24/7

800-818-8386

education Diamond Education education The Dream Experience education Engagement Rings

DIAMOND CARAT REVIEW

Matt Ubertini GIA Gemologist At DreamStone

By Matt Ubertini
Staff Gemologist

Matt has over 18 years of experience working with top diamond manufacturers and jewelers in NYC’s Diamond District. With graduate gemologist degrees from the Gemological Institute of America and the International School of Gemology, Matt simplifies the complexities of diamonds using real-world insights.


The first thing to know about “carat” is that it refers to a diamond’s weight. While weight and size are related, they’re not always visually proportional. Why? Because a diamond’s carat weight can be distributed differently depending on the cut. For example, here are two cushion-cut diamonds, both weighing 1.01 carats, yet they look noticeably different in size:

 

5.90 x 5.47 mm

larger measurements

6.25 x 5.52 mm


What you see as the diamond’s “size” is actually its top view — the length and width in millimeters. This info is always listed in a lab grading report (Length x Width x Depth). For appearance, the first two measurements are most important.

That’s where smart shopping comes in. You can buy a diamond that looks larger than its carat weight suggests and save money. Why? Because carat weight has the biggest impact on price. Prices spike at every milestone: 0.50ct, 1.00ct, 1.50ct, etc.

Let’s flip perspectives and sit in the seller’s chair. Suppose a cutter buys a 2.00 carat rough. One cutting option yields a 1.00ct, H color, SI2 clarity diamond. Another option removes a bit more weight to eliminate a small inclusion, resulting in a 0.90ct, H color, SI1 clarity diamond. When they check the market, they see the 1.00ct stone sells for ~$4,700, while the 0.90ct sells for ~$4,000. Because size sells, they choose the 1.00ct even with lower clarity.

Now back to your side of the table: You can take advantage of this logic in reverse — and find higher clarity diamonds for less, just under each major weight milestone. These are known as “off sizes” and they’re a hidden gem in the diamond world.

Here are some real-world examples comparing size, quality, and pricing:

Excellent Cut

0.90 Carat, I Color, SI1 Clarity

Higher Color, Just Under A Carat

Price: $3,500

Very Good Cut

1.00 Carat, J Color, SI1 Clarity

Lower Color, at 1 Carat

Price: $4,400

Higher Clarity Example

1.29 Carat, G Color, VS2 Clarity

Higher Color & Higher Clarity

Price: $7,894

Lower Color Example

1.50 Carat, H Color, SI1 Clarity

Lower Color & Clarity at 1.50 Carat

Price: $7,875

1.70 Carat Diamond

1.70 Carat, F Color, VS1 Clarity

Just under 2 Carat

Price: $15,775

2 Carat Comparison

2.01 Carat, F Color, VS1 Clarity

Same Color & Clarity at 2 Carats

Price: $22,521

Some buyers simply want a 1.00ct, 2.00ct, or 3.00ct diamond — and there’s nothing wrong with that. Round numbers carry emotional and resale value. But if you’re open-minded, off sizes can give you more diamond for your dollar.



Search diamonds


FEATURED IN
THE DREAM TEAM
THE DREAM EXPERIENCE
Explore
ABOUT DREAMSTONE
POLICIES
Payment
Follow us
© 2023 DreamStone
Copyright all right reserved
facebook-script