Jewelry shopping can be intimidating. That’s why we started Ask Holden, our blog where we answer your FAQs, break down scary industry lingo, and guide you in finding the perfect piece of jewelry.
At Holden, our goal is to provide you with the highest quality lab-grown diamonds. As a Climate Neutral-certified company, we’re committed to minimizing our environmental impact while crafting wedding and engagement rings that you can feel good about.
Carat, not to be confused with karat, measures the weight, and therefore size, of a diamond. A carat weighs 0.2 grams - about the heft of a paperclip. If you’ve ever wondered what is a carat, it’s simply the standard unit used to measure a diamond’s weight. Check out the difference between the various sizes and shapes of our lab-grown diamonds in the image below.
Keep in mind that diamonds are priced per carat, but price per carat actually increases as diamond weight increases. Not only is color more identifiable in larger diamonds, but large rough diamonds without inclusions are more rare and difficult to grow compared to their smaller counterparts. And just so there’s no confusion—carat vs karat refers to two different things: carat measures diamond weight, while karat refers to gold purity.
At Holden, we offer most stone shapes from 1.0ct to 5.0ct with the option to choose the color, clarity, and cut grade of your stone. You can learn more about the differences between the 4 Cs (cut, clarity, color and carat) here.
Questions? Give us a shout at help@hiholden.com or a ring (pun intended) at 646.722.6817.
FAQs
1. What is a carat?
A carat is the unit of measurement for the weight of a diamond. One carat equals 0.2 grams, or roughly the weight of a paperclip. Carat weight impacts the size and cost of a diamond.
2. What’s the difference between carat vs karat?
Carat refers to the weight of a gemstone, especially diamonds. Karat (spelled with a “k”) refers to the purity of gold—24 karat is pure gold, while 18k or 14k is mixed with other metals.
3. How are diamonds priced?
Diamonds are priced per carat, but the price per carat increases as the diamond gets larger. This is because larger, high-quality rough diamonds are more rare and difficult to grow or find.
4. Is a 2-carat diamond twice as expensive as a 1-carat diamond?
Not necessarily. Because of the price-per-carat scaling, a 2-carat diamond may cost significantly more than double the price of a 1-carat diamond of the same quality.
5. Why do larger diamonds cost more per carat?
Larger diamonds are rarer and more challenging to grow without inclusions or flaws. The rarity increases the demand, which in turn raises the price per carat.
6. Does carat weight affect the diamond’s appearance?
Yes. Carat weight affects size, but the diamond’s shape, cut, and setting style also influence how big it looks on the hand. A well-cut 1.5ct diamond may appear larger than a poorly cut 2ct stone.
7. Can I customize carat, cut, color, and clarity at Holden?
Yes! Holden offers lab-grown diamonds from 1.0ct to 5.0ct. You can select your cut, color, and clarity, and our GIA-trained experts will source the perfect stone for your ring.
About Holden
Love doesn’t follow a template, and neither should your ring. At Holden, we offer custom engagement and wedding rings made for the way you love. Choose from meaningful Gemstone designs, subtle Classic bands, and standout Curved Wedding Bands created just for you.