The Ashoka Diamond

The Ashoka Diamond comes in a variety of carats...but what exactly is a carat? Just like a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is comprised of 100 points. For example, a 25-point diamond weighs 0.25 carats. But two diamonds of equal weight can have exceedingly different monetary values depending on other factors, including cut, clarity, and color. You will find that most diamonds you encounter in fine jewelry weigh less than one carat.

Many people mistakenly think that a greater carat means a better, more attractive gem.  This is not always the case. It needs to also be symmetrical, well cut, and have few flaws to be truly outstanding. If you are concerned about size, you may be interested in choosing a gem with a fancy shape. These often appear larger than standard large gems.
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However, even a fraction of a carat can make a large difference in the cost or value of the diamond. Precision in crafting the diamond is crucial. In the diamond industry, weight is usually measured to the hundred thousandths of a carat, and then rounded to a hundredth of a carat.  Diamond weights more than one carat are displayed in carats and decimals. Don’t confuse carat with karat, as in “16K gold,” which refers to the purity of gold.

The carat, the international standard unit in weighing diamonds and gemstones, actually gets its name from the carob seed. In ancient Rome, these small seeds had a fairly uniform weight, so the first gem traders used them as counterweights in their balance scales. The modern metric carat, equal to 0.2 grams, was adopted by the United States in 1913 and every other country followed suit.  This is about the same weight as a standard paperclip. The Ashoka diamond comes in different carats, and housed in stunning jewelry that appeals to sophisticated diamond enthusiasts. 

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