Glossary

Grain

A unit of weight equal to ¼ carat. Historically diamond weight was compared to grains of rice and carob beans (hence carat). Four grains of rice were equal to one carob bean, or carat. Diamonds are sometimes referred to in grain terms – eg a grainer (¼ carat diamond), two grainer (½ carat diamond), four grainer (1 carat diamond) etc.