What Is Carat?

Carat (ct.) is the unit of measurement used to weigh diamonds and gemstones. It is important to note that carat weight is not the same as visual size, as it is a measurement of weight and not size. Factors such as density, shape and composition can affect the visual appearance of a stone with a certain carat weight. For example, a 1.00 ct. round diamond and a 1.00 ct. round sapphire will look different due to their varying densities. When shopping for jewelry, pay attention to the phrase "Total Carat Weight" (TCW) which represents the combined weight of all diamonds or gemstones in a piece of jewelry.

What Is The Difference between Carat vs Karat?

Don't confuse gemstone carat with metal karat as they are two different measurements that are often confused. Carat is a unit of measurement used exclusively to weigh gemstones, including diamonds, while karat is a unit of measurement used to indicate the purity of gold. It is equal to 1/24th of the total weight of the metal. For example, 18 karat gold is 18/24ths (or 75%) pure gold, while 14 karat gold is 14/24ths (or 58.3%) pure gold. The higher the karat number, the purer the gold.