Gold Polish Calculator — Grams-per-Tola Polish Loss → Grams Output
Gold polish loss is the small mass of metal removed during the final polishing and finishing of a jewellery piece. Sarafa Bazar jewellers typically quote polish loss as grams-per-tola (e.g., "1 g per tola" or "0.5 g per tola"), translating to a deduction from the gross gold weight when reconciling with the customer.
This calculator takes a polish-loss rate in grams-per-tola and your gross weight, then returns the net (post-polish) weight in grams plus the money-value difference at live international XAU/USD spot rates.
When to use this calculator
- Jeweller-customer settlement on bespoke jewellery making.
- Polish-shop intake/return weighing.
- Inventory reconciliation between making-charge piece-rate and final-sale weight.
Polish Loss in Jewellery Making: What Sarafa Bazar Jewellers Measure
Gold polish (in the jewellery context) refers to the abrasive finishing process that removes microscopic surface layers from a piece to achieve the final mirror or satin sheen. This recovered material — gold dust mixed with polishing compound — cannot be economically recovered at the workshop level, so it is treated as a weight loss on the gross gold handed over by the customer. Sarafa Bazar trade custom requires jewellers to declare this loss explicitly on the job ticket, typically quoted as grams-per-tola of gross weight.
The standard polish loss range at Pakistani and Indian jewellers is 0.5 to 1.0 grams per tola, equivalent to 4.3% to 8.6% of a tola's mass. High-complexity pieces — stone-set with extensive mirror-finish surfaces — lose more; simple chains and bangles with satin finishes lose less. Luxury goldsmiths using electrolytic polishing rather than abrasive wheels can achieve losses below 0.3 g/tola.
Polish settlement disputes arise when the declared rate and the actual post-job weight difference diverge. This calculator provides independent verification: enter the gross weight, the declared polish rate, and the net weight the calculator returns should match the jeweller's final weight within the tolerance of your scale. For the variant that returns output in tola/masha/ratti, the grams-per-tola → tola output polish calculator handles the same calculation with South Asian units throughout.
Polish loss math
Net grams = Gross grams − (Gross tola × polish g/tola). Where gross tola = Gross grams ÷ 11.664. Example: 50 g gross with 1 g/tola polish loss = 50 − (4.287 × 1) = 45.713 g net.
Step-by-step calculation
Example: 5 tola gross at 1.0 g/tola polish rate
- 1
Convert gross tola to grams
gross (g) = tola × 11.664
5 × 11.664 = 58.320 g gross
- 2
Calculate total polish loss
loss (g) = gross tola × rate (g/tola)
5 × 1.0 = 5.000 g loss
- 3
Net weight after polish
net (g) = gross − loss
58.320 − 5.000 = 53.320 g net
- 4
Polish loss percentage
loss % = loss ÷ gross × 100
5.000 ÷ 58.320 × 100 = 8.57%
Sample conversions
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| 11.664 g gross, 1 g/tola polish | 10.664 g net |
| 23.328 g gross (2 tola), 0.5 g/tola | 22.328 g net |
| 50 g gross, 0.8 g/tola | 46.570 g net |
Quick Reference — Polish Loss at Common Rates
| Gross Weight | At 0.5 g/tola loss |
|---|---|
| 11.664 g (1 tola) | 0.500 g loss → 11.164 g net |
| 23.328 g (2 tola) | 1.000 g loss → 22.328 g net |
| 50 g (~4.29 tola) | 2.143 g loss → 47.857 g net |
| 100 g (~8.57 tola) | 4.287 g loss → 95.713 g net |
| 200 g (~17.15 tola) | 8.574 g loss → 191.426 g net |
Polish loss = gross tola × rate (g/tola). Enter any gross weight above for a precise figure.
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical polish loss rate in Pakistan and India?
Sarafa Bazar standard rates range from 0.5 g to 1.0 g per tola depending on finishing complexity. Mirror-polish (high-shine) pieces lose more; matte or satin-finish pieces lose less. Electrolytic polishing by luxury goldsmiths can achieve under 0.3 g/tola.
How do I verify a jeweller's declared polish rate?
Weigh the piece before and after. Divide the weight difference by gross tola (gross grams ÷ 11.664) for the actual g/tola loss. Compare to the declared rate — if it exceeds the declared figure by more than scale tolerance (±0.01 g), request clarification.
Is polish loss deducted before or after the karat purity calculation?
Polish loss is deducted from gross weight first, giving net weight. Karat purity then applies to the net weight. A 50 g 22K piece with 4.287 g polish loss yields 45.713 g net, of which 91.67% = 41.91 g is pure gold.
What happens to the gold dust from polishing?
Polish dust (mixed with buffing compound) is collected in the polishing apron and periodically refined. Large workshops recover 0.2–0.5 g per day; smaller shops accumulate aprons and sell them to scrap refiners monthly.
Can the polish calculator be used for silver or platinum jewellery?
The weight arithmetic is metal-agnostic — enter any gross weight and polish rate. However, the money-value output is calibrated for gold rates. For silver or platinum, use only the net-weight figure and disregard the value output.
Is there a legal maximum polish loss a Pakistani jeweller can charge?
There is no statutory maximum in Pakistan — rates are negotiated between jeweller and customer. Industry norms (Karachi Sarafa Association) suggest 0.5–1.0 g/tola for standard work. Disputes are typically resolved at the Sarafa Bazar arbitration committee.
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