How much does a gemstone cost per carat?

One gemstone carat is 200 mg. Carat, a measure of weight, should not be confused with karat, which refers to gold purity. The price per carat of the many different gemstone types can vary enormously, from less than one US dollar to tens of thousands of dollars per carat and more. Many factors influence the price per carat of gems.

How are gemstones priced?

Most gemstones are priced according to their weight, which is given in 'carat'. The exceptions are some gemstone carvings and gemstone cabochons, as well as gemstone beads which are sometimes sold by the piece rather than by the carat, since the work required to produce them exceeds the cost of the material.

How are gemstone prices calculated?

For the vast majority of gemstones, the price is calculated on a per carat basis, rather than gems being priced by size, this includes faceted gemstones and most gemstone cabochons. One gemstone carat is 200 mg. Carat, a measure of weight, should not be confused with karat, which refers to gold purity.