There is a saying among jewelers: “Diamonds are a woman's best friend. Beauty will fade, friends will betray, but they will still sparkle and cost unthinkably dearly. Indeed, diamonds can be called one of the most expensive stones in the world. Their price varies depending on the clarity, color and cut, but in any case it is very high. Below we will try to explain how much a 1 carat diamond costs.
A diamond is a faceted version of a diamond. Its weight is measured in units such as carats. This name comes from a type of tree whose seeds were used as a measure of weight in prehistoric times. At that time, the weight of this seed was considered a reference and was equal to 0.2 grams.
Diamonds are divided into three groups depending on their weight:
- large (from 1 carat);
- medium (from 0.3 to 0.99 carats);
- small (up to 0.29 carats).
A diamond carat is estimated by experts in different ways, depending on the type of stone. And if small ones are valued only for their weight, then when evaluating large stones, jewelers take into account such qualities as clarity and color.
Small diamonds, regardless of their shape, are called "melee" among jewelers - their weight should not exceed a quarter of a carat. Usually they are obtained when cutting parts of a large diamond. Stones of greater weight and size are called "me lange".
The cost of 1 carat diamond can vary from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands. In this case, one stone or several small ones are of great importance. A carat of a diamond that is set in the center of a piece of jewelry can cost ten times more than the same weight of small stones framing the center one.
The mass of diamonds is usually measured to one hundredth of a carat. All stones that have a weight below this bar are considered crumbs. To measure, jewelers use special carat scales, but you can always roughly determine the weight of a stone based on its diameter. The carat value of a diamond is calculated according to Tavernier's rule, where the value of a gemstone is equal to the product of the carat's base price and the square of the crystal's weight. So a 2 carat diamond will cost about 3 times more than a 1 carat stone. The progression of value from the weight of the diamond grows up to ten carats: a diamond of this size will be a hundred times more expensive than a 1 carat diamond of the same clarity. Stones over 25 carats always have their own names.
A couple of tips for those whogoing to buy diamond jewelry
Remember that the number of carats of a diamond is not the most important characteristic. It is always worth considering the clarity, color and cut quality of a diamond. So, for example, the cost of 1 carat of a diamond of E color and WS1 clarity will be about 2 times higher than that of a stone of SI1 clarity and H color.
Always remember that the total price of all the stones surrounding the main value of the jewelry is not equal to the cost of the large diamond in the center. For example, several dozen diamonds with a total weight of 1 carat will cost about $600, while one center stone of the same color, clarity and weight will cost the buyer more than $6,000. Always be careful and check with the jeweler what exactly the components of the product you are buying.
