How to Work Out the Gold Price per Gram in Singapore and Malaysia
Gold price per gram = spot price per troy ounce ÷ 31.1034768 × exchange rate × purity. One troy ounce is exactly 31.1034768 g (LBMA, NIST, checked 19 October 2026).
Example (illustration, not a live price): at US$4,160/oz and an assumed US$1 = S$1.30, pure gold is about S$173.87 per gram; at an assumed US$1 = RM4.20, about RM561.74 per gram. Dealer prices add a premium or spread.
Gold is priced internationally in US dollars per troy ounce of pure gold, but shops and dealers in Singapore and Malaysia usually quote per gram, in S$ or RM, and often for gold that is not pure. This guide shows how to turn the international spot price into a local price per gram, so you can see how much of a dealer quote is metal value and how much is premium. Talreon does not publish a live gold price; use a current spot price and exchange rate from a reliable source when you do the sum.
The formula
Price per gram for an item = pure price per gram × purity
Metal value = price per gram for the item × weight in grams
One troy ounce is defined as exactly 31.1034768 grams. Do not use the ordinary (avoirdupois) ounce of about 28.35 g; that would overstate the price per gram by almost 10%.
Purity: 999.9, 916 and 750
Purity is usually stamped in parts per thousand. 999.9 (often called 24K or “four nines”) is treated as pure. 916 is 22K, about 91.6% gold, common for jewellery in Singapore and Malaysia. 750 is 18K, 75% gold. To get the gold content, multiply by the purity as a decimal.
Worked example in Singapore dollars
The figures below are an illustration. They use a spot price of US$4,160 per ounce, close to the early-October 2026 level, and an assumed exchange rate of US$1 = S$1.30. Replace both with current figures.
- US$ per gram of pure gold = US$4,160 ÷ 31.1034768 = US$133.75
- S$ per gram of pure gold = US$133.75 × 1.30 = S$173.87
- 916 gold = S$173.87 × 0.916 = S$159.27 per gram
Worked example in ringgit
Using the same spot price and an assumed exchange rate of US$1 = RM4.20:
- RM per gram of pure gold = US$133.75 × 4.20 = RM561.74
- 916 gold = RM561.74 × 0.916 = RM514.55 per gram
- 750 gold = RM561.74 × 0.75 = RM421.30 per gram
- A 10 g, 916 chain contains about RM5,145.52 of gold
| Purity | S$ per gram (at S$1.30) | RM per gram (at RM4.20) |
|---|---|---|
| 999.9 | S$173.85 | RM561.68 |
| 916 | S$159.27 | RM514.55 |
| 750 | S$130.40 | RM421.30 |
For 999.9, the table multiplies by 0.9999, which is why it is a few cents below the pure figure.
Price per gram at different spot prices
The table shows how the per-gram figure moves with the international spot price, using the same assumed exchange rates (US$1 = S$1.30 and US$1 = RM4.20). It is a sensitivity table, not a live price. Each US$100 move in the ounce price changes pure gold by about S$4.18 or RM13.50 per gram.
| Spot (US$/oz) | S$/g pure | S$/g 916 | RM/g pure | RM/g 916 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US$3,800 | S$158.82 | S$145.48 | RM513.13 | RM470.02 |
| US$4,000 | S$167.18 | S$153.14 | RM540.13 | RM494.76 |
| US$4,200 | S$175.54 | S$160.80 | RM567.14 | RM519.50 |
| US$4,400 | S$183.90 | S$168.45 | RM594.15 | RM544.24 |
| US$4,600 | S$192.26 | S$176.11 | RM621.15 | RM568.98 |
Purity and karat at a glance
At US$4,160/oz and RM4.20 per US$, the metal value per gram by purity is:
| Karat | Stamp | Gold content | RM per gram |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 999.9 | 99.99% | RM561.68 |
| 22K | 916 | 91.60% | RM514.55 |
| 21K | 875 | 87.50% | RM491.52 |
| 18K | 750 | 75% | RM421.30 |
| 14K | 585 | 58.50% | RM328.62 |
Worked example: how big is the dealer premium?
A shop quotes RM560 per gram for 916 jewellery. Using the illustration figures, the metal value is RM514.55 per gram.
- Premium per gram: RM560 − RM514.55 = RM45.45
- Premium as a percentage of metal value: 8.8%
- On a 15 g bangle: 15 × RM45.45 = RM681.75 above metal value, before any separate workmanship charge
Worked example: a 100 g bar in Singapore
For a 999.9 bar, metal value at the illustration figures is 100 × S$173.85 = S$17,385.39. If a dealer sells the bar for S$17,750, the premium is S$364.61, about 2.1% of metal value. Larger bars usually carry a smaller premium per gram than small bars or coins, so compare like with like.
Why dealer prices differ from your result
- Premium and spread: dealers sell above, and buy back below, the metal value. The gap is their margin and cost.
- Workmanship: jewellery often carries a separate making charge per gram or per piece, which is usually not refunded when you sell.
- Exchange rate: dealers use their own rate, not the mid-market rate.
- Tax: in Singapore, investment-grade gold bars, ingots and wafers of at least 99.5% purity from accredited refiners, plus certain coins, are exempt from GST, while jewellery is not (IRAS: investment precious metals, checked 19 October 2026). In Malaysia, check the tax treatment with the dealer.
How to compare two quotes
- Convert both quotes to price per gram of pure gold: quote per gram ÷ purity.
- Compare each with the metal value from the formula to see the premium.
- Ask for the buyback price for the same item today; the gap is your round-trip cost.
- Use the gold profit calculator to see the price you would need to sell at to break even.
Common mistakes
- Dividing by 28.35 instead of 31.1034768.
- Comparing a 916 jewellery price with a 999.9 bar price without adjusting for purity.
- Treating the illustration figures on this page as a live price.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the gold price per gram?
Divide the spot price per troy ounce by 31.1034768, multiply by the exchange rate to get your currency, then multiply by the purity, such as 0.916 for 22K.
How many grams are in a troy ounce of gold?
Exactly 31.1034768 grams.
What does 916 gold mean?
916 means 916 parts per thousand gold, about 91.6% pure. It is often called 22K and is common for jewellery in Singapore and Malaysia.
Why is the shop price higher than my calculation?
Shops add a premium or spread, and jewellery usually carries a workmanship charge. Dealers also use their own exchange rate.
Does Talreon show a live gold price?
No. The examples on this page are illustrations. Use a current spot price and exchange rate from a reliable source.
How much does the per-gram price change when gold rises US$100 an ounce?
About S$4.18 per gram of pure gold at US$1 = S$1.30, or about RM13.50 at US$1 = RM4.20.
How do I work out the premium on a gold quote?
Subtract the metal value per gram from the quoted price per gram, then divide by the metal value. For example, RM560 against a metal value of RM514.55 is a premium of about 8.8%.
What is the gold content of 18K and 14K gold?
18K (750) is 75% gold and 14K (585) is 58.5% gold. Multiply the pure price per gram by 0.75 or 0.585.
Sources
- LBMA: the troy ounce, 31.1034768 g exactly (checked 19 October 2026)
- NIST: precious metals conversion information (checked 19 October 2026)
- IRAS: GST exemption for investment precious metals (checked 19 October 2026)
Related tools
- Gold profit calculator — profit after fees and spread.
Related guides
- Run your own numbers with the gold profit calculator with spread and fees.
- How gold prices work
- Gold buy-sell spread explained
- How gold profit is calculated
Open the gold profit calculator → Browse all guides →
Run a business site? Put the Gold Profit Calculator on your own pages with your logo and colours: Starter package, one-time US$79.
Email about a branded Gold Profit Calculator See the Starter package