Many people get all hung up on the carat size of a diamond and some people think that the larger the carat the larger the diamond but the really determination of the carat size is the weight of the stone. The term is used in the jewelry business to give an accurate weight and one carat is roughly equivalent to two hundred milligrams or under one quarter of an ounce. A further measurement within a carat is known by the term "points". Each carat contains one hundred points so a half carat diamond could also be called a 50 point stone.

In general diamonds become much more valuable the more they weigh, so the larger the carat the more expensive a stone is likely to be. Unlike some other items like gold for example, it isn't about total weight. Four one quarter carat diamonds are not worth anywhere near what a single one carat stone will be. Of course this is also assuming that the other qualities of the 4Cs such as clarity and color are about the same.

Another huge factor that influences the value of a diamond as well as the size is the cut of the stone. You can have two diamonds of exactly the same carat weight and if you have a diamond that is cut a bit flatter it may look much larger than one that has a deeper cut. The deeper cut stone however will make up for it by being much more brilliant. Don't merely go for size when choosing a diamond. You may have a stone that looks really large but if it is too flat it will not be as pretty and could even look cloudy.

It doesn't make any sense to sacrifice the qualities that make diamonds so special with their sparkle and the way they look in the light just to say you have a huge stone. If you sacrifice brilliance and clarity just to have a large rock that may very well be what it looks like on your finger, a large rock! It is far better to get a one carat diamond that has a good cut with great color and clarity than one that is just big whether it is for your personal enjoyment or as an investment.

Another way that a smaller stone can be made to appear much more valuable is by adding trillions or baguettes to the sides of the main stone. By doing this you can greatly enhance the value of a ring without the cost being overly exorbitant.