Here's the deal when it comes to the Jewelry Industry and "
Light" Carat Weights...
Weight Fluctuates
Diamond Standards say that Diamond Weights CAN fluctuate in weight as long as they fall within a certain number of Points. They state that anything between .43 Points and .50 Points is considered a Half-Carat. (1/2 Carat - also called "Light-Half") 3/4 Carats are between .69 Points and .75 Points. One Carat Diamonds (Light-Carat) are given a range between .93 Points to 1.00 Points.
Now some Jewelers will vary ranges slightly, like calling a .42 Point Diamond a Half Carat Diamond, but generally it's around 7 Points or less difference.
Light or Light?
Keep in mind, when I'm talking about "Light" Carats, this has nothing to do with the way light reacts with the Diamonds to cause Brilliance and Sparkle. Light Carats are only referring to a Diamond that's smaller than what it really is called. But since it's still in the acceptable Diamond range, they can still be rounded up to the nearest Carat Weight and sold as that.
It's almost like people... When people ask us our weight, we don't say we're 177.14 lbs. We would normally just say 177, or most of us would actually say 175! See what I mean? We're used to rounding things up or down to simplify matters.
It makes it Easier for Everyone!
Is a .44 Point Diamond really a Half Carat? Nope! But chances are if you put it side by side with a true Half Carat Diamond, you'd never be able to see the difference.
A couple points one way or the other is not noticeable with the naked eye. A .44 Point Diamond will still look like a Half Carat Diamond. A .72 Point Diamond will still look like a 3/4 Carat. A .93 will still look like a One Carat Diamond.
So they look the same, but does it really benefit anyone? Certainly! And in a big way!
Cheaper Carats
Light Carats are cheaper than exact Carat Weight stones. Pricing a .93 Point Diamond and a 1.00 Carat Diamond of the same Color and Clarity, could save you hundreds of dollars!
So is it worth it?
I'd say YES! It won't look any different, but it will save you green bucks and that's a huge bonus when dealing with such expensive items.
Do note, that if your Fiancee says she wants a 1.00 Carat Diamond, she may get a little upset with you buying a .93 Point Diamond. You could tell her it's considered a One Carat, but this is one instance, where "considered" may not be a good thing.
But if you want to save money and still get a great Diamond with no visible difference. Look into "Light Carats".
Less in Weight, is definitely a Point worth taking!
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Copyright © 11-30-2008 Jewelry-Secrets.com
