The
weight of a diamond is numerically
expressed in carats. Diamond
weight is subdivided further
into smaller units commonly
referred to as points. A point(s)
is a scale of weight that is
equal to .01 carat. A one carat
diamond is made up of 100 points.
The term point(s) does not refer
to the amount of facets or individual
flat surfaces a diamond possesses
as its definition is sometimes
incorrectly interpreted.
A diamond that weighs .50 carat
or 50 points would be considered
1/2 carat in size. A diamond
that weighs 1.00 carat or 100
points is considered a carat.
A two carat diamond would weigh
2.00 carats, 200 points or 400
milligrams.
It
is very important that one does
not relate the numerical values
of carat weight as a judgment
of a diamonds actual diameter
size. Because carat weight
is a numerical value of weight,
it is therefore possible for
a diamond with smaller diameter
to weigh the same or more than
a diamond with a larger diameter.
This is done by making the smaller
diamond deeper or thicker and
the diamond with the larger
diameter is made shallower or
thinner. See Diagram to the
right.
Because many people buying diamonds
today have the expertise to
identify a inferior cut diamond,
many of the diamonds sold on
the market today have inferior
cut. Diamond cutters have a
substantial financial incentive
not to remove any more weight
from the rough diamond crystal
than they feel is necessary
to sell the diamond. Because
cutters are able to deliver
a heavier diamond from a smaller
rough diamond crystal, he is
able sell the diamond for less
and make more profit. For example:
an ideal or very fine cut one
carat diamond will measure 6.4
to 6.5 millimeters. If
you were to measure the diameters
of most one carat diamonds on
the market today, you would
find most to be measure between
5.9 and 6.3 millimeters. These
inferior cut, �undersize
diamonds� would have only
the diameter of ideal cut or
fine cut diamonds that weighs
.75 to .99 carats. These diamonds
are not truly a one carat from
the standpoint of diameter and
acceptable brilliance.
You must also realize that a
degree of brilliance is scarified
when diamonds are produced with
inferior cut. Comparing a Ideal
cut or very fine cut diamond
to an inferior cut diamond is
similar to comparing a 100 watt
light to a 50 watt light. The
50 watt looks ok until it is
compared to the 100 watt light.
The diagram above illustrates
the path light takes through
a inferior and and ideal cut.
�Undersize
inferior cut diamonds� are
abundant in all size ranges
and are commonly sold with GIA,
EGL and IGI and other diamond
quality reports. Because
GIA, EGL, IGI and other gemological
laboratories do not assign a
overall cut grade, it is up
to the individual to know a
diamonds depth percentage, table
percentage, girdle thickness,
culet, polish, symmetry and
more. Please refer to detailed
information contained in the
previous page that describes
details of a properly cut diamond. |