JewelryOwn

Stone Weight

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What is minimum total carat weight?

Minimum total carat weight is the combined minimum carat weight of all the diamonds in a piece of jewelry. If a pair of diamond stud earrings has a total diamond weight of ½ carat, each earring in this pair would have an individual carat weight of ¼ carat. The actual diamond you purchase may weigh slightly more or less than the fractional weight specified. The Federal Trade Commission has strict guidelines about the range of carat weight that a fraction can represent. The chart below outlines acceptable ranges for carat weights expressed as fractions.

• ¼ carat total weight may be 0.21 to 0.29 carats
• ⅓ carat total weight may be 0.30 to 0.36 carats
• ½ carat total weight may be 0.45 to 0.59 carats
• ¾ carat total weight may be 0.70 to 0.84 carats
• 1 carat total weight may be 0.95 to 1.10 carats
• 1 ¼ carats total weight may be 1.20 to 1.29 carats
• 1 ½ carats total weight may be 1.45 to 1.55 carats
• 2 carats total weight may be 1.95 to 2.05 carats

What is a carat?

Carat is the unit of measurement used to describe the weight of diamonds. One carat is equal to 0.2 gram, or 0.007 ounces (avoirdupois). Five carats equals 1 gram, and 141.7 carats equals 1 ounce.

Carat weight is commonly expressed in points or fractions. There are 100 points in 1 carat. For instance, 0.33 carats is generally expressed as 33 points, or ⅓ of a carat.

Why is carat weight important?

The carat weight of a diamond is a major factor in its price, but the cut, color, and clarity will also affect the price greatly. A ½ carat (0.50 ct.) diamond solitaire with high color and clarity ratings may cost more than a ¾ carat (0.75 ct.) diamond solitaire with lower color and clarity ratings.

Because large diamonds are much rarer in nature than small ones, diamond value increases exponentially for certain thresholds of diamond carat weights. A 1 carat diamond will cost more than twice as much as a ½ carat diamond of comparable quality.

How does carat weight affect diamond size?

As diamond carat size increases, both the diameter and the depth of the diamond increase. This is why a 1 carat diamond (approximate 6.5mm diameter) does not look twice as wide as a ½ carat diamond (approximate 5mm diameter).

When choosing a diamond size, keep the size of the wearer in mind. Diamond studs with an individual diamond weight of ½ carat each may be more suitable on very small earlobes than diamond studs of 1 carat each. Likewise, a 1 carat solitaire will appear much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 8.

Setting

Diamonds can be set in a variety of different ways in order to create different jewelry styles:

• Prong Setting
  Prong-settings are most-popularly used in jewelry with either 4 or 6 prongs per setting. This type can be used on a variety of stone shapes and facets and allows for maximum exposure of the shape for brilliant light and sparkle.


• V Prong Setting
  A popular setting for princess-cut diamonds, it features a notch carved into each prong that squeezes against both sides of the stone for a secure hold.


• Bezel Setting
  This setting creates a modern look, securing the diamond deep inside the mounting. The surrounding metal is pushed over the edges of the stone to secure it in place. It can be used on any stone shape.


• Channel Setting
  Stones are aligned side by side within the grove the jewelry silhouette. Most often found with round, princess, emerald and baguette-shaped diamonds, they are secured by hammering the sides of the channel walls towards the stones.


• Pave Setting
  Small openings within the surface create a flush finish for diamonds on a pave setting. The stones are secured by overlapping gem spurs that create a bead-like finish over the stones.


• Tension Setting
  This modern setting uses the hardness of the metal to hold the stone on place. Small grooves are cut into the end of the metal for a secure grip.


• Bar Setting
  Stones are nestled in grooves between bars in this modern setting. A hammering allows the metal to overlap the stones, holding them in place.