What is the maximum carat in a diamond?

A carat is a standard unit of weight for gemstones. 1 carat = 0,2 grams or 200 milligrams. The higher the carat, the more rare and valuable the diamond is. Just as a currency is divided into smaller units, a carat is divided into 100 points. For example, a half carat would weigh 0,50 carat (carat). A quarter carat would weigh 0,25 carats (carat) and so on. Does size matter? Large diamonds are rare in nature, so they are more valuable than smaller diamonds of the same color and clarity. This means that the price of a diamond will increase exponentially as the carat size of the diamond increases. Diamonds weighing one carat or more are so rare that they make up only 1% of all diamonds mined in the world. Many of the world’s largest diamonds have been found in South Africa. “South Africa has produced some of the largest, most valuable and memorable diamonds in the world and today maintains its position as a leading diamond producer,” says Yair Szymanski, Founder and CEO.

Can Szymanski answer the question that worries every woman?

However, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. While diamond size has the greatest impact on price, cut, color, and clarity affect the brilliance and beauty of a diamond. A diamond with a high carat weight but poor color, cut and clarity may, for example, be less valuable than a diamond with a lower carat weight but with exceptional color and clarity. Likewise, the price of two diamonds of the same carat weight could be significantly different if one had a higher cut, clarity, or color.

Carat weight can also be measured in grams

Although a diamond’s carat weight indicates its size, weight and size should not be confused: the size of a diamond also depends on its cut and shape. It is possible that two diamonds of the same carat weight may be different sizes. The proportions of each individual diamond (such as table and depth percentage) must be taken into account to determine its size. A shallow, wide-cut diamond may appear larger than a deeper-cut, narrower-cut diamond, but they may have the same carat weight. An elongated shape such as the Marquise tends to maximize carat weight as it makes the stone appear larger than a traditional round shape diamond of equal weight. The term “carat” comes from the seed of the carob tree. In ancient times, before scales and units of mass were invented, diamond traders compared the weight of a diamond to the weight of a carob seed. Each carob seed had the same weight, equal to 0,20 grams or 200 milligrams, and therefore determined the weight of the diamond. The carat metric was officially adopted in the United States in 1913, and other countries soon followed suit. Today, the carat is a universal metric unit and all countries follow the same measure. This means that when you buy a diamond, it will have the same carat weight around the world. Shimansky offers a wide range of diamond sizes to suit all your jewelry making needs, from larger diamonds weighing over a carat to the smallest micro-mounted diamonds and everything in between. Shimansky diamonds are cut to maximize their beauty and brilliance rather than to emphasize their size. This means that all Shimansky diamonds, no matter their size, are cut and polished with the same passion and attention to detail. Whatever the size of the diamond that captures your heart, you can be sure that it has been cut and polished with the utmost care and exhibits the maximum amount of fire, brilliance and sparkle.

It is very important to choose the correct carat weight

When choosing a diamond size for an engagement ring, it is important to consider the wearer’s ring finger. A long, thin ring finger will make the diamond appear larger, while a shorter finger may make it appear smaller. Likewise, the diamond setting can also affect the appearance of the diamond’s size. A delicate setting increases the size and visibility of the diamond, while a thicker setting can make the diamond appear smaller. While it is important to take these factors into account when choosing a diamond size, it should be remembered that they only affect the appearance of the diamond size; they do not change the carat weight in any way. The carat weight of a certified diamond is indicated on the accompanying certificate from GIA, EGL or SGL (certifying its authenticity). Be sure to ask the seller for a diamond certificate when viewing a diamond.
GIA DIAMOND GRADING REPORT ALWAYS SHOW CARAT WEIGHT. Equally important to the cut, color, clarity and weight of a diamond is the 5th C – Confidence. A diamond is a cut diamond. The processing of the stone is intended not only to give the jewel an elegant shape, but also to reveal its light properties: it is the correct cut that helps the diamond sparkle with brilliant flashes of light. Initially, the stones were only polished, so they retained their natural geometry – large diamonds most often have the shape of an octahedron or dodecahedron. Gradually, with the development of jewelry, by the second half of the 3th century, craftsmen learned to saw off the top part of the diamond: this is how the “platform” appeared. Another century later, in the 24th century, the lower part (“culet”) was undercut, and then the side edges (“facets”). As technical capabilities developed, cutting became more and more complex. In the XNUMXth century, the rose cut appeared: it was invented by Giovanni Carniole. The stone does not have an upper platform, the facets are symmetrical. The number of facets of such diamonds can be from XNUMX to XNUMX.

Rice. 1. Rose cut diamond shape

After the “roses”, it was time for the “Mazarin” cut: the diamonds received 34 facets.

Rice. 2. Mazarin diamond cut shape: top, side and bottom views

Diamonds received their more familiar form only in the middle of the 58th century. Venetian jeweler Vicenzo Peruzzi developed a cut that included XNUMX facets. The shape of the stone was rectangular or square, with rounded edges. Subsequently, it began to be called the “Old Main Cut”.

Rice. 3. Diamond cut “old main cut”

Number of facets in a classic cut diamond

The traditional round cut with 57 facets appeared only in the 24th century. It was invented by Marcel Tolkowsky, a scientist and jeweler. He mathematically calculated the cutting pattern for a round diamond, taking into account the refraction of light so that the stone received maximum brilliance. These diamonds have 33 facets on the bottom and 57 facets on the top of the stone. The 57-facet cut turned out to be so successful that it is still considered the gold standard in diamond cutting. That’s what it’s called – brilliant cut, Tolkovsky cut or Kr-XNUMX. With its help, you can process both large and small stones and unleash their full potential.

Rice. 4. Traditional diamond cut Kr-57

Striving for greater brilliance of stones, jewelers came up with new, more complex cutting methods. Some of the modern forms have more than 100 facets. But no matter how much jewelers would like to create the most sparkling diamond, the choice of shape and type of cut depends on the initial data of the diamond. When cutting a large sample, it may take a couple of months just to calculate the optimal shape.

Types of cuts and number of facets

• Round form. The most popular form of diamond cutting. Depending on the size of the original diamond, it can have 17, 57 or 85 facets.
• Oval shape. Traditionally, it has 57 sides.
• Marquise cut. Fantasy shape: elongated oval with pointed edges. Has 55 edges.
• Princess cut. Rectangular shape, the most popular among straight cut diamonds. Contains 65 edges.
• Asscher cut. Rectangular shape, a combination of radiant and emerald (step) cut. The number of facets depends on the size: 49, 57 or 75 faces.
• Emerald cut. Straight cut with steps. Has 65 edges.
• Pear cut. Has the shape of a drop. The number of facets is 65.
• Trilliant cut. A triangular diamond that most often has 52 facets. However, their number may be different – from 31 or more.
• Radiant cut. Rectangular or square wedge cut. Contains from 65 to 89 facets.
• Cushion cut. A square or rectangular diamond with rounded edges. As a rule, it has 64 sides.
• Heart cut. Fantasy form. Has 56-58 faces.

You can purchase diamonds of all cutting shapes, different weights and colors in our showroom. We work directly with manufacturers of precious stones, thanks to which we maintain optimal prices, “without mark-ups.” The quality of diamonds is confirmed by a certificate from the independent gemological center of Moscow State University. Come and choose your diamond!