Silver Weight Units Explained
Troy Ounce vs Regular Ounce
The precious metals industry uses troy ounces (31.1035 g), which are heavier than the standard avoirdupois ounce (28.3495 g). When you see "silver price per ounce," it always means per troy ounce.
Pennyweight (dwt)
Jewelers commonly weigh items in pennyweight. There are 20 pennyweight in one troy ounce. One dwt equals approximately 1.5552 grams.
Tola
Used across South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) for precious metals. One tola equals 11.6638 grams or exactly 3/8 of a troy ounce.
Why Weight Units Matter
Always confirm which unit a buyer is using. A "per ounce" offer in troy ounces is about 10% more silver than in regular ounces — a common and costly source of confusion.
Quick Reference Table
| Unit | Abbrev. | Grams | Troy Oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Gram | g | 1.0000 | 0.03215 |
| 1 Troy Ounce | oz t | 31.1035 | 1.0000 |
| 1 Pennyweight | dwt | 1.5552 | 0.0500 |
| 1 Kilogram | kg | 1,000.0 | 32.1507 |
| 1 Tola | tola | 11.6638 | 0.3750 |
| 1 Avoirdupois Oz | oz | 28.3495 | 0.9115 |