“One-Carat Total Weight Diamond Pave Ring - $500!”  What do you think when you read this?  Given such a large amount of diamonds, does it sound like a good deal?

In the wholesale market, most gemstones are sold at a per-carat price, and weight is seen as a measure to arrive at the final price.  In the retail market, however, the reality is that weight is often used to give the consumer the impression of a low price.

In stones that are 1-carat size or larger, weight is an indication of size, and since size is related to rarity it makes sense to inform the consumer of the weight.  However, to state a total weight for jewelry that contains many small gemstones is meaningless.  The value of a piece that contains many small stones lies in something that cannot be found in larger gemstones—enjoyment of the collected sparkle of many gems, or of the flowing brilliance shown when they are set in a line.  To bring out such enjoyable beauty, thought is given to match the gemstones’ sizes and to create a balance of larger and smaller stones.  The total weight is simply a result of these considerations.

Making jewelry with a predetermined total weight of gemstones without consideration of their sizes in order to meet a price point can only result in diminished beauty.  Selling jewelry by total weight to give the impression of a low price deviates from the true nature of the jewelry business, which is to communicate beauty and to have the person using the jewelry feel comfortable while wearing it.