Practical metal knowledge

Understand the number before using it.

Shorter task-focused explanations complement the research library and help readers compare prices, convert units and evaluate a transaction.

Core concepts

Start with price mechanics

These concepts apply across several metals and prevent the most common comparison errors.

Price basics

What the phrase usually means, what it leaves unspecified and why it is not a guaranteed retail transaction.

Physical products

Why a coin or bar costs more than contained metal and sells back at a different price.

Weights

Convert precious-metal units without confusing a troy ounce with an ordinary ounce.

Reference first

Start with a primary market-reference source, then capture its unit, currency, quote type and timestamp.

By metal

Understand 375, 417, 585, 750, 916 and 999 fineness and their approximate karat equivalents.

Separate 925 silver's fine-metal content from craftsmanship, condition, provenance and selling costs.

Understand cents per pound, dollars per tonne, refined cathode and why scrap grades receive different offers.

Editorial standard

The source, unit, timing, conversion and correction fields every future data point must carry.

Selling checklists

Sorting, documenting and comparing like-for-like bids can matter as much as the arithmetic.

Protect collectible value, document weight and purity assumptions, understand testing, and compare itemized offers.

Sort sterling, coins, flatware and plated pieces before estimating fine-metal value and contacting buyers.