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| The last of the 4Cs is Carat Weight. A diamond's weight is the simplest of its characteristics to measure, and from the earliest times has been used to calculate one aspect of the value of a diamond. The carat is a unit of weight which derives from the carob seed. The pods of the carob, or locust tree, contain tiny seeds which are remarkably consistent in weight. These seeds were used by early gem traders to weigh their diamonds. | A 1 carat diamond used to equal the weight of a carob seed, but in today's terms the carat is a standard metric weight of 0.2 grams or 1/142 of a standard ounce. Each carat is divided into 100 points. So, for example, a quarter of a carat is 25 points, written as 0.25; a half a carat is 50 points, written as 0.50, and so on. It is easy to weigh on unmounted diamond, but once it is in a setting, it is only possible to estimate its weight by using special gauges and formulae. Remember, Carat Weight has no bearing on a diamond's cut, color or clarity. |
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