CUT | COLOR | CLARITY | CARAT WEIGHT

Diamonds - CARAT WEIGHT

Diamond weight is stated in metric carats, abr. cts. One metric carat weigh is one fifth (0.200) of a gram; one once contains almost 142 carats. The metric carat is divided into 100 points, a point is one hundredth of a carat, think of points to a carat as pennies to a dollar. Over a carat diamond weights are usually express in carats and decimals. A diamond weighing 1.05ct. is described as a carat and five points. A diamond weighing under a carat is stated as points, 0.92ct would be described as ninety-two points. Don’t confuse the term carat with karat; Karat is a unit of measurement that describes the purity or fineness of gold.

Diamonds are the most durable of all gemstones.

Durability consists of three properties: Hardness, toughness and stability.

Hardness means resistance to scratching.

Toughness means resistance to breakage, chipping or cracking.

Stability describes how a diamond reacts or resists temperature change and chemicals. Diamonds are very stable they are invulnerable to all acids.

The cutting process generates a lot of heat but diamonds endure intact. More threatening situations would involve extreme temperature change which could cause thermal shock giving opportunity for a fracture to spread or create new fractures. Diamonds burn at about 1562 degrees (850 C).