Understanding Traditional unit of Gold Measurement: Grain, Ana, Lal, and Tola

If you have ever been to a gold and jewelry shop in our region or heard your older family members talking about gold and silver, then the words "aana," "tola," "grain," or "lal" might have been commonly thrown at you. Traditional gold measurement units that hearken back several centuries, used to measure troy weight for precious metals, are becoming fewer and farther between with the more common usage of the gram and kilogram. They still retain considerable value in regions like Nepal, India, and Pakistan especially when dealing with gold.

In the following article, we will lead a step-by-step walkthrough of these traditional unit of gold measurement and how they convert to modern weights.

1. grain: A Tiny Titan of Traditional Units of measurements

First, let's start with the smallest of these units: the grain. Contrary to what you might imagine, the grain isn't measured using rice or wheat grains to make things even more interesting! The unit originates from the weight of a barley grain, which was used as one of the many standards throughout history.

Conversion: 1 grain = 0.0648 grams.

Less common in general use today, grains remain part of measuring gunpowder and sometimes weighing small quantities of gold and silver.

2. aana: A Fractional but Important Unit

Coming next in the process is the aana, a unit carrying quite a lot of weight as far as traditional South Asian gold markets are concerned. For the record, the aana conventionally was used to measure gold and other goods.

Conversion: 1 aana = 1/16th of a tola = 1.749 grams.

This fraction is commonly seen when people want to be specific about their gold or silver buys. If, therefore, you hear someone boast about 8 aana of gold, the person means half a tola-which, again, we will shortly come to.
 

3. tola: The Golden Standard

Tola is the unit of gold and silver measurement that you certainly come across in the modern-day gold market, especially in South Asia. Tola has been in use for many centuries and is even now a common unit to weigh both gold and silver.

Conversion:1 tola = 11.66 grams

Even today, if one is going to check the price of gold in Nepal, India, or even Pakistan, very often, prices are quoted per tola. Whether it be investing in gold or buying a beautiful piece of jewelry, knowing the conversion between tola and grams is important so that the right deal is obtained.

4. lal: The Less Familiar Unit

Of all the traditional units of measurement, Lal is probably the most unfamiliar to the modern reader. It is an older unit, used less frequently than others in regional markets, especially in smaller towns and rural areas.

Conversion: 1 lal = 1/4th of an aana = 0.437 grams.

Knowing Lal may not be practical for present-day markets, but it gives a fair idea of how trade and commerce used to be done in old times. In case you do come across them, now you know how to convert them into grams or aana.

Why do Traditional Units of Measurement Matter in Gold Trading?
You must be thinking, "Why bother with these archaic units when we have grams and kilograms?" The thing is, these older units are deeply buried in the cultural and historical context of regions like Nepal, India, and Pakistan, where gold is often bought and sold. Be it a family heirloom or a dowry gift, for many people, gold measured in tolas means more than the aseptic gram measurements of today.

Knowing the conversions from and to these traditional units concerning modern units gives one a better feel for the value. So the next time you enter a gold shop and they quote prices in tolas or aana, do confidently calculate the equivalent in grams and assure yourself that you get the right price.

The Final Word on Traditional Units
The recognition of the old weight units such as grain, aana, lal, and tola becomes much more educative than a nostalgic trip that will help one understand how the dynamics of the gold market work. The next time you enter a jewelry store or have a discussion about gold with family members, you will spring forth with some valuable insight from both the traditional and modern world.

And, of course, one mustn't forget that when it comes to precious metals, one needs to keep a weather eye open for the price of gold. You may refer to our daily Gold Rate updates for accurate prices in grams and tolas.