Start with the market price
The market reference is a time-stamped price for a troy ounce of metal in a stated currency. Meridian displays gold and silver references in Canadian dollars. Read the source and timestamp beside the value: a current indication, delayed reference, sample and user-entered scenario are different things.
One troy ounce equals approximately 31.1035 grams. Dividing the CAD price per troy ounce by 31.1035 produces a reference price per gram of pure gold.
Work out the metal content
Indicative metal value equals eligible weight multiplied by verified or declared purity, multiplied by the reference price per gram. Before verification, the result is only a scenario based on customer inputs.
Stones, non-gold components, hollow construction, plated material, solder and assay variance can reduce recoverable weight. Recognized bullion may instead retain a product premium above raw melt value.
Allow for the actual item and transaction
A purchase offer begins with verified value and subtracts the costs and risk required to test, settle, hold, hedge, refine or resell the item. A retail price begins with replacement cost and adds product premium, operating cost and margin.
Meridian’s gold calculator applies different assumptions to different item types. Recognized bullion, scrap jewellery and estate pieces have different testing and resale considerations. The resulting purchase range is an illustration, not a commitment to pay it. Silver currently shows contained-metal value only, not a purchase range.
Read the estimate with its assumptions
The calculator shows the reference metal value, an estimated gold purchase range where available, the effective payout percentage and the factors that could change after verification. Open ‘How this was calculated’ to see the underlying assumptions and cost allowances.
Market references refresh periodically. A sample, delayed or unavailable price is labelled rather than presented as current. Saving a summary records the inputs and reference used; it does not lock the price, submit an assessment request or create an offer.
Sources & further reading.
Meridian guides are educational. They are not legal, tax or investment advice, and they do not create an offer to buy or sell gold or silver.