MTGW Explained: Understanding Minimum Total Gem Weight

Question
Please explain what this means...MTGW

Answer
That's a great question!  Sometimes the terms that we use in the trade are a mystery to people but they are afraid to ask the meaning.  It stands for "minimum total gem weight".  Pretend that you were to take all of the stones out of a ring-  it doesn't matter that they are not the same kind of  stone.  They are all "gems".  Throw all of the stones on a scale and you have the TGW or total gem weight.  When we use the term MTGW we are saying "I guarantee that all of the stones together weight at least this much".

I hope this helps!  Please ask a follow-up if you need more information.  Thanks for the question; I appreciate it.

Take care,

David Fortier
Staff Gemologist
tiptopgem.com