- Gold Weights Explained
With this said, When discussing weights and measures, Most people will be unfamiliar with ‘troy ounces’ as it is not a system of weight used in other areas, When cooking, For example, Weights are generally specified today in grams, Confusingly, If you looked at a recipe from the 1950’s, It may indeed specify ounces but these ounces are not the same as a troy ounce.
- How Much Is A Troy Ounce?
Weight |
Weight In Grams |
1 Ounce |
28.3495 |
1 Troy Ounce |
31.1035 |
When buying bullion coins and some bars, The weight is expressed in troy ounces, For those new to the process, This may prove an initial hurdle as many dealers will not explicitly state ‘troy ounces’ next to a product, Referring to it instead as an ounce, Although this is the case, Generally speaking whenever dealing with precious metals, The weight will be expressed in troy ounces for coins and grams or troy ounces for bars.
However, Around medieval times when traders were bartering for goods, All precious metals were weighed using the troy system not the avoirdupois system, The troy system uses pounds and ounces too, But there is one major difference, An avoirdupois ounce equals 28.35 grams, Whereas a troy ounce weighs 31.10 grams, This means one troy ounce is equivalent to approximately 1.09714 avoirdupois ounces, We still use the troy system today especially when weighing precious metals.
Throughout much of Asia and particularly in India, A weight of measure called the ‘Tola’ is standard for weighing gold. Tola means ‘weight’ and the name has its roots in Sanskrit, A tola weighs 3/8 of a troy ounce or 11.6638038g.
Other countries have various systems for weight and they differ in the number of grams, Depending on the country, For example, Some parts of the world still have the Pennyweight, Which they use to weigh precious metals or jewellery, This is equal to 1.555g or 1/20th troy ounce, This system was used previously in the United Kingdom, But lost its status in the weights and measures act of 1878.
In South East Asia, China and Hong Kong, A system called the Tael or Tahil is used, The Tahil has different weights depending where it is used, In mainland China, One Tahil is equal to 50 grams, Whereas in Hong Kong and Singapore it is 37.799 grams, So there is quite a difference, In Thailand, They use the Bhat, Which is equal to 15.244 grams.
Grains of wheat were traditionally used as weights by measuring the grain from dried kernels, It is the smallest unit of weight used in troy and avoirdupois systems, Jewellers would use a system called the Jewellers Grain to measure precious stones before the use of the carat came into being, A Jewellers Grain is equal to one quarter of a carat.
There are other ways to invest in precious metals which rely slightly less on weight as a main focus, Biz Sky Jewellery physically-backed digital offering DigiGold provides another convenient way to invest in precious metals, DigiGold enables you to buy gold by value, Rather than weight, Giving you the flexibility to buy a fraction of a large 400-ounce bar for a minimum of SGD $50.00, The bars are stored securely in The Vault ® at Biz Sky Jewellery and you are able to buy, Store and sell at your convenience.
- Where Did This Originate?
However, Around medieval times when traders were bartering for goods, All precious metals were weighed using the troy system not the avoirdupois system, The troy system uses pounds and ounces too, But there is one major difference, An avoirdupois ounce equals 28.35 grams, Whereas a troy ounce weighs 31.10 grams, This means one troy ounce is equivalent to approximately 1.09714 avoirdupois ounces, We still use the troy system today especially when weighing precious metals.
- Do Precious Metal Weights Differ In Other Countries?
Throughout much of Asia and particularly in India, A weight of measure called the ‘Tola’ is standard for weighing gold. Tola means ‘weight’ and the name has its roots in Sanskrit, A tola weighs 3/8 of a troy ounce or 11.6638038g.
Other countries have various systems for weight and they differ in the number of grams, Depending on the country, For example, Some parts of the world still have the Pennyweight, Which they use to weigh precious metals or jewellery, This is equal to 1.555g or 1/20th troy ounce, This system was used previously in the United Kingdom, But lost its status in the weights and measures act of 1878.
In South East Asia, China and Hong Kong, A system called the Tael or Tahil is used, The Tahil has different weights depending where it is used, In mainland China, One Tahil is equal to 50 grams, Whereas in Hong Kong and Singapore it is 37.799 grams, So there is quite a difference, In Thailand, They use the Bhat, Which is equal to 15.244 grams.
Grains of wheat were traditionally used as weights by measuring the grain from dried kernels, It is the smallest unit of weight used in troy and avoirdupois systems, Jewellers would use a system called the Jewellers Grain to measure precious stones before the use of the carat came into being, A Jewellers Grain is equal to one quarter of a carat.
- Buying Precious Metals
There are other ways to invest in precious metals which rely slightly less on weight as a main focus, Biz Sky Jewellery physically-backed digital offering DigiGold provides another convenient way to invest in precious metals, DigiGold enables you to buy gold by value, Rather than weight, Giving you the flexibility to buy a fraction of a large 400-ounce bar for a minimum of SGD $50.00, The bars are stored securely in The Vault ® at Biz Sky Jewellery and you are able to buy, Store and sell at your convenience.