Carat weight is one of the most misunderstood diamond metrics. Carat weight does not refer so much to a diamond’s dimensional size than as to its mass or weight. Consider the following formula.
1 carat = 200 milligrams = 100 points
So when someone talks about a half carat diamond, they also mean 50 points or 100 milligrams. Take your pick.
Sometimes the look of a diamond can be misleading as to its carat weight. Just because a diamond may look huge when viewing it from the top, it may not have a very large depth, so its carat weight could be less than what you think. This is sometimes a good cost saving tip if you prefer to buy a diamond that merely looks large in size. Typically diamonds of this nature are not desirable because the dimensions cause the jewel to have poor brilliance due to an inferior cut.
Always remember, a carat is a unit of weight. Also, there is sometimes confusion between “carat” and “karat”. Karat refers to the to a measurement of the purity of gold.
If you are trying to save a little money when buying a diamond, stay away from the popular sizes such as 1/2, 1, or 2 carat. At these weights the prices for diamonds increase significantly. Consider buying a diamond a couple points below your target.