Diamond Carats
Diamond carat is its weight, where one carat equals 200 milligrams. The term can be abbreviated as "ct" or "ct TW" which means carat total weight and is used when there are multiple diamonds used in a jewelry piece. Although all gemstones use carat to describe their weight, not all gemstones of the same size have the same carat. Some are heavier than others because they are more dense. Smaller diamonds that do not measure up to one carat use a point scale, such as 0.05 carats. Diamond carat weight is important because diamonds are valued in terms of price per carats. Although carat determines weight, which also determines value, a two carat diamond is not necessarily twice the price of a one carat diamond. Larger diamonds occur less frequently than smaller ones, hence, as they double or triple in weight, they increase in price exponentially. A diamond ring with many small diamonds on it will always be worth much less than a ring with a single but large diamond equaling the same total of carats. Although carat determines the size, a larger diamond does not necessarily equal a more expensive diamond because factors such as clarity and cut can affect value. In this way, it is quite possible and reasonable to find a diamond within any price range at practically any size. Some jewelers might set weight tolerances for their diamonds. This means that the carat weight on the tags of their jewelry is approximate. This should always be disclosed to the customer. To determine the exact weight of a diamond, it is important to have it removed from it's setting before weighing.