Everything You Need to Know About Diamonds and Jewelry
The Weight of Diamonds
1. Diamonds are measured in carats.
2. One carat weighs 200 milligrams.
3. If a diamond is referred to as "four grains," it also means it is one carat.
4. The word "carat" comes from the Arabic word for carob.
5. Carob is a bean that grows on trees in the Mediterranean. In the past, diamonds were weighed like carob seeds.
6. One carob or one carat.
Beware When Shopping for Diamonds
1. Be cautious when buying diamonds that have already been set or mounted. If more than one diamond is used in a piece, the jewelry label will give the Carat Total Weight (CTW), which does not tell you the carat weight of each stone in the piece. You should ask the jeweler for the total weight in carats.
All About Diamond Clarity
1. It is important to know how diamond clarity is classified before purchasing one.
2. There are two main things to understand: diamonds with inclusions and blemishes, and those that are "eye-clean," meaning there are no visible inclusions or flaws to the naked eye.
3. From there, clarity is further categorized into subcategories.
Many people mistakenly believe that diamond clarity refers to its brilliance. This is not the case.
1. Clarity actually refers to the internal and external flaws of the diamond.
2. The best diamonds, of course, obtain a FL or IF grade - flawless or internally flawless - meaning they are perfect. Grade I-1, I-2, or I-3 means the diamond is imperfect, with I-3 being the worst.
3. Other grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which means the diamond is very, very slightly imperfect; VS1 and VS2, meaning the diamond is slightly imperfect; SI-1 and SI-2, meaning the diamond is slightly included.