Weighing

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Silver dealers like to weigh down to 1g and up to least 3000g (about 96oz). They need the high capacity for heavy items such as teapots and salvers. If you only weigh small items of jewellery, then any 'gold scale' (resolution 0.1g) will do, with a capacity of between 500g (about 16oz) and 1000g (about 31oz)...or even 2000g (about 54oz) - but be aware that a 2000g item won't fit onto a small weighing platform!

These 1g scales are also good for letters and parcels, and also food. If you want silver scales that will double as a parcel scale, go for a higher capacity, e.g. 8000g.

If the 'silver' scales' are too bulky for you (or two expensive) a cheap option is the 'digital spring balance', designed to weigh suit cases but OK to give an approximate idea of the value of silver. Even simpler are mechanical spring balances, and an ingenious pocket 'hanging balance' for weighing letters.

Confused about weights? 1g? 0.1g? 0.01g?, 0.001g ? See our article about weighing.

Want to know today's value of 1g (or 1oz) of silver? See the article about weighing.

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A resolution of 0.1g is just right for weighing gold.

Things to consider:
- choose a capacity: 500g = about 16oz; 1000g = about 32oz; 2000g - about 64oz.
- think about the size and weight of the scale: a table balance? Pocket-size?
- will the items you are likely to weigh fit on the weighing platform?
- will you be buying by weight? You will need an approved scale.

Confused about weights? 1g? 0.1g? 0.01g?, 0.001g ? See our article about weighing.

Want to know today's value of 1g of gold? See the article about weighing.

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(I sometimes say "scales" and I sometimes say "balances" - they are the same)

Weighing down to 0.01g is good for gemstones (though this is not fine enough for diamonds).

There are also many specialist applications: chemicals (e.g. catalysts); powder (for ammunition); measuring specific gravity (relative density) for testing gold; miniature model aeroplane parts.

For general dealing in gold and silver 0.01g is a bit too sensitive. There's no harm in weighing gold down to 0.01g, but do check that the capacity is high enough. Confused about weights? See our article about weighing.

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Weighing down to 0.001g good for measuring specific gravity (relative density) when testing gemstones.

It is also used for weighing diamonds, switch the scales from grams to carats (100 points = 1 carat, 20 carat = 1 gram). Confused about weights? See our article about weighing.

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Some balances weigh in different resolutions (minimum weight) over different ranges. For instance, it might weigh in 0.1 steps up to 1000g, and then it will weigh in 0.5g steps up to 3000g, and then it will weight in 1g steps up to 5000g. These days this all happens automatically, the resolution automatically changes as the weight gets higher, you don't have to press any buttons.

This gives the best of all worlds, you can weigh gold down to, say, 0.1g and silver all the way up to, say, 5000g.

Q. Why so complicated, why can't they just make a scale that goes in 0.1g steps up to 5000g?
A. That's not a problem, there are plenty like that, but they cost a few hundred pounds.

Confused about weights? 1g? 0.1g? 0.01g?, 0.001g ? See our article about weighing.

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We bought a massive 'job lot' of scales in May (2019). As you see from the quantity listed by each item, there are only a few of each model. Once sold, there are no more.

My guess (only a guess!) is that most of them will be sold by Christmas and they will all be gone by February or March (2020).

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These scales are approved by Trading Standards for "use in trade". That means buying by weight. If you buy by weight you must, by law, use an approved scale. This applies whether you have a shop or a market scale; this applies whether you trade from an antiques centre or boots sales; this applies whether you work from business premises or from home.

See an article about Approved scales.

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Individual weights, boxed sets of weights, mains adaptors (power supplies) for scales. Also button batteries for the smaller scales (we do not sell standard batteries that you can buy in any shop).