Carat (mass)

:For other uses of the word carat, see Carat.

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The carat is a unit of mass used for gems, and equals 200 milligrams. The word derives from the Greek keration (fruit of the carob), via Arabic and Italian. Carob seeds were used as weights on precision scales because of their uniform size. In the distant past, different countries each had their own carat, roughly equivalent to a carob seed.

Related Topics:
Mass - Gem - 200 milligrams - Greek - Carob - Arabic - Italian

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Eventually, it was linked to the grain in the Troy pound system of measurement. Under this system the standard was about 205 milligrams. Metric countries used this measurement nonetheless in its limited range of application. In 1907 the metric carat of 200 milligrams was adopted, and is now universally used today.

Related Topics:
Grain - Troy pound - 200 milligrams

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Note: A carat can also be further divided into "points". There are 100 points to a carat.

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For diamonds, a paragon is a diamond weighing 100 carats or more, which is 20,000 milligrams or 20 grams.

Related Topics:
Paragon - Grams

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