If you’ve ever shopped for a diamond ring, you’ve definitely seen the word “carat.” Everywhere, right? But honestly, it’s not that obvious what “carat” actually means. We see customers all the time who assume it means something like diamond size or value, or how good the stone is. It doesn’t.
Carat, or the total carat weight, just measures how much a diamond weighs. That’s it. But here’s where people really get confused: gold has “karats,” too, except those have nothing at all to do with weight. Sounds similar, spelled slightly different, totally unrelated. Welcome to jewelry terms! Let’s straighten this all out, step by step.
What Is Diamond Carat Weight?
Diamond carat weight just means how heavy your diamond is. One carat weighs exactly 0.2 grams. That’s tiny, like a single paperclip. But in diamond terms, it’s a big deal.
We measure carats down to two decimal points at Diamond Wish because it’s the standard everywhere. Ever see something like 0.50 ct? That’s exactly half a carat. And one important thing to know is this: Carat weight is universal. One carat in LA, Paris, or anywhere else always equals the same exact weight.
At Diamond Wish, we often tell customers this important fact, though: a heavier diamond doesn’t automatically look bigger. We’ve created guides like our 4C’s of diamonds guide to help you understand why cut matters a lot. Some one-carat diamonds look huge, others look… kind of disappointing. The difference is usually in the shape and the cut quality. If visual size matters to you (and it usually does), look closely at those factors.
What Is A Gold Karat?
Now, here’s where it gets tricky. Gold Karats don’t measure weight at all. They measure gold purity. Pure gold is called 24 karat. And that sounds amazing, right? But pure gold is actually super soft and not great for everyday jewelry. So jewelers (us included) mix gold with other metals, called alloys, to make it durable enough to wear every day.
For example, 18-karat gold has 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts alloys like copper or silver. At Diamond Wish, we usually recommend 14-karat or 18-karat gold for engagement rings because these blends look beautiful but won’t easily dent or scratch.
A Few of Our Most Popular Picks:
How Was The Term Carat Created?
This part is pretty neat. The word “carat” actually came from seeds of the carob tree (yeah, the same plant some people use to replace chocolate). Ancient gem traders found out these seeds were amazingly consistent in weight. So they used them to weigh diamonds and other gems. The carob seed weighed about one-fifth of a gram each, and over time “carob” evolved into “carat.”
Then, in 1907, an official-sounding group called the Fourth Sexennial General Conference on Weights and Measures decided, once and for all, that one carat would be exactly 0.2 grams. And here we are today, still using that measurement.
The Difference Between Karats and Carats
So, to quickly recap: Diamond carats measure weight. Gold karats measure purity. Totally unrelated, just annoyingly similar-sounding. But now you know.
Do A Gold Karat And A Diamond Carat Weigh The Same?
Not even a little bit. A diamond carat always equals 0.2 grams. Gold karats never measure weight—just purity. For example, a 14-karat gold ring isn’t lighter or heavier because it’s 14 karats. That’s purely about how much actual gold is in there.
Why We Use Both Terms All The Time
Jewelry usually includes diamonds and gold, right? So you’ll always hear stuff like “a one-carat diamond in 18-karat gold.” We get that it’s confusing, but it’s easy once you remember: Diamonds get carats, gold gets karats.
What You Need To Know About Diamond Carats Before You Buy
A little shopping advice: Carat weight impacts price a lot. But here’s a pro-tip: prices jump dramatically at exactly one carat, two carats, and so forth. Weird but true. So, two half-carat diamonds usually cost way less combined than one diamond that weighs exactly one carat. Good to know.
Also, if you just want your diamond to look big, certain cuts (oval, pear) look larger than rounds of the same weight. You get more visual bang for your buck that way.
At Diamond Wish, our job (and we love it) is helping you figure all of this out. Custom jewelry means we build exactly what you want, based entirely on your preferences and vision. We’ll guide you through choosing your diamond carat, gold karats, settings, everything step by step, until it feels perfect to you.
You can always book a virtual appointment or just stop by our Newport Beach or downtown Los Angeles showrooms. We’ll sit down, talk it through, and turn your diamond wish into reality!
1-855-368-2837
Comments are closed.