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The standard unit of measure for diamonds and other gemstones is the carat. A one carat diamond is equal to 1/5 of a gram, or 1/142 of an ounce. Carats are further divided into points, with one carat equaling 100 points. Therefore, a 50-point diamond weighs a ½ carat, a 25-point diamond weighs a ¼ carat, and so on. But keep in mind that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. A large stone will not be very valuable if it is poorly cut or a low grade of color.
(Not shown actual size.)
Due to the rarity of larger gemstones, the price per carat for a diamond can increase exponentially with size. A one carat diamond typically costs 3.5 to 4 times what an equivalent ½ carat costs, and the same goes for subsequent increases in size.
