If you’ve ever been to a jeweler, you may have heard of the acronym TDW and wondered what it meant. If you haven’t yet, it’s important that the next time you visit a jeweler, you not only ask about the size of the center or largest diamond but also the total diamond weight.
What Does TDW Mean? TDW, an abbreviation for “total diamond weight,” is a term used to describe the weight of all diamonds on a ring, necklace, or any other piece of diamond jewelry. It is also referred to as carat total weight or carat weight total, abbreviated as CTW.
If you want to buy a ring with one center stone and two smaller ones on each side, the TDW will be the sum of all three stones. If the center diamond is 0.5 carats, and the two side diamonds are 0.1 carats each, the diamond ring will be 0.7 TDW. However, TDW does not apply to solitaire diamonds since they only have one stone measured in carats, abbreviated as CT.
How Do I Know the TDW of My Engagement Ring? The easiest way to know the TDW of your engagement ring is to ask your jeweler. If you’re purchasing an engagement ring from a reputable jeweler, they should have no problem telling you the total diamond weight of the ring. If you’re buying from an online store, most companies will list the TDW on the product page.
Why is the TDW Important? The total diamond weight is important because it tells you how much actual diamond is in the piece of jewelry. It is also a good indicator of the quality of the diamond jewelry. A piece of diamond jewelry with a high total diamond weight is going to be of better quality than a piece of diamond jewelry with a low total diamond weight.
However, it’s important to be careful when interpreting TDW. For instance, a 1 TDW diamond ring with three stones, a 0.5-carat center stone, and two 0.25 side stones will be more expensive than a 1TDW ring with five 0.2-carat diamond pieces. This is because five smaller stones sold separately will be much cheaper than the larger diamonds. Larger diamonds are scarcer, hence more expensive.
Talk to a Reputable Jeweler When purchasing diamond jewelry, it’s important to find a reputable jeweler that you can trust. Monarch Jewelry can answer any questions about the diamond jewelry you’re interested in, including the total diamond weight.