Fine Weight
Also: Fine metal weight, Pure weight
The fine weight states the amount of pure precious metal actually contained in a bar, coin or piece of jewellery - independent of the object's total weight.
The fine weight is one of the most important figures when buying and selling precious metals. It describes the amount of pure metal - that is, gold, silver, platinum or palladium - contained in an object. Anyone who wants to apply the gold price to their jewellery or bar needs the fine weight, not the total weight of the piece.
Fine weight vs. gross weight
Every physical precious metal object has two weight figures:
- Gross weight (also total weight or brutto weight): The actual 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, which is stated in thousandths or carats. The relationship is unambiguous:
Fine weight = gross weight x (fineness / 1000)
An example: a gold bracelet weighs 10.0 g and bears the hallmark 585 (14 carat). The fine weight is then 10.0 x 0.585 = 5.85 g fine gold. Only this value is decisive in 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 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 |
Notably: despite their higher gross weight, the Krugerrand and American Eagle contain the same amount of fine gold as the Maple Leaf - their copper addition only increases mechanical durability.
Significance for buying and melt value
Buyers - whether a refinery, coin dealer or pawnbroker - always pay for the fine weight, not the gross weight. The price achieved results from:
- Determine the fine weight (scale + fineness test)
- Read the current gold price (spot price in EUR/g or EUR/oz)
- Apply the dealer's buying quota (typically 90-98% of the spot price)
You can determine the melt value of your scrap gold or dental gold directly in the melt value calculator - without a pocket calculator.
Fine weight in troy ounces
In international precious metals trading, fine weight is often stated 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 trade according to their fine weight in troy ounces - the gross weight of the heavy bars varies slightly depending on the exact alloy.
The unit converter converts grams, troy ounces, kilograms and other units in seconds.
In brief
The fine weight is the decisive value in every precious metal transaction: it states how much pure metal an object really contains and thus forms the only correct basis for price calculation, buying and melt value determination. Gross weight minus alloy proportions gives the fine weight - no more, no less.