, clunky Oldsmobile, or a small, sleek, Corvette? The same goes for diamonds. There are times when bigger is better, but unless you can afford to have all of the factors going up in relationship with the diamond's carat weight, you are better off choosing the cut, clarity and color of the diamond that you want, and then choosing the carat weight that you can afford.

Sapphire and Diamonds

The grain is the system of weight that was based on, simply enough, the wheat grain (or the barley grain in some ancient cultures). The grain was the equivalent of 1/4th of a carat, or, more simply, one carat equaled approximately 4 grains. From this use of the grain, you can see that the ancients understood the need for a quantifiable and standard system of weight. The tiny weight measurements involved with the grain further demonstrates their understanding of the need for weight that could accurately and consistently give a weight measurement for diamonds.

Glossy!!!

Another term of weight measurement that may be confusing is the term "Troy". The "Troy" is a measurement of weight that got its name from the French city of Troyes, which became an important trade city during the Middle Ages. The Troy unit of measurement was primarily used for precious metals, drugs and precious gems, such as diamonds. One Troy ounce is the equivalent of 31.1035 grams, or 480 grains.

Carat Equivalents

The following table will help to further illustrate the carat in comparison to other measurements of weight:
1 carat = 200 milligrams

1 carat = 1/5th gram

1 carat = 0.20 grams

1 carat = 100 points

1 carat = 4 grains Troy

1 carat = 0.007 ounce

141.7 carats = 1 ounce

Oceanic Blue

To place a carat next to a measurement scale most of us are familiar with, a carat is equivalent to approximately one seven thousandths of an ounce. This one relationship of two different types of weight measurement immediately demonstrates the small sizes that are being discussed when one is speaking of diamonds. To put a little more perspective on this, the largest rough diamond ever found, the Cullinan diamond from the Premier mine in South Africa, was an enormous 3,106 carats prior to cutting. This is a gigantic diamond, yet it is the equivalent of roughly three and a half pounds. Looking at it in such a light, you can see that even an enormous diamond, worth millions of dollars, is still fairly light in comparison to other precious commodities.

Colors of Life and...

"Points" is another term that you will hear to describe the weight of a diamond. The term "points" is used in the diamond industry to indicate diamond measurements that are lower than one carat. In the points measurement, one carat is divided into 100 points. Basically, if you are looking at a half-carat diamond, you may hear it being described as a 50-point diamond. Using the term '50 points' is simply another way of saying that the diamond is a 'half-carat' or 0.50 carats.

Blue's ma favorite color!

While it is important to be aware that the carat is the measurement of weight for diamonds, this does not provide a useful means of understanding carat weight in relation to other weights. It is simple to understand that a heavy diamond is not going to be heavy in relationship to most items that we are familiar with handling daily, but this doesn't give you a good feel for the weights that you will be dealing with when you are looking into diamonds. This is all the more reason to have a good understanding of the relationships between carat weight and how you can better identify the rough value of a diamond through sight and feel.

Untitleable!

It is the rarity of large diamond rough that is one of the primary reasons not all diamonds are ideal cut, as diamond cutters use the maintenance of carat weight as their primary motivation when cutting a diamond, and the ideal cut round is extremely wasteful. It is also useful to note that due to the effect of traveled light distance on diamonds, larger diamonds can often appear to be more brilliant than smaller stones. This is due to the greater prismatic effect resulting from the additional distance the light has to travel within the diamond.

Diamond in Rose

The exponential rise of the per-carat price in the diamond is a result of the fact that the rough for the heavier diamonds is rarer than the rough for smaller diamonds. Due to this, the heavier a diamond is, the exponentially greater the per-carat price will be. The aforementioned one-carat diamond might be priced at $7500 per-carat, whereas the comparable two-carat diamond could be $10000 a carat, or $20000 for the whole diamond. Meanwhile, a three-carat diamond of comparable characteristics could have a $15000 per carat price or a total carat weight price of $45000 for the entire diamond. It is for this reason that oftentimes if you are looking for a large total carat weight for the diamond piece, such as a diamond engagement ring, the best choice might be to have a multiple stone setting, as each stone has its own per-carat price.

Ruby Diamonds!

Be also aware that while a diamond is priced in great part based on its carat weight, it is not simply priced on the whole diamond weight. Diamonds are priced on a per-carat pricing system. This means that if a diamond is 3 carats, the cost of the diamond is based on the cost of each carat in the diamond added together, also known as the total carat weight. The cost per-carat is not stationary as you go up in carat size either. For example, if a one-carat diamond were priced at $7500 a carat, its total carat price would be $7500. One might think that a comparable diamond of two carats, with all other factors being equal, would also be $7500 per carat, with the total carat price being $15000. This is not the case. A diamond's per-carat price goes up exponentially based on the carat cost points on the diamond pricing report.

Aren't these a Beauty!

It is important to be aware that while the term carat refers to a diamond's weight, it does not refer to its dimensions or shape. The carat weight of a diamond can have an effect on its dimensions and shape, but neither the dimensions nor the shape is wholly dependent on the carat weight. For example, you could find yourself looking at two diamonds that look equal in size as you look down upon them. This does not mean that they have the same carat weight, however. A diamond can be cut to look larger than it is, through increasing its diameter and decreasing its depth, or through other cut techniques. The term carat is used to reference the diamond's actual weight, nothing more and nothing less.

Carat

What is a Carat?

Basic information about the carat for diamonds, such as carat weight.
All precious commodities have a system for giving the weight of the items, and this is no different for precious gems such as diamonds. While the cut of a diamond arguably has the greatest impact on the overall desirability of a diamond, the carat has the heaviest impact on its pricing. This is due to the fact that carat refers to the actual weight of the diamond and it is a diamond's weight that is one of the primary indicators for how rare a diamond is. Simply stated, the heavier a diamond is, the more rare it will be and thus the more expense.

Ammolite Jewelry

Diamonds

Compressive Strength: Diamond was once thought to be the material most resistant to compression (the least compressible). It is the material that scientists use to create the greatest pressures when testing matter. However, the rare metal Osmium has recently been shown to be even less compressible (although it is not as hard as diamond). Diamond has a bulk modulus (reciprocal of compressibility) of 443 GigaPascals (GPa). The bulk modulus of the metal osmium has recently been found to be 476 GPa, about 7% greater than diamond. Diamond is a polymorph of
the element carbon. Graphite is another polymorph. The two share the same chemistry, carbon, but have very different structures and properties. Diamond is hard, Graphite is soft (the "lead" of a pencil). Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. Diamond is the ultimate abrasive, Graphite is a very good lubricant. Diamond is transparent, Graphite is opaque. Diamond crystallizes in the Isometric system and graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system. Somewhat of a surprise is that at surface temperatures and pressures, Graphite is the stable form of carbon. In fact, all diamonds at or near the surface of the Earth are currently undergoing a transformation into Graphite. This reaction, fortunately, is extremely slow.

Diamonds

Diamond is the ultimate gemstone, having few weaknesses and many strengths. It is well known that Diamond is the hardest substance found in nature, but few people realize that Diamond is four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum (sapphire and ruby). But even as hard as it is, it is not impervious. Diamond has four directions of cleavage, meaning that if it receives a sharp blow in one of these directions it will cleave, or split. A skilled diamond setter and/or jeweler will prevent any of these directions from being in a position to be struck while mounted in a jewelry piece. As a gemstone, Diamond's single flaw (perfect cleavage) is far outdistanced by the sum of its positive qualities. It has a broad color range, high refraction, high dispersion or fire, very low reactivity to chemicals, rarity, and of course, extreme hardness and durability.

Hardness: Diamond is a perfect "10", defining the top of the hardness
scale, and by absolute measures four times harder than sapphire (which
is #9 on that scale). Clarity: Diamond is transparent over a larger range of wavelengths
(from the ultraviolet into the far infrared) than is any other solid or
liquid substance - nothing else even comes close.Thermal Conductivity: Diamond conducts heat better than anything - five
times better than the second best element, Silver! Melting Point: Diamond has the highest melting point (3820 degrees
Kelvin)Lattice Density: The atoms of Diamond are packed closer together than
are the atoms of any other substance Tensile Strength: Diamond has the highest tensile strength of any
material, at 2.8 gigapascals. However, that does not quite translate
into the strongest rope or cable, as diamond has cleavage planes which
support crack propagation. The strongest ropes can likely be made from
another material, carbon nanotubes, as they should not suffer from the
effects of cracks and break. Still, if a long, thin, perfect crystal of
diamond could be manufactured, it would offer the highest possible
pulling strength (in a straight line - don't try to tie it in a knot!)

Amethyst

More Garnets

This is a classy solitaire in solid 14kt white gold. Looks great with
the simulated garnet. The garnet colored
gem is a synthetic dark red sapphire so it is a lot harder than a
natural garnet - makes a much better piece of jewelry.

Garnet

Beautiful simulated garnet pendant. 1.10 total carat size. They are
set in solid 14kt white and yellow gold. Simulated
garnet is much harder than a natural garnet which means it will be more
difficult to scratch.

This simulated garnet gem is positively lush in the solid 14kt yellow
gold filigree mounting. These gems are actually a synthetic sapphire
which is a lot harder and better for jewelry than genuine garnets. It
looks and feels so rich, but costs so little!

Hot PINK Sapphire!

These earrings have two of 3 gems that turned out Hot Pink. These gems are absolutely incredible HOT PINK!! I don't think you'll ever see anything like this anywhere. It's the most intense PINK I have ever seen!

Gemology and Jewelry

Gemology (or gemmology) is the science, art and profession of identifying and evaluating gemstones. It is considered a geoscience and a branch of mineralogy. Some jewelers are academically trained gemologists and are qualified to identify and evaluate gems. Recently, the demand for gemological services has grown, as increasing quantities of synthetic gems such as cubic zirconia and synthetic moissanite are manufactured. Gemologists perform such work as the identification of synthetic and natural gemstones, fracture-filled gemstones, and color-enhanced or treated natural gemstones.
A gemstone is a mineral, rock, or petrified material that when cut or faceted and polished is collectible or can be used in jewelry. Gemstones are basically categorized based on of their crystal structure, specific gravity, refractive index, other optical properties, and hardness.

Jewellery (or jewelry) is a personal ornament, such as a necklace, ring, or bracelet, made from jewels, precious metals or other substance. The word jewellery is derived from the word jewel, which was anglicised from the Old French "jouel" in around the 13th century. Further tracing leads back to the Latin word "jocale", meaning plaything. Jewellery is one of the oldest forms of body adornment; recently found 100,000 year-old Nassarius shells that were made into beads are thought to be the oldest known jewellery.
Jewellery is made out of almost every material known and has been made to adorn nearly every body part, from hairpins to toe rings and many more types of jewellery. While high-quality and artistic pieces are made with gemstones and precious metals, less-costly costume jewellery is made from less-valuable materials and is mass-produced.