See full version: What is the highest carat in diamond
Diamond Carat Weight Measures a Diamond's Apparent Size A metric “carat” is defined as 200 milligrams. Each carat is subdivided into 100 'points. ' This allows very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. A jeweler may describe the weight of a diamond below one carat by its 'points' alone. more
Also to know, how much is a 100 carat diamond worth? [links]
This flawless, 100-carat diamond sold for $22 million, including buyer's premium, at Sotheby's New York's Magnificent Jewels sale on April 21. It's one of only six diamonds over 100 carats to ever be sold at auction. here
Frederick Wells was 18 feet below the earth’s surface when he spotted a flash of starlight embedded in the wall just above him. His discovery was presented that same afternoon to Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the Transvaal provincial government, which presented the stone to Britain’s King Edward VII as a birthday gift. Worried that the diamond might be stolen in transit from Africa to London, Edward arranged to send a phony diamond aboard a steamer ship loaded with detectives as a diversionary tactic. While the decoy slowly made its way from Africa on the ship, the Cullinan was sent to England in a plain box. more
Edward entrusted the cutting of the Cullinan to Joseph Asscher, head of the Asscher Diamond Company of Amsterdam. Asscher, who had cut the famous Excelsior Diamond, a 971-carat diamond found in 1893, studied the stone for six months before attempting the cut. On his first attempt, the steel blade broke, with no effect on the diamond. On the second attempt, the diamond shattered exactly as planned; Asscher then fainted from nervous exhaustion. [links]
On January 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond is discovered during a routine inspection by the mine’s superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the “Cullinan,” it was the largest diamond ever found. here
The Cullinan was later cut into nine large stones and about 100 smaller ones, valued at millions of dollars all told. The largest stone is called the “Star of Africa I,” or “Cullinan I,” and at 530 carats, it is the largest-cut fine-quality colorless diamond in the world. The second largest stone, the “Star of Africa II” or “Cullinan II,” is 317 carats. Both of these stones, as well as the “Cullinan III,” are on display in the Tower of London with Britain’s other crown jewels; the Cullinan I is mounted in the British Sovereign’s Royal Scepter, while the Cullinan II sits in the Imperial State Crown.
Let’s look at a hypothetical case. Say certain diamonds from the 0.50 to 0.89-ct range sell for $1,000 a carat. Thus, a 0.88-ct diamond would cost $880 and a 0.89-ct diamond would cost $890. At the 0.90-ct marker, however, the price per carat will increase. Let’s say it jumps to $1,200 a carat. That means the 0.90-ct stone would cost $1,080 — much more than the $890 for the 0.89-ct stone, even though the two diamonds look roughly the same size. here
Here’s a rough estimate of the rarity of gem-quality diamonds by carat size: [links]
The first attempts to create more objective standards gave diamonds grades such as A, AA, AAA, and even AAA+. However, there was no consensus on how to classify diamonds into these groups. This state of affairs caused confusing among diamond buying consumers, as retailers used these grades to market their stones rather than describe them accurately.
Keep in mind that the larger the stone, the more obvious the other three Cs become. A large stone will make any deficiencies in color, inclusions, or cut more obvious. Therefore, buyers of large stones should understand how to evaluate color, clarity, and cut.
A French etching from 1725 depicting the court of the King of Golconda (a region in present-day India) and its fabled mines, which produced the famous Golconda diamonds, “gems of the first water.” Public Domain.
Almost one carat, 0.90 cts is a popular choice for those looking to save on a one-carat diamond. Unless someone’s measuring your diamond, they’ll never know that it’s below 1.00 ct, and the jump in pricing at the one-carat mark makes this diamond weight appealing to those looking for savings. However, since many consumers are opting for 0.90 cts, this has actually caused a small bump in price for diamonds in this range. Expect to spend around $3,000 to $4,000 for a well-cut round 0.90-ct diamond.
Find this Ring at James Allen The petite 1.5mm band makes this 0.34ct diamond stand out. © James Allen. Used with permission.
Diamond carat sizes shown on a hand. here
If you’re buying a diamond solitaire pendant as a gift, take a look at other necklaces to get a sense of what carat diamond looks best and also consider if this is a dress-up/dress-down or special occasion gift. [links]