Assigned as the birthstone for the month of April, the diamond holds the distinction of being the most popular gem for engagement and wedding rings. Man has long been fascinated by unusually large and beautiful diamonds and remains so. The weight of the diamond and the price per carat will determine its price. In essence, the greater the carat weight, the rarer and more expensive it is.
Bigger is not always better in determining the value of a diamond. Diamond evaluation uses universally accepted criteria known as the 4cs: carat weight, cut, color and clarity. Carat refers to the weight of a diamond and not to its size. It should not also be confused with “karat” which is a measure of gold purity.
History saw the surfacing and loses of many notable diamonds such as the 280-carat Great Mogul from India, the 199.6-carat Orlov which was included in the diamond treasury of the Soviet Union, the 44.5-carat Hope Diamond presently in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the 140.5-carat Regent Diamond which embellished the hilt of Napoleon’s sword and the Cullinan which originally weighed 3,106-carats before it was cut into smaller gems.
