What is a Carat?

The carat equals exactly 200 milligrams (0.2 g) and is the universal unit for gemstone and diamond weight in the global jewelry industry. The word derives from the Greek 'keration' and the Arabic 'qīrāṭ,' both referring to carob seeds, which were once used as natural counterweights for weighing gems because they have remarkably uniform mass. The metric carat was standardized in 1907 at exactly 200 mg, replacing dozens of regional carat values that had varied between 188 and 213 mg. A 1-carat diamond is roughly 6.5 mm in diameter, and the famous Hope Diamond weighs 45.52 carats. The carat is distinct from the karat (with a 'k'), which measures gold purity (24-karat = 100% gold). It relates to the gram (5 ct = 1 g) and the milligram (200 mg = 1 ct). Gem dealers commonly use 'points' for fractions (100 points = 1 carat).

Visual reference for how the carat relates to other weight units. Each row links to the full converter for that pair.

• Diamond and gemstone retail and valuation
• Jewellery manufacturing and design
• International gem certification (GIA, IGI)

• ✓1 carat = 200 mg = 0.2 g exactly since 1907.
• ✓Carat (gem weight) and karat (gold purity, 24 K = pure) are different words with different meanings.
• ✓A carat is divided into 100 points; a 0.25 ct diamond is called a "25-pointer".

• ✗Confusing carat (mass) with karat (gold purity).
• ✗Assuming a 2-carat diamond is twice the physical size of a 1-carat — volume scales with cube root of mass.
• ✗Using "karat" on gemstone certificates — international standard is "carat" spelled with a C.