| How do we measure diamonds? | | | | sparkle brightly. |
| We measure diamonds using the term carat; this | | | | The cut is a very important aspect it can make a |
| term comes from the word carob. A carob is a | | | | diamond sparkle with all is glory or it can dull down |
| bean grown in the Mediterranean, if the stone | | | | its beauty. It can also have an impact on the |
| weight was the same as one carob bean then it | | | | durability of the stone as well, any cutting faults |
| was a 1 carob (or carat) diamond. Over time, this | | | | can make a diamond prone to breakage. A thin |
| weight, which was none to precise, was | | | | cut stone can also leak light from the rear making |
| standardized to 0.2 grams or 200 milligrams. In | | | | the stone loose some of its brilliance. |
| the far east where no such tree grew a diamond | | | | The number and size of inner flaws or "inclusions" |
| was measured in grains of rice if a diamond is | | | | govern the clarity of a diamond. These inner flaws |
| referred to as 4 grains this would equate to what | | | | were formed when the diamond was being made |
| we now know as a one caret stone. | | | | in the earth. To be considered a flawless diamond |
| When shopping for diamond jewellery that is | | | | there must be no surface as well as no inner |
| already set, it will be marked as CTW or carat | | | | flaws visible when viewed by a skilled gem stone |
| total weight. This does not tell you the individual | | | | grader using a 10-x magnifying eye glass |
| weights of the mounted stones. You will need to | | | | The caret, as we discussed earlier is the measure |
| pick the brains of the jeweller to find out the | | | | of weight and one carat equals 0.2 grams |
| carat weight of the largest stone in the setting, | | | | As you can see there is a lot more to diamonds |
| this will help you to put into context exactly what | | | | then just a pretty stone, they are the rarest and |
| you are buying. | | | | most beautiful of gemstones. We as a people |
| How to pick a diamond | | | | have put enormous value in this naturally forming |
| When selecting a diamond there are four things | | | | stone. These stones that were formed deep in |
| you need to understand, Known in the trade as | | | | the earth billions of years ago and transported by |
| the four C's. The criteria are colour, cut, clarity | | | | molten rock to the surface have a hold on us |
| and lastly carat. The colour is a reference to the | | | | that seems unbreakable. Men have died and |
| inclusion or absence of colour in white diamonds. | | | | fortunes have been made by the pursuit of this |
| The lack of colour is a positive aspect this allows | | | | wonderfully beautiful stone. |
| for maximum light to pass through making it | | | | |