Osmium, the newest precious metal
Anyone who thinks of precious metals, especially as an investment or possession, often thinks of gold, platinum or silver. However, trade in osmium has also been on the rise for some years now. This metal was discovered as early as 1804, but it was only in 2013 that it became crystallizable and therefore valuable and easily tradable. It is the youngest precious metal and will be the last to come onto the market.
Osmium, the rarest precious metal
Osmium is not mined directly. It is a by-product of platinum processing, in which only around 30 grams of raw osmium is extracted from ten thousand tons of platinum. This makes it the rarest precious metal on our planet. The total amount present in the earth’s crust is limited to around 17 m³. Only 1 m³ of this quantity, i.e. around 22 tons, can be extracted efficiently. Through a complicated and secret process, the raw osmium is crystallized into unique pieces.
Its rarity (osmium is the rarest non-radioactive element) in combination with its unique properties – highest density and value density of all metals, non-reproducible crystal structure – makes it an interesting long-term investment, but it can also be used in the jewelry industry.
Crystallization and certification of the precious metal
Raw osmium, the osmium sponge, is toxic when exposed to oxygen. But in 2013, scientists succeeded in crystallizing raw osmium into a safe precious metal. This is why osmium has only been on the market since 2014 and has become increasingly popular since the first Osmium Institute was founded in Germany in 2017. During this crystallization process, each piece is measured, weighed and scanned with high-resolution microscopes in 2D and 3D and receives an eight-digit code, the Osmium Identification Code (OIC), which is then stored in the international osmium database. This makes it easy to identify and check its origin. There cannot be a second identical structure. And while gold bars can in principle be counterfeited with tungsten, there is no metal that is heavier and has the same density but a lower value than osmium. It is therefore impossible to produce a counterfeit osmium bar.
Each owner can access this database with their OIC and compare the scans with the physical osmium piece to confirm authenticity. The German Osmium Institute also carries out the training and certification of authorized trading partners worldwide. This is why osmium has only been on the market since 2014 and why the precious metal has become increasingly popular since the first osmium institute was founded in Germany in 2017.
Osmium is more expensive and rarer than gold
The advantage of osmium is that you can physically hold it in your hand. You don’t just buy it somewhere on paper like shares, for example. It is also becoming increasingly interesting for jewelers. Its beauty in crystalline form makes it increasingly popular for high-quality luxury jewelry. Osmium is used to make watches, rings, earrings, necklaces and even headphones and much more. Furthermore, unlike gold, osmium cannot be remelted and reused after processing, as it would lose its crystal structure and its unique “fingerprint”.
Precisely because the precious metal is so rare and the market is still new, it is to be expected that osmium will increase in value in the long term. Osmium is not something you buy and sell again after a few months. It is recommended to hold osmium for the longer term in order to realize profits thereafter. In the future, this market will be made up of osmium dealers, jewelers, goldsmiths and manufacturers, as well as investors and private individuals.
Source: Oslery GmbH
Origin of the raw material
Osmium is mined in Canada, Russia and South Africa, although in practice it is now mainly sourced from certified mines in South Africa. From there, the raw product is sent to a laboratory in Switzerland, where it is crystallized. The few mines worldwide that produce osmium as an associated by-metal with platinum ore will soon have to cease production. This is because with every kilometer that the mining companies have to penetrate deeper into the earth’s crust, the raw product becomes more and more expensive. And at some point, the costs are no longer in proportion to the revenue.
