Your Guide to Big Diamonds: From Carat and Girdle to Cut and Color
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From big diamonds weighing as much as 1.33 pounds to tiny diamonds that are as light as a feather, diamonds come in a huge range of sizes.
The biggest diamond in the world was discovered in 1905, coming in at 3,106 carats. This is enormous in comparison to the largest diamond found in 2021, which was a minute 378 carats in comparison. At the other end of the scale, the smallest diamonds in the world are as tiny as 0.001 carats and often grouped together to create a twinkling effect similar to that of the night sky.
In between these extremes, diamonds fall into many different sizes.
The size of a diamond is important for a number of reasons. It’s the first thing someone notices about jewelry, it can set the tone for the piece and it has a significant impact on the cost. Because of this, carefully considering whether you want a big diamond, a small diamond or something in between is one of the first steps we recommend you take when making memorial jewelry.
Creating a unique diamond to honor the memory of a loved one is a very meaningful act and because the extracted carbon can only be used once, it’s important you get your design right the first time.
We often find our customers have many questions when it comes to understanding diamond size. To help you find the answers you’re looking for and make the best choice for your piece of memorial jewelry, we’ve put together a guide to big diamonds.
From the definition of a big diamond to a look at the best colors and cuts for the size, this guide will help you to make the most of your big diamonds and create a spectacular piece of jewelry.
CARAT WEIGHT DETERMINES DIAMOND SIZE
Diamond weight is measured in carats. The heavier the diamond, the higher the carat and the lighter the diamond, the lower the carat. Although carat specifically measures diamond weight, it’s also a good indication of size.
Big diamonds tend to be heavier than small diamonds. Therefore high carat numbers suggest big diamonds and low carat numbers suggest small diamonds.
The term “carat” comes from the Arabic qirat, meaning “fruit of the carob tree”. Carob beans were a common means of weighing small quantities in the ancient world, as every carob bean weighed almost exactly the same as any other.
In 2021, we measure the weight of diamonds and carats slightly differently. The carat refers to the weight of the diamond, where each 0.1 carat is the equivalent of 0.02 grams or 0.0007 ounces.
Carat is one of the 4Cs of diamond grading, along with cut, color, and clarity. Out of all the 4C, it’s the most important indicator of the size of a diamond.
WHAT CARAT WEIGHTS DEFINE BIG DIAMONDS?
Diamonds are generally classified as small, medium, big and very big according to their carat weight. While the first three diamonds are fairly common, very big diamonds are incredibly rare.
Gemstones suitable for creating 2+ carat diamonds are only found in 1 out of every 5 million diamonds mined. Gems apt for making 3+ carat diamonds are even more extraordinary, appearing in only 1 out of every 15 million diamonds mined.
- Small diamonds weigh less than 0.5 carats.
- Medium diamonds weigh 0.5-0.75 carats.
- Big diamonds weigh 1-1.9 carats.
- Very big diamonds weigh 2+ carats.
Even though big diamonds are exceptionally rare in nature, you can request a large cremation diamond of up to 2.09 carats from Heart In Diamond.
DIAMOND SIZE IS ALSO SET BY GIRDLE WIDTH
Another way by which diamonds are commonly measured is according to their girdle width. The girdle of a diamond is the widest part of the gemstone. It lays between the top of the diamond (known as the crown) and the bottom of the diamond (known as the pavilion). It’s measured on a scale going from extremely thin to extremely thick.
As well as the size, the width of the girdle can also affect the quality of the diamond. A very thin girdle is prone to chipping when set in jewelry, resulting in a lower quality piece which can easily be damaged. A girdle of uneven thickness creates a bad cut that can negatively impact the amount of light the diamond reflects, affecting its color and how much it sparkles.
An extremely thick girdle may add to the overall weight (and therefore price) of the diamond, making it look smaller without adding any benefit as far as clarity, color, or cut is concerned.
Regardless of the carat size you choose for your diamond, when it comes to girdle width, a thin to medium diamond is best.
Girdle width isn’t just a way to measure mined diamonds — it also works for cremation diamonds. Big diamonds made from ashes also benefit from a thin to medium girdle width, because this size is ideal for setting in jewelry and for making the diamond look beautiful and well-proportioned.
DIAMETER AND CUT CAN INFLUENCE DIAMOND SIZE
Two diamonds with identical carat weights and girdle thicknesses can still look different if their diameter and cuts are distinct.
How you measure diameter differs according to the diamond cut. The diameter of round diamonds is measured from one horizontal side to the other. In diamonds which are not round, the diameter is expressed as a ratio of the length to the width. This ratio determines how fat, or big, the diamond looks.
For example, a 1 carat heart-cut diamond could have a ratio of 6.5mm x 6.5mm or a ratio of 6.15mm x 6.80 mm. The second diamond will appear fatter than the first, because its diameter is greater.
Cut refers to the shape of the final diamond. When creating a memorial diamond, a large rough diamond is grown from the extracted carbon. The diamond is then cut and polished, before being placed into a jewelry setting.
There are several different types of diamond cuts available. The most common are:
- Brilliant cut (round)
- Cushion cut
- Asscher cut
- Emerald cut
- Princess cut
- Oval cut
- Marquise cut
- Pear cut
- Radiant cut (square)
- Heart cut
The cut you choose for your diamond will affect how big or small it looks. Certain cuts can make your diamond look larger without costing you any more money. The fancier cut diamonds with the largest surface areas make diamonds look larger than more simple brilliant cuts.
The following cuts are best for making your diamond look large:
- Marquise
- Emerald
- Oval
- Pear
- Cushion
- Radiant
Just as some diamond cuts will make your diamond appear bigger, other cuts will minimize the size of big diamonds. For instance, a large heart-shaped diamond will appear smaller than a large oval diamond.
The cuts that minimize the perceived size of the diamond are as follows:
- Heart
- Brilliant
DIAMOND COLOR CAN ALSO AFFECT PERCEIVED SIZE
In the same way that diamond cut can make the gemstone look larger or smaller, the diamond color can also change the perceived size of a diamond.
The classic diamond most of us picture in our minds is a white diamond. This beautiful, colorless gem is often promoted as the ideal type of diamond. However, when you design a cremation diamond with Heart In Diamond, you have five colors to choose from: white, orange-yellow (also called a cognac diamond), yellow-green, blue, and red.
By being selective about the diamond color, you can effectively hide imperfections or create a more standout piece of jewelry.
While small flaws are relatively easy to spot in a large white diamond in a brilliant cut, they’re much more difficult to see when you opt for a yellow, orange or red diamond. By being careful about the color you choose, you can easily make your diamond look more spectacular.
A colored diamond can also make your gem stand out in any jewelry setting you choose. For example, a large round brilliant cut diamond in red or blue is much more eye-catching and alluring than a big white diamond. We’re so used to seeing white gemstones in everyday life that when we see big diamonds in different colors, they really stand out to us.
Another benefit to colored diamonds is that you can tailor your chosen color to represent the person the cremation jewelry is honoring. Hair color, eye color, or fur color (when creating a memorial diamond from a pet) can all help you choose a beautiful diamond color to symbolise someone you’ve lost.
THERE’S A LOT TO CONSIDER
A memorial diamond is a very personal and sentimental thing which takes a lot of time and love to create. If you decide to honor your loved one with a large cremation diamond, there are some important factors to take into consideration to give you the best results.
From choosing a suitable carat size and the most appropriate girdle to the right cut and the best color for your design, creating big diamonds for cremation jewelry is an artform. We’ve answered the most common questions about big diamonds in this guide, but if you need any more answers, please get in touch.