How do jewelers tell how many carats a gemstone is?

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How do jewelers tell how many carats a gemstone is?

Is it a weight? How does it relate to an ounce?

2007-03-30 03:04:27 · 4 answers · asked by Greywolf 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology

4 answers

For gems, unlike gold, carat is nothing else but the weight.

2007-03-30 03:13:31 · answer #1 · answered by corleone 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋

They weigh it I assume. The original way to determine a carat for gemstones was to place a gem on a scale and then place a Carob seed on the other side. If it balanced then the gem was said to be 1 carat in weight.

As a modern standardized weight, in regards to gems, a carat is exactly 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams.

2007-03-30 10:10:47 · answer #2 · answered by Digital Haruspex 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋

weight

2007-03-30 10:07:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋

They weigh them.

2007-03-30 10:06:58 · answer #4 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋