Gold buyer: why the weight reads less

A 10 gram set can read 8.4 grams on a gold buyer's scale because stones, meena (enamel), lac filling, dirt and non-gold parts are taken off before weighing. You are paid for the gold only. Ask to watch each part come off and to see the scale, and the number will make sense to you.

We are Cash for Gold - Sona Do Paise Lo, in Noida Extension (Greater Noida West), and our pickups cover Delhi NCR. This post is for the moment before the weighing, when most arguments start. If you know what is coming, you can check it calmly.

Why does the weight on the scale read less than my jewellery?

The weight you know is the weight of the whole piece. That is the number on the old bill, or the number your family remembers. It includes everything attached to the gold.

A buyer pays for gold. So the scale has to show gold, and nothing else. These parts are not gold:

Stones and beads. Kundan, pearls, coloured stones and glass all add weight. The shop does not buy them, and they are removed from the count.
Meena (enamel). The coloured coating on bangles, pendants and temple jewellery.
Lac or wax filling. Many hollow or heavy-looking bangles and mangalsutra parts are packed with it.
Clasps, screws and springs. Some are steel or brass, even on a gold chain.
Solder. The joining metal at old repairs. It is often lower in purity than the piece.
Dirt. Years of oil, soap and skin collect in the grooves of carved work.

If you want the longer version of each, we have a separate post on stones, meena and clasps. Here we stay on the decision: what to expect, and what to watch.

How can a 10 gram set read 8.4 grams?

Here is an example with made-up numbers, only to show the idea. Say a set weighs 10.0 grams when you place it on the scale whole. It has small stones in the pendant, meena on the back of the earrings, and steel screws in the earring posts.

Stones and their settings glue: about 0.9 grams
Meena and lac filling: about 0.5 grams
Screws and the clasp spring: about 0.2 grams

That removes 1.6 grams. The gold that is left reads 8.4 grams.

Your set will not match this. Some pieces lose almost nothing. A plain chain or a plain bangle may lose only a trace of dirt. A heavy stone-set necklace can lose much more than this example.

The point is that a difference is normal when a piece carries more than gold. It is not a sign that anyone is cheating. The difference only becomes a problem if it is hidden from you.

How do I watch the weighing happen?

Do this with any gold buyer, not only with us. A fair buyer will not mind.

Weigh the whole piece first. Note the number. Take a photo of the display if you like.
Ask which parts will come off. Point at the stones, the meena and the clasp. Ask the buyer to say what will be removed.
Watch the removal. Stones are picked out, loose parts are taken off, and the piece is cleaned.
Weigh the gold again. The display should face you and show the figure clearly.
Ask for the removed parts back. They are yours. You can keep them, and you can see exactly what was taken off.

If a buyer says the weight dropped and will not show you why, that is the moment to stop. Take your time. Nothing has to happen today. You can pick up your gold and leave, or get a second view. We cover that in should you get a second quote.

What if I think too much was taken off?

Say so at the counter, at that moment. Ask to see the removed parts on the tray. Stones are easy to count, and a lump of lac or a bent steel clasp is easy to see.

Some things can be checked on the spot:

Are the removed parts lying in front of you, or already in a drawer?
Does the weight of the removed parts, weighed on their own, match the drop?
Can you see the drop on the same scale, with the same display?

If the numbers do not add up, you can ask for the piece to be weighed again. You can also say no and take it back. Selling is your decision until you accept the figure.

If you want a plain explanation first, our post why the weight on the buyer's scale is less than you expected goes through the common cases.

Does the weight loss change the purity reading?

No. They are two separate numbers. The weight tells you how many grams of the piece are gold-bearing metal. The karatmeter reading tells you how pure that metal is, for example whether it is 22 karat or lower.

Both are done in front of you, and together with the day's rate they decide the figure for your piece. That figure is worked out at the counter, after testing. You can read how the reading is taken in how a karatmeter reading is taken, step by step.

One thing to know: a piece can be 22 karat in the stamp and still carry solder that is lower. If the test shows something different from the stamp, we cover that in what happens if your gold tests lower than the stamp says.

Should I clean or remove the stones myself before I come?

You can, but you do not have to. Pulling out stones yourself can bend prongs or scratch the piece, and it can hurt your hands. A buyer who deals in purana sona every day has the tools to do it cleanly.

What helps more:

Bring the whole piece. Do not send only the part you think is gold.
Bring any loose stones or parts in the same bag. Then nothing is lost, and it is easier to account for the weight.
Do not polish it at home. Rubbing with harsh powders can scratch the surface and takes away gold in tiny amounts.

If you are unsure what to bring, read what to bring when you come to sell gold. If you would rather not travel, selling without leaving home explains how a pickup handles the same steps.

Is it worth asking a second gold buyer about the weight?

Sometimes. If you are selling a plain chain or a plain bangle, the weight will barely move, and a second visit changes little. If the piece has stones, meena or lac, the weight drop is where buyers differ most, so a second look can be worth an hour.

When you compare, compare the same three things at each place: the weight of gold after removal, the purity reading, and the rate used. Our post on why two shops quote different rates shows how to line them up.

For first-time sellers, the whole visit is also laid out in what actually happens when you walk into a gold shop. If you prefer to ask in Hindi, our gold bechna hai page is written that way, and the local page is sell gold in Noida Extension.

If you have a piece with stones or enamel and want to know how it will be handled before you travel, call or WhatsApp 9217742656. Send a photo, and we will tell you which parts come off and what to expect on the scale.

Questions people ask

Why is my gold weight less when I sell it? Stones, meena, lac filling, clasps made of other metal, solder and dirt are taken off before weighing. You are paid for the gold only, so the scale reads less than the whole piece.

Can I watch the weighing and ask for the removed parts back? Yes, with any buyer. Ask to see the whole piece weighed first, the parts removed, and the gold weighed again on a display that faces you. The removed parts are yours.

Who can I ask about a piece with stones before I travel? Call or WhatsApp 9217742656 with a photo of the piece. We can explain what comes off and how it is weighed, before you decide to come in.

How the karatmeter reading is taken · Why the published rate is not your payout