Starting with a piezoelectric pick-up element for record playing a weight detector was constructed for particles with weights in the 0.1-20 mg range. The detector has a linear response, a sensitivity of at least 10 mu g and can weigh particles at a rate of at least 10 s-1. The detector can be used for weighing and selecting, for instance, metal halide spherules for the fabrication of high-pressure discharge lamps.