Most consumers have heard about carats in relation to diamond jewellery. However, many do not know what exactly this refers to and some are labouring under misapprehensions.
For example, there is a misconception that the carat refers to diamonds‘ purity. This is not the case. When it comes to such gems, the word clarity is used to determine this. In contrast, carat refers to the weight of the object.
One carat is a small unit of measurement that is equal to 200 milligrams. It is important to bear in mind that this does not necessarily determine the size of the stone because different ways of cutting the precious items have an impact on their weight.
It is thought that the term carat actually comes from the word carob, as in carob seeds. Back in ancient times, this was how people used to measure the weight of diamonds on their scales, because this gave them a detailed and highly consistent way of comparing the weight of the stones.
Early in the 20th century, the measurement was standardised across the world and adapted to the metric system, providing a more certain and accurate means of categorising the items.
Of course, weight does increase the value of the objects but it is by no means the only factor that comes into play. The colour, cut and clarity of the stones are also vital.
So, when consumers are making their selection and attempting to determine the true worth of loose diamonds and pieces of jewellery, they should bear all four factors in mind.