Diamond Carat: Weight, Size and Getting More for Less
What is a carat, how carat relates to visible size in mm, and how to get a bigger-looking diamond for less in India. Full carat-size chart and pricing.
Carat is the diamond's weight, not its size. One carat equals 0.2 grams, divided into 100 points, so a 0.50ct diamond is fifty points. Two 1-carat diamonds can look quite different in size depending on how they are cut. Here is how to read carat properly and spend well.
Carat is not karat
Don't confuse the two: carat is diamond weight, while karat (KT) is gold purity, such as 14KT or 18KT. Your ring has both, a carat diamond set in karat gold.
Carat-to-size chart (round brilliant)
| Carat | Face-up diameter |
|---|---|
| 0.25 ct | 4.1 mm |
| 0.50 ct | 5.0 mm |
| 0.75 ct | 5.7 mm |
| 1.00 ct | 6.4 mm |
| 1.50 ct | 7.3 mm |
| 2.00 ct | 8.1 mm |
Notice that doubling the weight from 0.50 to 1.00ct adds only about 1.4mm of width. Weight goes down into the stone, not just across the top, which is why a well-cut lighter diamond can look as large as a heavier, deep-cut one.
Browse the collection, or talk to a Varniya expert - we'll help you choose with confidence.
Cut matters more than carat
At Varniya we hold to a simple rule: cut before carat. A well-cut 1-carat diamond can outshine a poorly cut 1.5-carat stone, because a brilliant cut is what your eye actually reads as sparkle.
How to get a bigger look
- Choose an elongated shape such as oval, pear or marquise, which looks larger per carat. Fancy shapes are also more available in lab-grown, so you get a bigger, more distinctive look.
- Use a halo setting, where small diamonds around the centre add visual size.
- Pick a thinner band, which makes the centre stone look bigger.
- Go lab-grown, the single biggest lever. The same budget buys a noticeably larger certified diamond, at the DEF colour and VS1-plus clarity Varniya holds to.
Next: IGI vs GIA certification. Back to Diamond Buying Guide.
