Carat weight in diamonds is often confused with diamond size. To obtain the actual weight of a diamond, you have to put it on a scale. The actual carat weight is only an indicator of its size.

History and Terminology

The earliest gem traders measured their stones by comparing their weight to the weight of the pods from the carob, or locust tree. These tiny carob seeds are remarkably consistent in weight, and this is where the term 'carat' is derived from.

The metric carat, which equals 0.20 gram or 1/142 of an ounce, is the standard unit of weight for diamonds and most other gems. One carat is divided into 100 "points." A diamond weighing 50 points = 0.5 carat (ct.), and is expressed as one-half carat. Carat weight has no bearing on quality, and two diamonds of comparable weight may differ drastically in price due to dissimilarities in cut, color, and clarity. Diamonds of the same diameter may vary in actual carat weight depending on variations in their proportions.

Weight representation

In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission requires that diamonds be weighed to one-thousandth of one carat (0.001ct.), but that the final weight can be rounded to the nearest half point (0.005ct.). This means that a diamond weighing 0.995ct. can be represented to you as a 1.00ct. stone. However, international convention is more strict, and a weight can only be rounded to the next higher point (0.01ct.) if the actual weight reaches 9/10ths (0.009ct.) of a point. Goldstein's adheres to the international convention.

Value per carat

Larger diamonds are more rare than smaller diamonds. This is why a two carat diamond (with all other quality factors being equal) is much more than twice as expensive as a one carat diamond

How Goldstein's Can Help You

Often people think they know just what they want. Only by discussing your wishes can we help you determine, with proper knowledge, just what will make you happy in a diamond. We'll help you find just that right combination of size and quality for you.