Start with the 585 assumption.
The 14K preset uses 0.585, meaning 58.5% gold. The mathematical fraction 14 ÷ 24 is approximately 58.333%. Both conventions appear in descriptions of 14K jewellery; they are not identical numbers. A 585 stamp is a declared fineness, not proof that an individual ring or chain has that composition.
Read the entire mark. “14K gold-filled” or a plating mark does not mean 58.5% of the whole item is gold. Do not apply the solid-alloy formula to its gross weight. Competition Bureau marking guidance distinguishes solid precious-metal articles from plated and filled products.
Three practical weight examples.
At an illustrative pure-gold reference of C$200 per gram, the 585-alloy reference is C$117 per eligible gram. These are worked examples, not today’s market prices or typical jewellery weights. A ring, chain or bracelet must be weighed individually.
| Eligible weight | Contained gold | Metal reference | Use current reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 g | 2.925 g | C$585 | Estimate 5 g ↗ |
| 10 g | 5.850 g | C$1,170 | Estimate 10 g ↗ |
| 25 g | 14.625 g | C$2,925 | Estimate 25 g ↗ |
The links carry weight and purity into the full calculator, which uses its market reference—not the C$200 teaching scenario. If you enter a manual benchmark above, it remains a labelled scenario until you reset it.
Why a buyer may offer less.
Gross item weight can include stones and other non-gold material. In an example where a 10 g item has 2 g of verified non-gold components, the calculation uses 8 g. At 0.585 and C$200 per pure gram, the contained-metal reference becomes C$936, not C$1,170.
If an independent buyer’s net offer were C$850, the effective payout would be about 90.8% of that C$936 reference. This is a hypothetical comparison, not Meridian’s payout rate. Ask what is already included in the net amount: testing, recovery, fees and dealer margin must not be deducted twice.
A household scale can help you prepare, but a trade measurement is different. Measurement Canada explains the scale requirements for precious metals sold by weight.
A melt estimate is not a jewellery appraisal.
A wearable designer piece, antique ring or recognised maker’s chain may have a resale market above its metal content. Stones may also need separate evaluation. Conversely, the original retail price includes design, labour and retail costs that a scrap buyer may not recover.
Before selling, compare the likely jewellery-resale route with the scrap route. Keep hallmarks, receipts and prior appraisals together. Do not clean an antique or agree to destructive testing before you understand the consequences.