Carat Weight

Size does matter and Bigger the Better are expressions oft heard. In diamonds too, the one thing that people want is BIG.

A diamond’s weight is measured in carats. The history of the word carat is quite fascinating, and has its origins in the carob bean, which was often used as a chocolate substitute. Carob trees grow in the Mediterranean and in the olden days, a diamond of one carat, was equal in weight to a single bean of the carob tree. In the Far East, rice was used as a measure, wherein four grains equaled one carob bean.

Eventually, the carat was standardized at 200 milligrams (1/5 of a gram), and the grain was standardized at 50 milligrams. You may have very likely heard a diamond dealer call a one-carat diamond a four grainer. Also, one carat equals 100 points, just as in the decimal system.

Sometimes you will hear a diamond dealer refer to a one-carat diamond as a four-grainer. Diamond weights are also referred to in points, where one carat is equal to a 100 points, just as in the decimal system.

We all know and believe in the slogan, “Diamonds are forever.” A one-carat diamond engagement ring is considered to be one is a million. The DeBeers, which is the largest global diamond conglomerate markets, through its innovative as campaigns, that a one-carat diamond is indeed the minimum size to buy. That in itself constitutes one reason why there is a substantial price rise when the diamond weight touches the one carat mark.