BUYING BASICS · 3 MIN READ
One ounce. Two very different measurements.
Why bullion uses troy ounces, and how to compare weights correctly.
Start with the right unit
Precious metals are commonly quoted per troy ounce. One troy ounce equals 31.1034768 grams. The everyday avoirdupois ounce used for many household measurements is about 28.3495 grams. They are not interchangeable.
Fine weight versus gross weight
Fine weight describes the amount of precious metal. Gross weight includes the other metals in an alloy. For valuation, multiply gross weight by the correct fineness, or use a verified fine-metal weight from the product specification.
Read the product specification
Check the mint or manufacturer specification, metal, fine weight and purity. A product’s legal-tender face value is a different concept from its metal value. Collectible value may also differ from melt value.
Use grams to compare
Convert fine grams to troy ounces by dividing by 31.1034768. Then divide the complete purchase cost by fine troy ounces. This lets you compare different sizes without confusing their total prices.