Fine Weight
Also: Fine Metal Weight, Net Weight (Precious Metal)
Fine weight indicates the actual quantity of pure precious metal contained in a bar, coin, or piece of jewellery – regardless of the total weight of the object.
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Fine weight is one of the most important figures when buying and selling precious metals. It describes the quantity of pure metal – i.e. gold, silver, platinum, or palladium – contained within an object. Anyone wishing to apply the gold price to their piece of jewellery or bar absolutely needs the fine weight, not the total weight of the item.
Fine Weight vs. Gross Weight
Every physical precious metal object has two weight figures:
- Gross weight (also total weight or bulk weight): The actually measured weight of the entire object – including all alloying metals such as copper, silver, or zinc.
- Fine weight: Only the proportion of pure precious metal within it.
The difference arises from the fineness, expressed in thousandths (‰) or karats. The relationship is straightforward:
Fine Weight = Gross Weight × (Fineness ÷ 1000)
An example: A gold bracelet weighs 10.0 g and bears the stamp 585 (14 karat). The fine weight is then 10.0 × 0.585 = 5.85 g fine gold. Only this value is relevant when using the melt value calculator.
Fine Weights of Common Investment Coins and Bars
| Object | Gross Weight | Fineness | Fine Weight (Gold) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krugerrand 1 oz | 33.93 g | 916.7 ‰ (22 karat) | 31.1035 g |
| Vienna Philharmonic 1 oz | 31.1035 g | 999.9 ‰ (24 karat) | 31.1035 g |
| Maple Leaf 1 oz | 31.1035 g | 999.9 ‰ (24 karat) | 31.1035 g |
| American Eagle 1 oz | 33.93 g | 916.7 ‰ (22 karat) | 31.1035 g |
| Gold bar 100 g (999.9) | 100.00 g | 999.9 ‰ | 99.99 g |
| Gold bar 1 kg (999.9) | 1,000.00 g | 999.9 ‰ | 999.90 g |
Notably: despite their higher gross weight, the Krugerrand and American Eagle contain the same quantity of fine gold as the Maple Leaf – their copper addition only increases mechanical durability.
Significance for Buying and Melt Value
Buyers – whether refineries, coin dealers, or pawnbrokers – always pay based on the fine weight, not the gross weight. The price achieved is determined by:
- Determining fine weight (scales + fineness testing)
- Reading the current gold price (spot price in €/g or €/oz)
- Applying the dealer's buying rate (typically 90–98 % of the spot price)
You can calculate the melt value of your scrap gold or dental gold directly in the melt value calculator – no pocket calculator needed.
Fine Weight in the Unit Troy Ounce
In international precious metal trading, fine weight is frequently stated in troy ounces (oz t). One troy ounce equals exactly 31.1034768 g. Standardised bars according to LBMA Good Delivery (400 oz gold bars) are always valued in trading according to their fine weight in troy ounces – the gross weight of heavy bars varies slightly depending on the exact alloy.
The unit converter converts grams, troy ounces, kilograms, and other units in seconds.
In Brief
Fine weight is the decisive value in every precious metal transaction: it indicates how much pure metal an object actually contains, and thus forms the only correct basis for price calculation, purchasing, and melt value determination. Gross weight minus alloy portions equals fine weight – nothing more, nothing less.