https://Gerrysdiamondsettingessays.blogspot.com: How to use METRIC in weighing 'metals & stones' ? (21 photos).

This is the most accurate weight of synthetic stones that is in my collection of tools. In fact, my Diamond Dealer would prefer this digital weight as its the most efficient scale that he would accept & use.

Does this "Pear-Shaped, Genuine Emerald" weigh 5.25 carats, 36.00 grams or suggested weight of pennyweights or even 9.76 ounces? In which category would you buy this stone at?

Do you see the ongoing problems of not unifying the measured weights of stones & metals? (I know for a fact that this complete finished Emerald necklace weighed in at 128.0 grams).

The METRIC system is much easier and is used (almost) everywhere.

Every piece of metal including the chain and the weights of stones were gauged & were weighed in two categories, "grams & carats".

On this digital scale, the measurements of this silver ring were taken on the "ounces" display.

Lets pick a unit of measurement, which one would you use? This is so very confusing to say the least. Can't we all stick to one unit to measure our weights of stones and metal? The simple & worldwide "METRIC System" is the 'best' route to take.

One supplier could use "DWT" (pennyweights) and the other used Kilograms, or maybe Ounces. To make things worse, there are daily or hourly metal changes of costs for each category. Just a mind-boggling exercise with ongoing problems.

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This photo-display is using "dwt" as in 'pennyweights'.

All of the jewellers in Canada & Europe have now gone METRIC. Why is there such a difference of units of measuring? It can get so dangerous and very $$$ confusing.

Here are two true stories about this measuring problem.

1) The first story was about a European-crafted space mechanism. It was made and finished in Europe and then shipped to America for "NASA". Nothing seemed to fit and after careful examinations it was that Europe were using METRIC and America didn't. Millimeters and Inches just don't work well together.

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2) Another true story was that at a Canadian fueling-truck driver misjudged the weight of 'pounds to kilograms of fuel'. The difference was literally 1/2 the amount of fuel needed, the end result was that the jet plane just ran out of available fuel at 40,000 feet and glided down with no power, into Gimli, Manitoba, CANADA.

This was at the beginning of the Canadian change-over from "Pounds to Kilograms" this was circa 1983 A.D. When you go to YouTube or Google, read the story of the famous "Gimli Glider".

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In America, jewellers still use 'dwt's, ounces and pounds of weight', 'we' use Kilograms, Kilometers and Millimeters. We've accepted the METRIC system decades ago, but my American friends seem to avoided the changeover. Only 3 countries in the world still retain the "IMPERIAL" units of measurements.

I'm now giving you examples of the weight differences. I'm not suggesting that you make any changes, but please be aware of the inherent problems that might occur.

I'm using two scales and there was a slight discrepancy with these weights. I have a Diamond Scale which gives me the accurate weight. The larger scale had too many categories to figure out which to use and when.

This is my preferred 'Digital Diamond Scale' that is very accurate. This particular device is used primarily for Diamonds and other Gemstones. In this case, I'll use it for an example of weighing this silver mount, this scale is accurate to the 2nd decimal place.

For larger items, I'll use another digital scale, but never for gemstones. It's essential to have these two scales always made available.

Is this photograph the weight is at =>25.80 or is it 25.89 grams<=? You should use a '2 decimal' place scale to prove my point.

This weight is in "dwt's" or 'pennyweights'. It seems so unnecessary to use 'dwt' these days, as the need is now so antiquated, I see no reason to use it in our daily buying.

The same scale weighing the same stone, but with two weights, why is this? Which will I use for measuring? I will immediately go to my gemstone "Diamond Digital Scale" for further 'two decimal place' accuracy.

Which weight would you buy this synthetic stone at? Would it be 1.0, or 1.1 'grams'? If it were me, I'd just walk away and buy this stone elsewhere.

For heavier items, I prefer to use a scale that has a capacity of 300 grams, this is far better. You'll notice that all of the numbers shown are in 4 units of measurements.

Weight differences between the NEW & OLD scales.

The "old weight" differences are a mind-boggling 15% lower than the actual weight. Thankfully, I still have this hand-held scale that is an guess-estimated at 85 years old.

This scale once belonged to my Father, (z"l) who had a company that was selling "Industrial Diamonds" in England & Canada, circa 1940 & 1950's.

In preparing this essay, I checked those 'older' weights and found that there was a vast difference of actual digital weights, as those 'hand-stamped' numbers.

There is a wide discrepancy between the 'stamped' and the accurate 'digital' weight.

Here is another 'proof of errors' in the "Hand-Held" diamond weights, is it "5.0 carats" as it's stamped, or is it 5.15 carats on the digital scale? The difference could be worth hundreds of dollars.

Accuracy of weights were just basically poor guesswork in those earlier days.

Would you as a buyer today, use this ''hand-held" weight scale in todays buying market? Accuracy in those days was just near guesswork of weighing precious stones.

If you want to weigh these 10 stones, how would you do it and on what scale?

I suggest using the 'Electronic, Digital Scale' as the best option. These total weights are now measured to the 'second decimal' place.

'Hand-held' weighing methods are no longer to be deemed accurate.

This exercise can get very frustrating, agree? But imagine this scenario, if you were an jewellery appraiser, which scale would YOU USE?
In these two photos, there is 1.0 (or more) gram difference.