Pennyweight to Grams Converter

What Is a Pennyweight?

A pennyweight (abbreviated “dwt” from the Latin “denarius weight”) is a unit of mass equal to 1/20th of a troy ounce, or exactly 1.55517 grams. It originated from the weight of a silver penny in medieval England and has been used in the jewelry trade for centuries.

The abbreviation “dwt” comes from the old English penny, known as a “denarius” (d) combined with “weight” (wt). Despite its historical origins, pennyweight remains in active daily use across the American jewelry industry.

Used by Jewelers and Pawn Shops

In the United States, pennyweight is the traditional unit used by jewelers for weighing gold, silver, and other precious metals. When you bring jewelry to a pawn shop or “cash for gold” buyer, they will often weigh your items in pennyweight. Some less scrupulous buyers may try to pay per gram while weighing in pennyweight, so understanding the conversion is important for getting a fair price.

For example, if a buyer offers $40 per pennyweight for 14K gold, that translates to about $25.72 per gram. Knowing how to convert between these units helps you compare offers and ensure you are being paid fairly for your precious metals.

Pennyweight in the Troy System

Pennyweight fits neatly into the troy weight system: 24 grains = 1 pennyweight, 20 pennyweight = 1 troy ounce, and 12 troy ounces = 1 troy pound. This makes pennyweight a convenient “middle” unit — large enough to express typical jewelry weights without tiny decimals, but small enough for precision. A typical gold ring weighs 2–5 dwt, and a heavy gold chain might weigh 20–40 dwt.