RINOVA Diamond Guide
Carat Weight
Carat measures a diamond's weight — not its size. Because larger crystals are harder to grow and cut well, price climbs steeply as carat weight rises.
Weight, Not Size
Two diamonds of equal carat can look completely different sizes depending on shape and cut.
0.50ct1.00ct1.50ct2.00ct+
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Face-up size — elongated shapes such as oval, marquise and pear look noticeably larger than a round of the same weight, because more of their weight sits at the top.
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Cut quality — a deep, poorly cut stone hides its weight underneath, where nobody sees it. A well-cut one shows every bit of it.
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Magic sizes — price jumps at round numbers. A 0.90ct costs meaningfully less than a 1.00ct and the difference in width is about half a millimetre.
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Finger size changes everything — the same stone reads much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 9. Judge by proportion, not by number.
Bigger Isn't Always Better
A slightly smaller diamond with an excellent cut will outshine a larger, duller one every time — sparkle catches the eye long before size does. If your budget forces a choice, take the better cut.
A Practical Way to Decide
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Start with the setting — a delicate band suits up to about 1.5ct; heavier bands carry larger stones better.
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Print it — ask us for the exact millimetre measurements and print them at actual size. It beats guessing from a screen.
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Consider a halo — a halo of small stones can make a 1ct centre read like 1.5ct, for a fraction of the cost.
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See it live — we will hold the stone up on a video call, next to a ruler, before you commit.