Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. The higher the carat weight, the more valuable it is (other factors being equal). A carat weighs 200 milligrams and is divided into 100 points. A .5 carat diamond is the same as a 1/2 carat diamond which is the same as a 50-point diamond.

Over a carat, diamond weights are usually expressed in carats and decimals. A 1.06 ct. stone, for example, would be described as "one point oh six carats," or "one oh six."

This word for the measurement of a diamond's weight Carat - is derived from the carob seeds that were used to balance scales in ancient times.

Today, it is important to evaluate all of the factors (all the C’s) and not just size. A large sized diamond with poor clarity, color and cut does not have the value of many smaller stones. C’s like clarity, cut and color determine the visual brilliance of the jewelry.