Five-gram bars versus five grams of jewellery
A five-gram bullion bar and a five-gram ring are not equivalent holdings. A bar marked 999.9 is almost entirely gold; an 18k ring marked 750 contains 3.75 grams of gold before deductions for stones and other materials. The remaining alloy is not priced as gold. Retail jewellery also includes design and manufacturing value which a scrap buyer may not recognise.
For an occasional gift, a small bar can be easier to store and transfer than an unfamiliar coin. Before paying, compare the dealer’s selling price with its published buy-back price for that exact product. That spread is more informative than a promise that the bar follows the market. If selling jewellery, request a quote for each grade and ask whether the buyer is paying for the item or only the recoverable metal.
Weight is not the same as gold content
The number on a scale is a starting point, not a complete valuation. For a 5 g item marked 750, the gold-content calculation is 5 × 0.750 = 3.75 grams of gold. With the current EUR reference of €117.92 per gram, that gives €442.21 in theoretical melt value. A 585 item of the same gross weight instead contains 2.925 grams of gold, worth €344.93 before deductions. Values are rounded only for display.
Stones, steel springs, solder, enamel and other components can change the net metal weight. Ask a buyer to show which weight it uses, which purity it tested and what amount it deducts. A hallmark is helpful evidence but does not replace testing when authenticity or composition is uncertain. Gold-plated and gold-filled objects cannot be valued by applying a solid-gold purity fraction to their entire weight.
Compare a retail quote with a scrap quote fairly
A dealer selling a finished bullion product usually quotes more than spot because the product has fabrication, distribution and commercial costs. A scrap buyer often quotes less than theoretical content value because recovering saleable metal has costs and risk. Neither difference is automatically suspicious. What matters is a transparent calculation for the same product, weight and date, including payment, delivery, assay and refining charges.
Compare the actual amount you will receive or pay, not just a headline rate. If two offers use different currencies, convert them at a consistent exchange rate. If one uses pennyweight and the other grams, convert the units before comparing. The calculator includes pennyweight, with one dwt equal to 1.55517384 grams. The international bullion quote uses troy ounces, with one troy ounce equal to 31.1034768 grams.
Tax treatment depends on the product
In the UK and EU, qualifying investment gold can be VAT-exempt, but the conditions concern the product and its fineness rather than simply its weight. Jewellery and scrap do not automatically meet those conditions. Switzerland has its own rules and the US uses state-level sales and use taxes rather than federal VAT. Check the relevant authority before treating the value here as an all-in purchase cost.
For the calculation rules and limitations, read our gold price methodology. Before selling, use the guide to comparing gold buyers; to publish this reference on a shop website, open the free gold price widget builder.
Compare other weights and purities
1 g gold price10 g gold price50 g gold price100 g gold price1 kg gold price
| Karat | EUR / g | USD / g | GBP / g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24k gold (999) | €117.81 | US$132.27 | £98.89 |
| 22k gold (916) | €108.02 | US$121.28 | £90.68 |
| 21k gold (875) | €103.18 | US$115.85 | £86.62 |
| 18k gold (750) | €88.44 | US$99.30 | £74.24 |
| 14k gold (585) | €68.99 | US$77.46 | £57.91 |
| 10k gold (417) | €49.17 | US$55.21 | £41.28 |
| 9k gold (375) | €44.22 | US$49.65 | £37.12 |
Frequently asked questions
- How is the 5 g gold price calculated?
- Multiply the pure-gold price per gram by 5. For jewellery, also multiply by its tested fineness. A 750 hallmark uses 0.750, while a 999 hallmark uses 0.999.
- Is 5 g of 18k gold worth the same as fine gold?
- No. 5 g of 750 gold contains 3.75 grams of gold before exclusions for stones or non-gold components. The remaining alloy is not valued as gold.
- How many troy ounces are in 5 g?
- 5 g equals approximately 0.160754 troy ounces. Precious metals use a 31.1034768-gram troy ounce, not the ordinary 28.3495-gram ounce.
- Will a dealer pay the full 5 g spot value?
- Not necessarily. Buyers may deduct testing, refining and their margin. Request a written net-weight and fineness calculation and compare several offers made at similar times.
- Does the table include VAT and product premiums?
- No. Spot content values exclude premiums and taxes. Qualifying investment gold can receive a VAT exemption in the UK and EU; jewellery does not automatically qualify. US sales tax depends on the state and product.