Why the weight on the buyer's scale is less than you expected

The weight on the buyer's scale is lower because stones, meena, lac, dirt and non-gold parts come off before the gold is weighed. A fair deduction is small, specific and shown to you on the scale. If you plan to sell old gold, ask to see each deduction as its own number in grams, and do not accept a single vague cut.

We are Cash for Gold - Sona Do Paise Lo, in Noida Extension (Greater Noida West), and pickups cover Delhi NCR. This post is for the moment a buyer says "your bangle is 17 grams" and you remember it as 20.

Why does the buyer's scale show less than I expected?

The weight you remember is usually the weight of the whole piece. That includes things that are not gold. The buyer pays for gold only, so those parts are taken out first.

Common reasons for the gap:

• Stones and glass beads. These sit in settings and weigh something.
• Meena (enamel). The coloured layer on many bridal bangles and pendants.
• Lac or filling. Some hollow or heavy-looking bangles carry a lac fill inside.
• Clasps, springs and screws. The spring inside a clasp is often steel.
• Solder. Old repairs add joints that are not 22 karat.
• Dirt. Years of oil, powder and skin build up in the grooves of chains and carved bangles.

A heavy-looking piece with a lot of work on it can lose a few grams. A plain bangle usually loses very little. So the number depends on the piece, and a buyer who gives the same cut for every piece is guessing.

For more on how the parts are handled, read Stones, meena and clasps: the parts that are not gold.

What does a fair deduction look like?

A fair deduction has four features. You can check each one while you stand at the counter.

1. The full piece goes on the scale first. You see the gross weight, and it should match what you expected.
2. The non-gold part is dealt with openly. Stones that come out are weighed on their own. If a stone cannot be removed, the buyer explains how the estimate was made.
3. Each deduction has its own number in grams. For example, "stones, 1.2 grams" rather than "some wastage".
4. The gold weight is shown after the deduction. Then the karatmeter reading is taken on the gold, and the payout is worked out from weight, purity and the day's rate.

Cleaning is a small matter. A quick wipe or brush takes off dirt. It should not change the weight by more than a fraction of a gram on an ordinary piece.

To see how the weight is read at a counter, see How your gold is weighed, and what a tola actually is.

What does an unfair deduction look like?

Be careful when you see any of these:

• A flat percentage cut on everything. "We take 10 per cent on all jewellery" has nothing to do with your piece.
• A cut for stones that are not there. Plain bangles do not carry stone weight.
• A deduction named only as "wastage" or "melting loss". If the buyer cannot say what it is made of, ask again.
• A weight written down but never shown to you. The scale display should face you.
• A new deduction after the quote. The number should not change between the first quote and the final one without a reason you can see.
• Deducting the same item twice. For example, a stone weight taken off, and then a separate "stone charge" taken off again.

None of these needs an argument. You can ask a calm question and watch how the buyer answers.

Should I sell old gold with the stones still in?

You can. It is often better to leave stones in than to pry them out yourself. Prying them out can bend the setting and leave marks, and the piece is likely to be melted anyway.

Keep in mind that our shop buys gold only. We do not buy stones, so the stones are weighed and set aside, not paid for. If a stone is valuable to your family, remove it with a jeweller before you come, or keep the piece.

If a piece has sentimental weight, nothing has to happen today. Take your time. A piece that holds a memory does not have to be sold in one visit.

For a wider look at what the counter does with mixed pieces, see Selling jewellery you inherited.

How can I check the number before I accept it?

A few steps give you a firm basis for comparing:

1. Weigh the piece at home first. A kitchen scale will not be exact, but it shows roughly how heavy the piece is. Write the number down.
2. Count what you can see. Note how many stones, enamel panels and clasps are on the piece.
3. Ask the buyer to name every deduction. Each one should be a weight, not a percentage.
4. Ask for the gold weight and the purity reading separately. They are two different inputs.
5. Compare with a second shop if the gap is bigger than the piece explains. A plain bangle that loses 3 grams needs an explanation.

You can also use our guide to ask a buyer the right questions: Five questions to ask any buyer before you hand over your gold. If you are selling purana sona and want the Hinglish version, there is a page for that at gold bechna hai.

What if I think the deduction is wrong?

Say so at the counter. Ask the buyer to show the stones or the enamel part separately, and ask to see the scale again. A fair buyer will do this without trouble.

If the answer still does not make sense, you can pick up your piece and leave. There is no charge for asking. Many people take a second quote the same day, and the post on comparing three quotes explains how.

If you want to talk before you travel, call or WhatsApp 9217742656 with a photo of the piece and the weight you remember. We can tell you which parts will come off. The exact figure is worked out at the counter once the gold is tested.

You can read where we are and how to reach us on our Noida Extension page, and the visit page has directions.

Questions people ask

Why is my gold bangle lighter on the buyer's scale? The buyer weighs only the gold. Stones, enamel, lac, steel springs, repair solder and dirt are taken off the total, so the gold weight is lower than the weight of the whole piece.

How many grams of deduction is normal? It depends on the piece. A plain bangle loses almost nothing. A piece with stones and meena can lose a few grams. Any deduction should be shown to you as a weight in grams.

Can I call before I sell old gold to find out what will be deducted? Yes. Call or WhatsApp 9217742656 with a photo and the weight you remember, and we will tell you which parts will come off. The final weight is taken at the counter.

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