How Many Carats Should a Vedic Gemstone Be?

There’s no single number: the smallest size we recommend runs from about 1 carat for a fine ruby or diamond, to about 2 carats for a yellow or blue sapphire, to 3 to 4 carats for red coral. Quality matters far more than size, and a clean, untreated stone at the smaller size is worth more for Jyotish, Vedic astrology, than a larger poor one.

Quality first, then size

It is common among Vedic astrologers to recommend a minimum of two carats, and sometimes five carats or more, to have an effect. This has led many people, especially those with limited budgets, to favor size over quality when selecting a gemstone. To get the magic number of two, four, five carats or more, they sometimes go for inferior quality stones. We believe this is a huge mistake.

Experience has convinced us that the importance of high quality far outweighs that of size, and that increased size matters only when all other factors of quality, color, and clarity are equal. In our opinion, a high quality two carat stone is much more effective than a four or even ten carat one of poor quality, and poor quality gems may actually produce mixed or negative results.

Two gems are much more powerful on a per-carat basis: a high-quality diamond that is colorless or nearly colorless and VS1 or better in clarity, and a high-quality ruby of fine color and clarity. For these two, about one carat is more than enough to strengthen their planets, Venus and the Sun. Hardly anyone needs a two-carat diamond or ruby if the stones are of sufficiently high quality.

The smallest size for each of the nine

Only a pearl certified by a lab can be called natural. A smaller size works only when the stone is clean, bright and untreated as its planet requires; for an emerald, the smaller it is, the more exceptional its color and clarity need to be.

Secondary stones need to be larger

The same kind of planetary energy found in a high-quality primary gem can be found for a great deal less, but in a gentler form, in the uparatnas (secondary stones, the gentler gems that share a planet’s color), such as yellow topaz or citrine for Jupiter. The planet’s power is not as concentrated in these stones, carat for carat, so each needs to be progressively larger: a yellow topaz of at least 3 to 4 carats, 5 or more being ideal, and a citrine of at least 8 to 10 carats. Read about the best substitute for yellow sapphire here.

Buy what you can afford

Whatever your budget, try to get the most powerful gemstone possible within your means. Then it is just a matter of choosing which stone fits your budget, whether it is a two-carat or a three-carat gem or one of the great yellow sapphires of ten carats or more. Normally, we don’t recommend buying a gem unless you can afford it. No one should ever feel pressured to buy a gemstone.

Read why size doesn’t matter as much as you think here. See the finger, metal and day for all nine here.

Not sure which gem is yours? Start with our Free Gem Report. If you’re ready to buy, order a Personal Consultation to confirm the gem is the right match for you. The consultation fee is credited back with any gemstone purchase over $500.