[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR23.17]

[Page 149]
 
                     TITLE 16--COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
 
                   CHAPTER I--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
 
PART 23_GUIDES FOR THE JEWELRY, PRECIOUS METALS, AND PEWTER INDUSTRIES
--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 23.17  Misrepresentation of weight and ``total weight.''

    (a) It is unfair or deceptive to misrepresent the weight of a 
diamond.
    (b) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word ``point'' or any 
abbreviation in any representation, advertising, marking, or labeling to 
describe the weight of a diamond, unless the weight is also stated as 
decimal parts of a carat (e.g., 25 points or .25 carat).

    Note 1 to paragraph (b):
    A carat is a standard unit of weight for a diamond and is equivalent 
to 200 milligrams (\1/5\ gram). A point is one one hundredth (\1/100\) 
of a carat.

    (c) If diamond weight is stated as decimal parts of a carat (e.g., 
.47 carat), the stated figure should be accurate to the last decimal 
place. If diamond weight is stated to only one decimal place (e.g., .5 
carat), the stated figure should be accurate to the second decimal place 
(e.g., ``.5 carat'' could represent a diamond weight between .495-.504).
    (d) If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, a 
conspicuous disclosure of the fact that the diamond weight is not exact 
should be made in close proximity to the fractional representation and a 
disclosure of a reasonable range of weight for each fraction (or the 
weight tolerance being used) should also be made.

    Note to paragraph (d):
    When fractional representations of diamond weight are made, as 
described in paragraph d of this section, in catalogs or other printed 
materials, the disclosure of the fact that the actual diamond weight is 
within a specified range should be made conspicuously on every page 
where a fractional representation is made. Such disclosure may refer to 
a chart or other detailed explanation of the actual ranges used. For 
example, ``Diamond weights are not exact; see chart on p.X for ranges.''