Everyone wants a 1ct (or more) diamond, right? It’s something I get asked about almost daily. My take?

Carat isn’t what you should be focused on. 

And here’s why:

The carat of a stone refers to the gem’s weight. It’s not the size of the gem, not in the way you would think. 

First of all, let’s use a 1ct round diamond as an example. You can get two different diamonds, that are both 1ct that are completely different sizes. 

One may be 4 mm in diameter, but 6mm deep (its weight is “hidden” beneath the stone where you won’t see it when set) OR you can have a diamond that is 7mm in diameter and only 3mm deep. 

They are both 1ct, but from the top when set in a ring will look very different from each other. 

Secondly: each gemstone has a different density. This means that, for example, a 1ct diamond will be smaller (in millimeters) than say a 1ct Quartz. Quartz aren’t as dense as diamonds, so in order to reach 1ct in weight, you’ll need one that is bigger in diameter. 

I feel it has been pushed on us over the years that to have a 1ct gem or more is the best thing. But what really matters is what your priority is in terms of what your piece of jewellery will look like. When deciding what you want, do some research into what different gem diameters look like in a piece of jewellery. 

Have any questions? I would be more than happy to answer them! 

Callen Jade XXX