If you’ve ever looked for diamond jewelry online, particularly engagement rings, you may have run into terms like CTW. So what does CTW mean in jewelry?
CTW stands for Carat Total Weight but is more commonly referred to as Total Carat Weight for diamonds or gemstones (like sapphires or rubies).
Keep reading and find out more about CTW meaning in diamond and jewelry.
What Does CTW Mean in Jewelry?
The carat total weight is the metric used to determine diamonds’ cumulative or total weight in a particular diamond piece.
The term total weight carat (or CTTW or CT TW in some engagement rings) can be used to refer to the total weight of the diamonds in most cases. TW represents the “total weight” of all diamonds in specific jewelry.
CT is the abbreviation for “carat,” a common unit used to determine the weight of precious stones such as diamonds.
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How to Calculate CTW in Diamonds?
If you ever wanted to work out the total carat weight of a loose diamond or multiple diamonds, then all you need to know is that 1 carat is equal to 0.2 grams.
You must first weigh the stone and note its grams of weight in order to determine the carats of a loose diamond. The total carat weight of that diamond can be calculated by multiplying that number by 0.2.
The opposite is also true. Multiplying the carat weight by 0.2 will give you the actual weight of a single diamond or a group of diamonds. This total weight in grams will be yours.
Read More: How to Tell If a Diamond Ring is Real?
Why Do People Use CTW in Jewelry?
Marking CTW on jewelry is important because it can be difficult to determine the actual total carat weight of a diamond or diamonds once they are already mounted into jewelry pieces.
This way jewelers can easily identify the CTW of a piece quickly and efficiently.
Difference Between Carat Total Weight (CTW) and Carat (CT)
The terms total carat weight and carat weight are frequently confused and used synonymously, especially by first-time diamond buyers. They are entirely different numbers even though they are related.
A specific or single diamond’s weight is determined by its carat weight. A metric carat weighs exactly 0.2 grams or 200 milligrams. It displays the center stone and loose diamond weights in their individual capacities.
A specific jewel’s total carat weight, on the other hand, reveals the total mass of all the diamonds within. It is the total of all diamond carat weights in a piece of jewelry.
If a diamond has a single center stone, its carat weight will be the same as its total carat weight. What about an engagement ring with a lotus basket pave design and a center diamond as well as additional ring accents?
If the center stone has 1 carat round and the small round diamond ring features have 0.25 carats, the CTW will be the carat weight of the center stone plus that of the ring features, that is 1 + 0.25 =1.25 carats.
Conclusion: What Does CTW Mean in Jewelry
If you’re buying set rings made of multiple diamonds, and there is the center stone (usually the biggest) ensure that you inquire about the exact details of the diamond.
When reading the product description, it is typically your responsibility as the buyer to pay close attention to the details. It is not advisable to make the wrong assumption and accidentally “mislead” yourself.
In conclusion, Don’t be scared of the expression “carat total weight” because it could be a useful metric when you understand what it refers to.
FAQs
What Does 1 CTW Diamond Mean?
1 CTW diamond ring means the total weight of diamonds in the ring will be 1 carat.
Is 0.5 Carat Diamond Good?
A 0.5ct diamond ring is a good size because it isn’t tiny, but it’s also not huge.
How to Calculate CTW?
Calculating the diamond’s weight in milligrams and dividing it by 0.2 is the quickest and most common method.