Fine Weight
Also: Pure metal weight, Net metal weight
Fine weight states the actual amount of pure precious metal in a bar, coin or piece of jewellery — independent 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 amount of pure metal — gold, silver, platinum or palladium — contained in an object. Anyone who wants to apply the gold price to a piece of jewellery or a bar needs the fine weight, not the total weight of the piece.
Fine weight versus gross weight
Every physical precious-metal object has two weight figures:
- Gross weight (also total or overall weight): the actual measured weight of the whole object — including every alloying metal such as copper, silver or zinc.
- Fine weight: only the share that is pure precious metal.
The difference arises from the fineness, quoted in thousandths (‰) or carats. The relationship is unambiguous:
Fine weight = gross weight × (fineness ÷ 1000)
An example: a gold bracelet weighs 10.0 g and carries the mark 585 (14 carat). Its fine weight is then 10.0 × 0.585 = 5.85 g of fine gold. Only this figure counts in the melt value calculator.
Fine weights of common bullion coins and bars
| Object | Gross weight | Fineness | Fine weight (gold) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krugerrand 1 oz | 33.93 g | 916.7 ‰ (22 carat) | 31.1035 g |
| Vienna Philharmonic 1 oz | 31.1035 g | 999.9 ‰ (24 carat) | 31.1035 g |
| Maple Leaf 1 oz | 31.1035 g | 999.9 ‰ (24 carat) | 31.1035 g |
| American Eagle 1 oz | 33.93 g | 916.7 ‰ (22 carat) | 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 |
Note the striking point: despite their higher gross weight, the Krugerrand and American Eagle contain exactly the same amount of fine gold as the Maple Leaf — their added copper only improves mechanical durability.
Significance for buying-in and melt value
Buyers — whether a refinery, a coin dealer or a pawnbroker — always pay for the fine weight, not the gross weight. The price achieved follows from:
- Determine the fine weight (scales + fineness check)
- Read off the current gold price (spot price in €/g or €/oz)
- Apply the dealer's buying quote (typically 90–98% of the spot price)
You can work out the melt value of your scrap gold or dental gold directly in the melt value calculator — no pocket calculator needed.
Fine weight in troy ounces
In international precious-metal trading, fine weight is frequently quoted in troy ounces (oz t). One troy ounce equals exactly 31.1034768 g. Standardised bars under LBMA Good Delivery (400 oz gold bars) are always valued in the trade by their fine weight in troy ounces — the gross weight of the heavy bars varies slightly according to the exact alloy.
The unit converter switches between grams, troy ounces, kilograms and further units in seconds.
In brief
Fine weight is the decisive value in any precious-metal transaction: it states how much pure metal an object really contains and is therefore the only correct basis for pricing, buying-in and melt-value calculation. Gross weight minus the alloy share gives the fine weight — no more, no less.