Understanding Diamond Carat Size and Weight

Carat denotes the weight of a diamond, not the size. Two diamonds that have the same carat weight may actually have very different sizes in millimeters.

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Carat

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Recommendation

Typical range for Carat is between 1.0 and 2.0 carat.

Details

A Diamond’s Weight is measured in Carats. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, or 0.2 grams. The weight of smaller diamonds is often expressed as points instead of carats -- there are 100 points in a Carat. Another way to look at it is to say that each point equals 0.01, or One-Hundred, of a Carat. For example, 0.08 means eight One-Hundred, so a 0.08 Carat Diamond equals eight points.

NOTE: DON'T CONFUSE "CARAT WEIGHT" WITH "KARAT," WHICH IS THE METHOD OF DETERMINING THE PURITY OF GOLD.

Frequently Asked Questions

A lot of people think that it is better to go for a bigger diamond while saving money on cut, color, or clarity.

You should keep in mind that even though larger stones are more visible, their imperfections are also more visible, such as natural flaws, yellowish tints or a nonsymmetrical cut.

If you want to go for a larger diamond, make sure the clarity is higher than VS2 and cut is excellent or very good.

Keep in mind that every diamond is different, so you will need to examine each stone carefully to make sure it is right for you.

Diamond prices are complicated. Their true value is determined by so many of factors, but the reality is that a 1 carat diamond price can range from $1,900 to $16,000 and a 2 carat diamond price can range from $8,000 to $84,000 which is a HUGE difference. You have to looks at the diamond's color, cut, clarity, fluorescence, polish, and symmetry of a diamond to get its true price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, cut quality and shape affect visual size. For example, an oval diamond may look larger than a round one of the same weight.

Larger carat diamonds have a higher price per carat due to rarity and demand, creating a non-linear price increase.

No, carat measures weight, not physical size. A diamond’s shape and cut quality also affect how large it appears.

One carat equals 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). It measures the diamond’s weight, not its size.

Use our Ct Size Comparison tool to see how diamonds of different carat weights appear across shapes like round, princess, and oval.