Metalliarvo

Metalliarvo is a Finnish term referring to the monetary value of the metal content contained in an object or material. The concept is commonly used in jewelry, recycling, and metal trading to estimate value based on the metal rather than the item's design, brand, or craftsmanship. Metalliarvo is most relevant for precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum, but it can also apply to base metals when assessing metal recovery potential.

Calculation of metalliarvo generally relies on three factors: the weight of the metal, its purity or fineness, and the current market price of the metal. For refined precious metals, the value is often approximated by multiplying the metal’s weight by its fineness and the prevailing spot price. In items containing alloys, the metal content must be determined through assay or analysis to separate the precious metal from other components, and refining costs or melt losses may be subtracted to arrive at a net metalliarvo.

Market dynamics influence metalliarvo through fluctuations in metal prices on global exchanges. Gold, silver, and platinum prices are widely reported, while base metals have separate pricing on exchanges such as the London Metal Exchange. Local factors, such as refining costs, taxes, and geographic price differentials, can also affect the final valuation.

Applications of metalliarvo include determining the salvage value of jewelry and electronic waste, assessing raw material worth at refineries, and informing investment decisions. It is distinct from artistic or brand value, focusing strictly on the monetary worth of the metal content.

See also: precious metals, metal prices, assay, refining, bullion.