Convert Carat (car, ct) to Stone (US) (st (US)) instantly.
About these units
Carat (car, ct)
The carat, equal to 200 milligrams, is the standard unit for measuring gemstones and pearls. Its origins trace to the seeds of the carob tree, which were historically thought to have remarkably uniform mass, making them convenient reference weights for early traders. In the modern gem trade, carats measure both weight and (informally) influence perceived value—though size and quality factors such as clarity and color also play major roles. High-precision digital scales capable of reading to 0.001 carat are common in gemology. The carat's persistence shows how specialized units evolve to meet the needs of niche industries. Though small, its economic impact is enormous due to the value of gemstones.
Stone (US) (st (US))
The US stone was an informal and nonstandardized unit occasionally used in the 19th century, with no single agreed-upon value. Unlike the British stone (14 pounds), the US stone varied regionally and by trade context, typically ranging from 12 to 16 pounds, depending on the commodity and location. Farmers, butchers, and merchants sometimes used stones to weigh produce, meat, or livestock, but the lack of uniform regulation prevented it from becoming an official or widely adopted unit. Today, the US stone is entirely obsolete, but references to it appear in historical American trade documents, agricultural records, and pre-standardization weight systems. It serves as a reminder of the diversity of early American measurements before the widespread adoption of the avoirdupois pound.