Jewellery Material Weight Calculator
Ever wondered how much the same piece of jewellery would weigh if it was made from a different material? Enter the weight of your piece below and compare it with another jewellery material.
How Does It Work?
Different materials weigh different amounts.
A piece of jewellery can be exactly the same size and shape but have a completely different weight depending on the material it is made from. This is because different materials have different densities.
For example, the same ring made from platinum will weigh considerably more than the same ring made from sterling silver.
Quick Reference Chart
The figures below show the approximate multiplier when the same volume of material is made using another material.
How to use the chart:
Find your current material down the left-hand side, then move across to the material you want to compare it with. Multiply your current weight by the number shown.
| From / To | Platinum | Fine Gold | 22ct Gold | 18ct Gold | 14ct Gold | 9ct Gold | Palladium | Sterling Silver | Copper | Brass | Wax |
|---|
Ring Size Calculator
Find the approximate UK, US and EU ring size from a finger measurement or an existing ring. You can enter either the finger circumference, inside diameter or an existing ring size.
Ring size conversions are approximate. For an accurately fitted ring, we recommend checking the size with a ring sizer or having the finger professionally measured.
UK, US & EU Ring Size Reference
A quick reference for commonly used ring sizes.
| UK | US | EU | Inside Diameter | Circumference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | 3 | 44 | 14.1 mm | 44.2 mm |
| G | 3.5 | 45 | 14.5 mm | 45.5 mm |
| H | 4 | 47 | 14.9 mm | 46.8 mm |
| I | 4.5 | 48 | 15.3 mm | 48.0 mm |
| J | 5 | 49 | 15.7 mm | 49.3 mm |
| K | 5.5 | 51 | 16.1 mm | 50.6 mm |
| L | 6 | 52 | 16.5 mm | 51.9 mm |
| M | 6.5 | 53 | 16.9 mm | 53.1 mm |
| N | 7 | 54 | 17.3 mm | 54.4 mm |
| O | 7.5 | 56 | 17.7 mm | 55.7 mm |
| P | 8 | 57 | 18.1 mm | 57.0 mm |
| Q | 8.5 | 58 | 18.5 mm | 58.3 mm |
| R | 9 | 60 | 18.9 mm | 59.5 mm |
| S | 9.5 | 61 | 19.4 mm | 60.8 mm |
| T | 10 | 62 | 19.8 mm | 62.1 mm |
| U | 10.5 | 63.5 | 20.2 mm | 63.4 mm |
| V | 11 | 64.5 | 20.6 mm | 64.6 mm |
| W | 11.5 | 66 | 21.0 mm | 65.9 mm |
| X | 12 | 67 | 21.4 mm | 67.2 mm |
| Y | 12.5 | 68.5 | 21.8 mm | 68.5 mm |
| Z | 13 | 70 | 22.2 mm | 69.7 mm |
| Z+1 | 13.5 | 71 | 22.6 mm | 71.0 mm |
| Z+2 | 14 | 72 | 23.0 mm | 72.3 mm |
Measuring an existing ring:
Measure the inside diameter across the widest point of the ring, from inside edge to inside edge. Do not measure across the outside of the ring. Measure in millimetres for the best result.
Measuring your finger:
Wrap a narrow strip of paper or a non-stretch piece of material comfortably around the finger. Mark where the ends meet and measure the length in millimetres.
For the best result:
Measure when your hands are at a normal temperature and avoid measuring when your fingers are particularly cold or swollen. If the ring is wide, you may need a slightly different fit compared with a narrow ring.
For valuable or close-fitting rings:
Always confirm the size using a professional ring sizer or have the finger measured by a jeweller.
H S Walsh Ring Size Calculator — general guide for jewellers, students and makers. Ring size conversions are approximate and may vary slightly between sizing systems, ring designs and manufacturers.
Our Jewellery Making Guide Articles
Setting Up Your Workspace
You don’t need a dedicated room, but you do need a setup that protects your home from damage (burnt tables are a possibility) and your health (work at the wrong height and your back will feel it).
The Bench Pin: If you only buy one thing before you start, make it a wooden bench pin. These can clamp to any table, and provide the necessary support for sawing and filing.
A "Sweeps" Tray: Jewellery involves precious metals. Even a tray or a cloth on your lap to catch silver dust (sweeps) will help you recoup materials that might otherwise go in the bin.
Lighting: Natural light is great if and when you have it, but a dedicated LED task lamp is an essential investment for seeing fine solder joins.
Ventilation: If you are soldering, you will need a window open and, depending on the size of your work, anything from a small fan all the way up to serious ventilation kit to pull fumes away from your face.
Bench Peg And Block - TB179
Daylight D35600 - TL254
The Essential Beginner Toolkit
Kits that come for a bargain price often contain low-quality steel that marks your silver. Instead, we recommend that you expand your kit with these staples:
A jeweller's saw
The jewellery world equivalent of a scalpel, this is going to be invaluable to your work.
Saw blades
You'll need 4/0 blades to use with your new saw.
Saw-Blades Super Pike No.4/0 - TB15040
Needle Files
Specifically a "Cut 2" medium grade. Essential for smoothing edges after sawing.
Starter Set Of Economy Swiss Needle Files 14cm - TF1915
Pliers Trio
Round nose (for loops), chain nose (for gripping), and high-quality side cutters.
5 Piece Jewellers Plier Set - TQP1
Blazer Stingray Soldering Torch - TT387
The Soldering Station
Soldering sounds intimidating, as most things that involve using heat and flame do, but it’s the secret to producing professional work. To weld safely at home, you need:
Handheld Butane Torch: Simple, refillable, less intimidating than a gas tank-fed torch, and it's easier to store.
Charcoal or Honeycomb Block: This will reflect heat back into your piece, making it quicker to reach the right temperature and then maintain it.
Pickle Solution: A mild acid (sometimes called safety pickle) to clean the fire scale off the metal after heating.
Materials: Where to Start
Don't jump straight into gold. It's expensive, which makes it more stressful to mess up, so practice on more cost-effective metals before taking the leap.
Copper & Brass: Excellent, inexpensive metals for practicing your sawing and soldering. Brass emits fumes when heated so copper is definitely your first choice.
Sterling Silver Wire & Sheet: Start with 0.8mm or 1mm sheet - it’s thick enough to be sturdy but easy to saw.
Silver Solder: Buy three grades: Hard, Medium, and Easy. They melt at different temperatures, allowing you to do multiple solder joins on one piece without melting the first one.
Our Jewellery Soldering Starter Kit contains everything you need to get started with solder.
The Four Techniques to Master
Before attempting a complex project, spend a weekend mastering these techniques to ensure you're ready to start creating without wasting time or valuable materials.
The Perfect Saw Cut
Letting the saw do the work without snapping blades.
Square Filing
Ensuring two pieces of metal meet perfectly flush (essential for a good solder join).
Heat Control
Learning when the metal is "cherry red" and ready for solder to flow.
Finishing
Moving through sandpaper grits (from 400 to 1200) to remove scratches before the final polish.
Professional-Level Equipment to Buy Later
These are the items you’ll need to look at further down the line. They’re designed to produce a professional finish, so if you're looking to progress from making occasional pieces to batch producing enough of a design to sell, that's the time to think something to think about investing in them.
Rolling Mills: Used for thinning metal, so you'll need one of these to stop relying on pre-bought thicknesses.
Tumblers/Polishing Motors: Hand-polishing teaches you more about the metal’s surface when you’re first starting out. Once you have an understanding, look at mechanical solutions like this one.
Hydraulic Presses: Definitely not a bit of kit that you need as a beginner, but they can be fun to use, so look forward to that later.
For more information, you can read our guide to progressing through different levels of jewellery-making equipment complexity here.
Transitioning from Hobby to Business
You might start out intending just to make jewellery for yourself and then want to turn that into a career, or you could be set on turning it into a living from the first piece. Either way, these are the things you need to bear in mind:
- Hallmarking: In many regions (like the UK), items over a certain weight must be hallmarked by an Assay Office to be sold as "Sterling Silver."
- Consistency is King: A hobbyist makes one great ring; a professional can make ten identical rings. Focus on your measuring skills.
Your Beginner Shopping Checklist
| Category | Item | Why? |
| Cutting | Jeweller's Saw + 4/0 Blades | For all metal shaping. |
| Filing | Set of 6 Needle Files | To clean up edges. |
| Soldering | Butane Torch & Flux | To join pieces permanently. |
| Forming | Steel Bench Block & Rawhide Mallet | To flatten metal without marking it. |
| Safety | Safety Glasses | Vital when cutting wire or soldering. |