BUYER'S GUIDE
Gold prices: spot, premiums and the real cost per gram
A gold chart is a reference, rather than a final quote for a specific bar. A useful comparison needs fine-gold content, the complete order price and a consistent valuation time. Three simple calculations help you establish whether two offers really cover the same terms.
What the spot price means
The spot price is a market reference for gold, commonly quoted per troy ounce. A retail product also involves manufacturing and distribution costs. The World Gold Council describes the additional amount as a premium. A chart price alone therefore cannot tell you the cost of receiving a packaged bar of a particular brand and weight.
Check the currency, unit and quotation time. Figures taken on different days, or one in USD and the other in EUR, are not directly comparable. Where currency conversion is involved, ask which exchange rate applies, when it is fixed and whether a conversion charge is included.
Calculating the cost per fine gram
If the stated weight is the product's gross weight, multiply it by its fineness. For a hypothetical 20 g bar with a fineness of 999.9/1000, this is 20 × 0.9999 = 19.998 g of fine gold. If the manufacturer already states fine-gold content, use that figure without applying fineness a second time.
Divide the total price, including compulsory charges, by that amount. A hypothetical total of EUR 2,000 gives approximately EUR 100.01 per fine gram. This is arithmetic only, not today's price or an AURELIS offer. Apply the same calculation to the second quotation.
Expressing a premium as a percentage
Use (cost per fine gram ÷ comparable reference price per gram − 1) × 100. With hypothetical figures of EUR 100.01 and EUR 95 per gram, the result is about 5.27%. Record whether delivery or other services are included, otherwise two uses of the word ‘premium’ may refer to different calculations.
What makes a quotation useful
Ask for the product, quantity, price, quotation validity and delivery date in one place. For deferred delivery, also establish when the price becomes binding and which terms apply while you wait. A lower amount attached to a different delivery date is not automatically a better like-for-like offer.
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Fine weight | 20 × 0.9999 = 19.998 g |
| Total cost | EUR 2,000 including charges |
| Cost per gram | 2,000 ÷ 19.998 ≈ EUR 100.01/g |
| Premium at a EUR 95/g reference | Approximately 5.27% |
Before sending an enquiry
- Same currency, unit and valuation time?
- Does the total include all compulsory costs?
- Are delivery timing and price fixing comparable?
Sources and further reading
This guide helps compare products and order terms. It does not promise future returns or buyback.