Metal Price Table
The value of gold, silver and platinum depends on the weight of the metal, its purity and the market price being used. This calculator helps you estimate the underlying metal value of an item using those figures.
Use the Holytown Antiques Precious Metals Price Calculator to estimate the metal value of gold, silver or platinum in your chosen currency. Enter the weight, select the purity and use the relevant market price to calculate an approximate value.
The result represents an estimated precious-metal value only. Jewellery, watches, silverware, coins and antique objects may have additional value because of their maker, age, design, condition, gemstones, rarity or collectability.
Precious-metal prices change throughout the trading day, so always check the price and units being used before relying on a calculation.
Field Descriptions
Reference Precious Metal Prices
The reference price table can be used to look up an indicative market price for gold, silver or platinum before entering a figure into the calculator.
Select the currency and unit you want to view, then use the corresponding pure-metal price in the calculator.
Precious-metal prices can change throughout the trading day. Always check the currency, unit and time of the price being used.
Metal
Select the precious metal you want to calculate:
- Gold
- Silver
- Platinum
The available purity options change automatically to match the selected metal.
Currency
Select the currency used for the pure-metal price you are entering. The calculator supports British pounds, US dollars and euros.
Metal Weight
Enter the weight of the precious metal you want to value.
For jewellery containing gemstones, watch movements, steel springs or other non-precious components, the total gross weight may be higher than the actual precious-metal weight.
Where possible, use the weight of the precious-metal content only.
Weight Unit
The calculator accepts:
- Grams
- Troy ounces
- Kilograms
Precious metals are traditionally quoted using troy ounces. One troy ounce equals approximately 31.1035 grams.
A troy ounce is different from the ordinary avoirdupois ounce commonly used for everyday weight measurements.
Purity / Fineness
Purity describes how much of the item is made from the selected precious metal.
For example, 925 sterling silver contains 92.5% silver, while 375 gold contains 37.5% gold.
Select the fineness or carat that corresponds with the item you are researching. If the required purity is not listed, choose Custom Purity.
Custom Purity (%)
If the item has a fineness that is not included in the standard list, select Custom Purity and enter the percentage of precious metal manually.
For example, a fineness of 835 represents 83.5% pure metal.
Pure Metal Price
Enter the reference or market price for the pure metal.
The calculator applies the purity separately, so do not enter a price that has already been reduced for 9ct gold, sterling silver or another lower fineness.
Price Unit
Select the unit used by the pure-metal price you entered:
- Per gram
- Per troy ounce
- Per kilogram
The calculator automatically converts the entered price to an equivalent price per gram before calculating the metal value.
Understanding Your Results
Total Weight
This converts the weight entered into grams so the calculation can be performed consistently.
Fine Metal Content
This is the estimated weight of pure precious metal contained within the item after its fineness has been applied.
For example, a 10 gram item made from 375 gold contains approximately:
10 g × 37.5% = 3.75 g of fine gold.
Estimated Metal Value
The estimated metal value is calculated by multiplying the fine precious-metal content by the pure-metal price entered.
This represents an approximate underlying metal or melt value rather than a retail valuation of the complete object.
How the Precious Metals Calculator Works
The calculation can be simplified into three stages.
Step 1 — Convert the Weight to Grams
If the weight is entered in troy ounces or kilograms, it is first converted into grams.
Step 2 — Calculate the Fine Metal Content
The total weight is multiplied by the purity of the metal.
Fine metal weight = total weight × purity.
Step 3 — Apply the Pure-Metal Price
The fine metal weight is multiplied by the equivalent pure-metal price per gram.
Estimated metal value = fine metal weight × pure-metal price.
Common Gold, Silver and Platinum Fineness Marks
The following figures are useful examples of precious-metal fineness. Hallmarks can contain additional information, so a fineness mark should be considered as part of the complete hallmark rather than in isolation.
| Metal | Mark / Fineness | Approximate Pure Metal Content |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 999 / 999.9 | 99.9%+ gold |
| Gold | 916 / 22ct | 91.6% gold |
| Gold | 750 / 18ct | 75.0% gold |
| Gold | 585 / 14ct | 58.5% gold |
| Gold | 417 / 10ct | 41.7% gold |
| Gold | 375 / 9ct | 37.5% gold |
| Silver | 999 | 99.9% silver |
| Silver | 958.4 Britannia | 95.84% silver |
| Silver | 925 Sterling | 92.5% silver |
| Silver | 900 | 90.0% silver |
| Silver | 835 | 83.5% silver |
| Silver | 800 | 80.0% silver |
| Platinum | 999 | 99.9% platinum |
| Platinum | 950 | 95.0% platinum |
| Platinum | 900 | 90.0% platinum |
| Platinum | 850 | 85.0% platinum |
If you are trying to identify the marks on a piece of jewellery or silver, use our Jewellery Hallmark Reference Guide.
Precious Metal Value Example
Suppose you have a piece of 9ct gold weighing 10 grams.
9ct gold is represented by a fineness of 375, meaning approximately 37.5% of the alloy is gold.
Step 1 — Calculate the Fine Gold Weight
10 g × 0.375 = 3.75 g of fine gold.
Step 2 — Apply a Pure-Gold Price
For illustration only, suppose the pure-gold price entered into the calculator was £80 per gram.
The calculation would be:
3.75 g × £80 = £300 estimated metal value.
The £80 figure in this example is purely illustrative and is not intended to represent the current gold price.
Metal Value Is Not the Same as Market Value
The underlying precious-metal content is only one part of the potential value of an object.
An antique ring, brooch, watch, silver object or coin may be worth more than its metal content because of factors such as:
- Maker or manufacturer
- Age and period
- Design and craftsmanship
- Condition
- Gemstones
- Rarity
- Provenance
- Historical interest
- Collector demand
Before selling an older or unusual item purely for its metal value, it can therefore be worthwhile researching exactly what it is.
Weighing Jewellery and Precious Metal Objects
For the most useful result, the weight entered should represent the precious-metal alloy being valued.
This can be straightforward with a plain gold ring or solid silver item, but more complicated objects may contain materials that should not be included in the metal calculation.
- Gemstones
- Glass
- Watch movements
- Steel springs and pins
- Filled or weighted bases
- Non-precious fittings
- Wood, resin or other decorative materials
If those components cannot be separated or accurately estimated, treat the result as a rough upper-limit calculation rather than an exact metal weight.
What Is a Troy Ounce?
Gold, silver and platinum are traditionally traded using the troy-weight system.
One troy ounce equals approximately:
31.1035 grams
This is heavier than an ordinary ounce, which is approximately 28.35 grams.
When using a precious-metal price quoted “per ounce”, check that the source means a troy ounce. Market prices for precious metals are normally quoted on this basis.
Precious Metals Price Calculator – Frequently Asked Questions
Does the calculator use live gold and silver prices automatically?
No. The calculator uses the pure-metal price you enter.
A third-party reference price table is provided to help with research, but you should check the displayed currency, unit and current price before entering a figure.
What is 9ct gold purity?
9ct gold has a fineness of 375, meaning it contains approximately 37.5% gold.
What is 18ct gold purity?
18ct gold has a fineness of 750, meaning approximately 75% of the alloy is gold.
What does 925 mean on silver?
A 925 mark normally indicates sterling silver with a fineness of 92.5% silver.
What does 950 mean on platinum?
A 950 fineness indicates approximately 95% platinum.
Can I enter ounces instead of grams?
Yes. Select Troy Ounces from the weight-unit menu. The calculator converts each troy ounce using approximately 31.1035 grams.
Can I use an ordinary kitchen ounce?
No. The ounce option in this calculator refers specifically to a troy ounce, not the ordinary 28.35 gram ounce.
Should gemstones be included in the weight?
Ideally no. Gemstones and other non-precious components add to the gross weight but do not contribute to the calculated metal content.
Is metal value the same as scrap value?
Not necessarily. The calculator estimates the theoretical value of the fine metal using the pure-metal price entered.
An actual purchaser or refiner may use different rates or apply deductions for testing, refining, processing or commercial margin.
Is metal value the same as what the item is worth?
No. Antique, vintage and collectible objects may have a market value that is higher than their underlying precious-metal content.
Can I use this calculator for coins?
It can be used to estimate the precious-metal content of a coin if its weight and fineness are known.
However, collectible and numismatic coins can be worth considerably more than their metal content, so the calculation should not be treated as a coin valuation.
How do I identify the purity of my jewellery?
Look for fineness numbers, carat marks and other hallmarks stamped on the item. Our Jewellery Hallmark Reference Guide can help explain common marks.
A stamped mark alone should not be treated as proof that an item is genuine. Testing or professional assessment may be required where authenticity is uncertain.
Related Resources
These Holytown Antiques resources may also help when identifying, researching or selling jewellery, silver and other antique items.
Jewellery Hallmark Reference Guide
Learn about common gold, silver and platinum fineness marks, assay marks and other jewellery hallmarks.
Antique Price Finder
Research previous sale results and compare similar antiques and collectables when investigating possible market value.
Sell an Item to Holytown Antiques
Have antique, vintage or quality pre-owned jewellery, silver or other items to sell? Send us details and photographs and we will be happy to take a look.
Browse Holytown Antiques
Browse our current selection of antique, vintage and distinctive pre-owned items.
Important Information
The Precious Metals Price Calculator is provided as a general research and planning tool. It estimates the underlying precious-metal value using the weight, purity and pure-metal price entered by the user.
The result is not a professional valuation, purchase offer, scrap quote or guarantee of the amount that could be obtained by selling the item.
Actual value may be affected by gemstones, non-precious components, maker, age, design, rarity, condition, collectability and other factors that are not included in the calculation.
Reference metal prices are provided by a third-party service and may be delayed, unavailable or different from prices used by dealers, refiners or other buyers. Precious-metal prices can also change throughout the trading day.
Hallmarks and fineness marks should be interpreted carefully. A stamped mark alone does not guarantee authenticity, metal content or age.
Please note: Information and calculations on this page are for general research purposes only and should not be treated as financial, investment, tax, legal or professional valuation advice.