what do you say?

[Cehrabehra]

When someone asks you what size your diamond is, what do you say? Do you say it is 1.486 or do you say 1.5 or do you say "over one" or "almost two" or what? Just curious... if I had bought a .98 carat I''d likely tell everyone it was a one carat even though it was .02 less just because it''s simple. by the same token if I''d bought a 1.05 I''d say "one carat" also. I''m just curious what you say, how specific you get... I have just been saying "over two" and one asked for specifics so I said "two point seven" and she said, "two point oh seven?" and so I clarified "two point seven one" and I felt like such a dork saying that "one" on the end lol

So... what is the real weight of your stone and what do you say in casual conversation?

 

[WTNLVR]

I just say 1.5 (it''s 1.55). I just round the number to the closest common number i.e. 1.25, 1.5 etc... The general public has no clue as to specifics in size. I also have never been asked about color or clarity, except by one inebriated party guest who had just bought a diamond for his fiance. Most people have no idea about diamonds at all. Sad really

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/18/2006 9:21:07 PM
Author: WTNLVR
I just say 1.5 (it''s 1.55). I just round the number to the closest common number i.e. 1.25, 1.5 etc... The general public has no clue as to specifics in size. I also have never been asked about color or clarity, except by one inebriated party guest who had just bought a diamond for his fiance. Most people have no idea about diamonds at all. Sad really

so for a 2.71 would you say 2.7 or 2 3/4? I swear what I really want to do is just wave my hand in a dismissive way and say oh it''s between two and three somewhere. LOL So far only jewelers have asked so I''ve given them pretty accurate numbers, but I *know* I''m not going to go around at parties adding the .01 ROFL!

 

[Lynn B]

If I''m in a jewelry store, I would be specific and say "2.36" -- HOPEFULLY they would know what I mean!!!

If I''m talking with a friend or aquaintence, I usually just say, "a little over 2" or sometimes, "a little under two-and-a-half".

Interesting question, though! (And oh, another interesting factoid... I have had dozens of people ask me how big it is, and where I got it... but never once has anyone ever asked what color or clarity it is! Well, except once in a jewelry store, one of the sales staff asked me if it was FLAWLESS!!!

Really!)

 

[mrssalvo]

I''d probably say a little over 2 and half..

 

[decodelighted]

To my mind asking carat weight is a lot like asking "Is that Vuitton bag current or last year's" or "What's your salary?" or "Are THOSE real?" (While glancing chest-ward)

TOO PERSONAL. INTRUSIVE. OVERLY NOSY.

How 'bout you throw 'em for a loop & give 'em the stats in MMs?

But I honestly can't believe people ASK that!!!!

 

[Blenheim]

Date: 9/18/2006 9:52:43 PM
Author: decodelighted
To my mind asking carat weight is a lot like asking ''Is that Vuitton bag current or last year''s'' or ''What''s your salary?'' or ''Are THOSE real?'' (While glancing chest-ward)


TOO PERSONAL. INTRUSIVE. OVERLY NOSY.


How ''bout you throw ''em for a loop & give ''em the stats in MMs?


But I honestly can''t believe people ASK that!!!!

I''ve actually asked a couple of people, but I was very close to all of them and phrased it like, "My boyfriend''s been asking me what I''d like in an engagement ring, and I think that the size of yours just looks perfect on your hand. Would you mind telling me what size it is?" We also didn''t live near many jewelry stores, where I could have gone in and tried on different sizes. Most of my diamond education was done online, and it''s hard to visualize exactly how big in real life a 0.xx carat diamond is when you''re seeing it on a computer screen on a different sized finger than you have.

Nobody''s asked me what size mine is, but I''d probably say "about 1/2 carat" or "just over 1/2 carat" (it''s 0.56).

 

[Beacon]

I am kind of not too keen on asking size either. It seems a delicate question. Now among PSers, all is fine, it is normal, but unless the ring is just *huge* and begging to be asked it''s size, I really never ask. Even a pretty close friend, I wouldn''t ask.

It'' sort of like asking a person''s age or weight. Can be touchy, sometimes isn''t, but you never know.....

When I''ve been asked at a jeweler''s I give the exact size. Usually they are surprised I know the exact size!

I do think it would be funny to answer in MMs. That is, after all, how "big" it is.

 

[ephemery1]

Mine is 1.51ct, so I just say "one and a half" when talking about it. I don''t mind answering questions about my ring... carat weight, color, whatever. That said, most people just comment on the shape first and foremost... I''m continually surprised by how many people say "oh that''s so cool, what is it??" ...even though I think of an oval as fairly self-explanatory! Other people have asked if it''s a cushion. If they mention the size, I often say something about how ovals tend to look bigger for their carat weight... figure I''ll throw a little diamond trivia in there for them!

 

[widget]

I think a stranger asking the carat weight of someone''s diamond is a roundabout way of asking what it''s worth.

If someone asks me (unless it''s a PSer type or jeweler) I say: "I dunno...it was my Mother''s...."

widget

 

[diamondfan]

WHen I had my rb that was 1.53 I said one and a half. When I had my three stone with the three carat center (3.00 exactly) I would say the center stone is three carats...and if they asked I told them about the side stones. Now I say a bit bigger than 9 carats because it is 9.22 and that is not quite 9 and a quarter so I am not sure what to say. I do not always answer about size if I feel uncomfortable and I never answer or confirm price. I just shrug and say hubby paid, which is true and I am not gonna go there with people...

 

[kcoursolle]

I have a diamond that is .74 and I say..."about a carat" heehee, I really don''t think the general public has any idea what actual sizes look like. I''m a baaaad girl

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/18/2006 9:43:51 PM
Author: Lynn B
If I''m in a jewelry store, I would be specific and say ''2.36'' -- HOPEFULLY they would know what I mean!!!

If I''m talking with a friend or aquaintence, I usually just say, ''a little over 2'' or sometimes, ''a little under two-and-a-half''.

Interesting question, though! (And oh, another interesting factoid... I have had dozens of people ask me how big it is, and where I got it... but never once has anyone ever asked what color or clarity it is! Well, except once in a jewelry store, one of the sales staff asked me if it was FLAWLESS!!!

Really!)

::grins:: isn''t that so flattering? You''d think we BIRTHED these babies!! lol!! I get so tickled when the jewelry store people can''t find my flaws... the only one so far who has worked for GIA and she helped me find them.

I do have a feeling people are going to ask about my color though, it does NOT hide it''s "J" very well. I think I''ll just call it "modern antique white" for my "modern antique cut" that is "plenty big enough, thanks" hehehe

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/18/2006 9:52:43 PM
Author: decodelighted
To my mind asking carat weight is a lot like asking ''Is that Vuitton bag current or last year''s'' or ''What''s your salary?'' or ''Are THOSE real?'' (While glancing chest-ward)

TOO PERSONAL. INTRUSIVE. OVERLY NOSY.

How ''bout you throw ''em for a loop & give ''em the stats in MMs?

But I honestly can''t believe people ASK that!!!!

bahaha I could see myself doing that. "it''s the size of a small peanut m n m" hehe

FTR I never thought it was nosy or personal to ask the size... I never ever thought twice asking someone else and I never thought I''d care but now I feel a bit self conscious lol what if you meet up with someone else who is all giddy and excited about their stone and you start talking... is it just as rude to volunteer your info? is it rude to ask in that situation? or is it like dependent on the situation... like if someone is sneering at you and rolling their eyes and being nosey vs someone admiring it and being curious?

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/18/2006 10:21:23 PM
Author: Beacon
I am kind of not too keen on asking size either. It seems a delicate question. Now among PSers, all is fine, it is normal, but unless the ring is just *huge* and begging to be asked it''s size, I really never ask. Even a pretty close friend, I wouldn''t ask.

It'' sort of like asking a person''s age or weight. Can be touchy, sometimes isn''t, but you never know.....

When I''ve been asked at a jeweler''s I give the exact size. Usually they are surprised I know the exact size!

I do think it would be funny to answer in MMs. That is, after all, how ''big'' it is.

Okay this helps... because my friend P I mentioned earlier - I''d never ask her the size of her ring... I might have before but now, nooooo way. I don''t even remotely want to get into a pissing contest over it so I''d rather just and ignore it. Actually before I definitely would have, had I cared. But you''re right, I don''t think I will *ever* ask someone how big their stone is unless I know it''s bigger than mine because I don''t ever want to give the impression that I''m lording it over somehow. I am just glad I can talk like this and purge my sickness with such nice ladies as yourselves

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/18/2006 10:31:43 PM
Author: ephemery1
Mine is 1.51ct, so I just say ''one and a half'' when talking about it. I don''t mind answering questions about my ring... carat weight, color, whatever. That said, most people just comment on the shape first and foremost... I''m continually surprised by how many people say ''oh that''s so cool, what is it??'' ...even though I think of an oval as fairly self-explanatory! Other people have asked if it''s a cushion. If they mention the size, I often say something about how ovals tend to look bigger for their carat weight... figure I''ll throw a little diamond trivia in there for them!

bahahah "what is it" um an oval? ::der:: though I''m expecting a LOT of oh is that an oval for my stone and I bet before a few months go by I just nod and say sure, okay LOL

In fact I was wondering what I should call mine. When I say old mine cut people shake their heads at me and when I say cushion they shake their heads at me. I''ve been calling it an OMB old mine brilliant - because that''s what it says on the GIA cert, but I''ve seen the *EXACT* cut on other GIA certs listed as cushion brilliant. I dunno... I''d like to call it an antique cushion but then they think it''s an old stone and it isn''t...

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/18/2006 10:32:42 PM
Author: widget
I think a stranger asking the carat weight of someone''s diamond is a roundabout way of asking what it''s worth.

If someone asks me (unless it''s a PSer type or jeweler) I say: ''I dunno...it was my Mother''s....''

widget

Oh when I asked I never thought of what it was worth - I had no idea what diamonds were worth, particularly large ones... it was just a moment of "wow, that''s so cool, how many carats is that?" just for some sort of memory or reference in my head. I guess you can tell the difference between those who ask in awe and those who ask in judgment. My friend P will outright ask how much the whole thing cost and I won''t tell her

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/18/2006 11:31:49 PM
Author: kcoursolle
I have a diamond that is .74 and I say...''about a carat'' heehee, I really don''t think the general public has any idea what actual sizes look like. I''m a baaaad girl

bahahahahaaha!!! you''re right!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I don''t mind when people ask. I get curious too but am too shy to ask. My stone is 1.72 and I usually just say 1 3/4 ct because I feel like most people would look (or have before I started rounding up) like I was crazy when I have the EXACT weight.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/19/2006 12:31:55 AM
Author: Tacori E-ring
I don''t mind when people ask. I get curious too but am too shy to ask. My stone is 1.72 and I usually just say 1 3/4 ct because I feel like most people would look (or have before I started rounding up) like I was crazy when I have the EXACT weight.

tacori - did I read somewhere that your band is 6mm wide? how long is your stone? I like the amount of overhang you have...

 

[firebirdgold]

I say it''s 2/3rds of a carat. It''s actually .57 but that''s close enough!

 

[Larissa]

I''ve asked my friends and they''ve asked me. No issues with that at all.

Mine is .47 center and .71 total. I just say .5 center. If someone should want to know the total (which has happened all of once) I say .75.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

It depends on who''s asking me. If the person is genuinely interested and friendly, I''ll give the central stone''s size to 2 decimal places (for example, 3.56). If the person is just trying to pry for information or trying to be snide in any way, I give the total weight including side stones, baguettes and pave'', which could bring the stone up to 3.75.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/19/2006 7:38:13 AM
Author: Madam Bijoux
It depends on who''s asking me. If the person is genuinely interested and friendly, I''ll give the central stone''s size to 2 decimal places (for example, 3.56). If the person is just trying to pry for information or trying to be snide in any way, I give the total weight including side stones, baguettes and pave'', which could bring the stone up to 3.75.

bahahaha yeah I was thinking of that, adding in my earrings too and saying, "I''m packing five, but they''re insecure about who''s biggest so we don''t talk about that" LOL

 

[littlelysser]

I always give the exact number...and people do look at me like I''m crazy.

I am totally going to say a bit more than a carat and a half from here on out. Lessen the crazy. Ya know.

I was kind of taken aback the first time someone asked...it seemed like it was something that was too personal or something.

 

[sumbride]

Date: 9/18/2006 10:31:43 PM
Author: ephemery1
most people just comment on the shape first and foremost... I''m continually surprised by how many people say ''oh that''s so cool, what is it??'' ...even though I think of an oval as fairly self-explanatory!

I''ve gotten that too... it''s really funny! "What shape is that?" Um... an OVAL! "So an oval is called what..." um... an OVAL! bizarre! But I wanted it because it''s different so I guess that''s what you get for being different!

 

[SoonIHope]

Depending on who asks, I:

1) Shrug and avoid answering.
2) Say "just over a carat"
3) Say "1.08"
4) Say "about a carat, but the way it''s cut makes it look bigger"

When I have been asked by my family, NONE of whom have diamonds, I said 1.08. A few friends have asked, I told the engaged and diamond-wearing ones the exact number and told the others "just over a carat" if they just seemed interested and option #4 if they seemed to be insinuating it was too big/ostentatious or whatever. The only people I haven''t said much of anything to have been coworkers who I haven''t been close to (and who generally haven''t directly asked but said things like "that''s pretty big, huh?" which are easier to avoid.)

 

[Odilia]

I''ve done everything from "1.09" to "about a carat" or " just over a carat".. THen I read my cert that it''s 1.097, and so now I''d say "1.1" if I''m going to use the numbers. I guess I could be really geeky and say "1.097"

 

[lizz]

I''m with Deco. I say, "I don''t know the carat weight."

 

[JoangA]

I round up for my diamond, but down for my weight!