So...What exactly is a Carat, Anyway? - Heart In Diamond
What is a Carat?
A carat is a unit of measurement equal to 0.2 grams. The term originates in ancient times, back when the seed of a carob tree was used as the standard measure of weight for precious stones. Of course, not every seed weighed the same–which lead to serious problems from time to time! In order to end such disputes and discrepancies, the carat was formally adopted into the metric system in 1913. And there are many different diamond types.
Other Diamond Grading Points
Carat is just one of the 4 C’s used to grade diamonds. The other three are:
- Cut refers to the proportion, symmetry, and polish of a diamond. The better a diamond´s cut, the more brilliant its shine.
- Color judges the transparency of classic diamonds, and the hue intensity of colored stones.
- Clarity measures a diamond’s freedom from imperfections known as inclusions, which can negatively affect a diamond´s natural tendency to reflect and scatter light.