How Big is a Carat

When checking out jewelry, you will often come across the words “carat” and “karat.” These two terms are not one and the same. The former addresses diamonds and other gemstones while the latter addresses purity of gold. 

 

So you can have a one carat diamond set in an 18 karat gold ring. Knowing the distinction between each term will help you understand the value of your jewelry so much better. 

 

 

While carats also address different gemstones, they most often refer to diamonds. Carat is actually a term used to measure the weight of diamonds and other gemstones. 

 

One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams or about 0.007055 ounces. A one carat diamond in terms of width measures about 6.5 millimeters. The shape of the diamond when cut for jewelries varies.

 

There is the Emerald Cut, Pear, Heart, Oval, Princess Cut and Round; among many others. 

 

 

Depending on your preference, diamonds come in various weights and widths. Small diamonds which are typically used to adorn larger-sized diamonds or other gemstones are 0.03 carat which is about 2 millimeters in width.

 

Other sizes used in the same manner are 0.05 and 0.07 carats and they are about 2.5 millimeters and 2.7 millimeters in width, respectively.

 

A diamond that is one-tenth of a carat or 0.10 is about 3 millimeters, 0.15 carat is 3.4 millimeters. 0.20 carat is approximately 3.8 millimeters, one-fourth of a carat or 0.25 is 4.1 millimeters in width while a 0.33 carat diamond is 4.4 millimeters and 0.40 carat is 4.8 millimeters in width.

 

One-half of a carat or 0.50 would be about 5.2 millimeters in width, 0.65 carat will be about 5.6 millimeters while a diamond that weighs 0.75 carat or three-fourths has a width of about 5.9 millimeters and a 0.85 carat diamond is approximately 6.2 millimeters.

 

For bigger diamonds, a 1.5 carat diamond will have a width of approximately 7.4 millimeters while a gemstone that weighs 2 carats will have a width size of about 8.2 millimeters.

 

Three carats is about 9.3 millimeters wide; 4 carats, 10.2 millimeters in width; 5 carats, 11 millimeters wide; 6 carats, 11.7 millimeters wide; 7 carats, 12.4 millimeters wide; 8 carats, 13 millimeters wide; 10 carats, 14 millimeters wide; 15 carats, 16.3 millimeters wide; and 20 carats, 17.6 millimeters wide.

 

While these are standard millimeter dimensions of each carat weight, they may still differ depending on the cut of your diamond or other gemstones. These however can serve as your reference guide when considering gemstone weights and widths.