Question 1

What is a tola and how many grams does it equal?

Accepted Answer

A tola is a traditional South Asian unit of weight used primarily for measuring gold and other precious metals. The standard tola equals exactly 11.6638038 grams, commonly rounded to 11.664 grams. This unit originated in ancient India and was standardized under the Mughal Empire, remaining the dominant gold weight unit across South Asia and the Middle East today. Tolas are used in India for all jewelry transactions, in Bangladesh alongside vori and bhori, in Nepal for traditional ornaments, and across the Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait) for both jewelry and investment gold. When buying gold, jewelers typically quote prices per tola for 22K gold. To convert to grams, simply multiply tolas by 11.664. For example, 5 tola = 58.32 grams. The KaratWorth Weight Converter handles this instantly, along with conversions to troy ounces, grams, and other units. Always verify whether your jeweler uses the standard 11.664g tola or the Pakistani variant of 12.5g.

Question 2

Is vori the same as bhori, and where are they used?

Accepted Answer

Yes, vori and bhori are the same weight unit, both equal to the standard tola of 11.6638038 grams. The different names reflect regional linguistic variations rather than different measurements. 'Vori' is the predominant term used in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka's historic jewelry markets like Tanti Bazaar and Chawkbazar, as well as in Chittagong. 'Bhori' is used in some parts of India (particularly West Bengal and older Bengali texts) and is the spelling you may encounter on traditional Bangladeshi invoices. Both terms refer to exactly 11.6638 grams. In Bangladesh, gold prices are universally quoted per vori for 22K gold, and wedding dowries are traditionally measured in vori. The KaratWorth Weight Converter recognizes both terms and converts them to grams, tola, and troy ounces. When shopping in Bangladesh, always confirm that the jeweler's scale uses the standard vori (11.664g) rather than any local approximation. Some rural markets may informally round to 11.5g or 11.7g, creating small but meaningful discrepancies on large purchases.

Question 3

What is the critical difference between a troy ounce and a regular ounce?

Accepted Answer

The troy ounce and the regular (avoirdupois) ounce are completely different units that must never be confused when dealing with precious metals. A troy ounce, the global standard for gold, silver, and platinum pricing, equals exactly 31.1034768 grams. A regular avoirdupois ounce, used for everyday goods like food and household items, equals only 28.3495 grams. The difference is 2.754 grams per ounce — approximately 8.85% lighter. This means that if you mistakenly use regular ounces when calculating gold value, you will underestimate the weight and therefore the value by nearly 9%. For example, a 10-ounce gold bar is 311.03 troy grams, but only 283.50 regular grams — a difference worth hundreds of dollars at current prices. Gold spot prices on Bloomberg, Reuters, and the London Bullion Market Association are always quoted per troy ounce. The KaratWorth Weight Converter uses troy ounces as the precious metals standard and clearly distinguishes them from regular ounces. The troy system originated in Troyes, France, during the Middle Ages and has been the precious metals standard for over 600 years.

Question 4

How many tolas are in a troy ounce and why does this matter for pricing?

Accepted Answer

One troy ounce equals approximately 2.6667 standard tolas (11.664g each). Conversely, 1 standard tola equals approximately 0.375 troy ounces. This conversion is essential when comparing prices quoted in different units across international markets. For example, if gold spot price is $2,500 per troy ounce, the per-tola price for 22K gold (91.6% pure) would be: $2,500 ÷ 31.1035 × 11.664 × 0.916 = approximately $859 per tola. In India, jewelers might quote 55,000 INR per tola of 22K gold, which converts to roughly $659 per tola at current exchange rates — lower than the international spot-derived price because Indian retail prices include local premiums, import duties, and dealer margins. Understanding these unit conversions protects you from pricing confusion when shopping across borders. The KaratWorth Weight Converter instantly converts between tola, troy ounces, grams, vori, and bhori. It also powers all KaratWorth country-specific calculators so that whether you enter weight in tola (India), vori (Bangladesh), or grams (USA), the calculator computes the correct melt value using the proper conversion factors.

Question 5

Why does Pakistan use a 12.5-gram tola and how does it affect pricing?

Accepted Answer

Pakistan uses two different tola standards, creating a potential source of confusion for buyers. The standard international tola of 11.6638038 grams is used in formal markets, government gold pricing, and by many established jewelers in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. However, many traditional Pakistani jewelers, particularly in Peshawar, Quetta, and rural markets, use a local tola equivalent of approximately 12.5 grams. This larger tola traces back to the historical Mughal weight system and has persisted in local trade conventions. The 7.4% difference between the two standards (12.5g vs 11.664g) means that a price quoted 'per tola' could represent significantly different per-gram rates depending on which standard is used. For example, a jeweler quoting 300,000 PKR per tola at 12.5g is effectively charging 24,000 PKR per gram, while another jeweler quoting the same 300,000 PKR per tola at 11.664g is charging 25,720 PKR per gram — a 7.2% higher rate. Always ask Pakistani jewelers: 'Is this per tola of 11.664 grams or 12.5 grams?' and request that they show you the weight on a calibrated scale in grams for complete transparency. The KaratWorth Pakistan Gold Calculator includes both standards.

Question 6

What are the key weight units I need to know when buying or selling gold internationally?

Accepted Answer

Navigating international gold markets requires fluency in multiple weight systems. The essential units are: Gram — the universal SI unit used in most countries for scientific accuracy and smaller transactions. Troy ounce — the global trading standard for gold spot prices, equal to 31.1035 grams. Used in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia for investment gold. Tola — 11.6638 grams, dominant in India, Nepal, and formal Gulf markets. Vori/Bhori — 11.6638 grams, the Bangladesh equivalent of tola. Tael — approximately 37.5 grams, used in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan gold markets. Baht — approximately 15.16 grams, used in Thailand. Masha — approximately 0.972 grams, a subunit of tola used in India (1 tola = 12 masha). Ratti — approximately 0.121 grams, an ancient Indian unit still used in traditional jewelry contexts. Pennyweight (dwt) — 1.555 grams, an old English unit still used by some US jewelers. The KaratWorth Weight Converter supports all major units, and our country-specific calculators automatically use the correct local standards. When selling gold, always quote weight in the unit your buyer expects — a US dealer wants troy ounces, an Indian buyer wants tola, and a Bangladeshi buyer wants vori.

Unit	Grams	Troy Oz	Tola
1 Gram	1	0.032151	0.085735
1 Kilogram	1,000	32.150747	85.735324
1 Troy Ounce	31.103477	1	2.666667
1 Regular Ounce	28.349523	0.911458	2.430556
1 Tola (Standard)	11.663804	0.375	1
1 Bhori (11.664g)	11.663804	0.375	1
1 Vori (11.664g)	11.663804	0.375	1
1 Pakistan Tola (12.5g)	12.5	0.401884	1.071692
1 Baht	15.244	0.490106	1.306949
1 Tael	37.429	1.20337	3.208987
1 Pennyweight	1.555174	0.05	0.133333
1 Masha	0.9719	0.031247	0.083326

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