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The carat is a unit of weight used for precious gems like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. Historically, the carat's weight varied by location, but in 1913, the metric carat was standardized to equal 0.200 grams. A point is equivalent to 0.01 carats. Gemstone weights are often expressed in carats, sometimes with fractional additions like 1/2, 1/4, or 1/16 of a carat. Gemstones can be cut in various ways, such as the step cut, which features parallel facets, or the rose cut, which has a domed top covered in triangular facets.123

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  1. carat
  2. step cut
  3. rose cut

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