Osmium is mined together with platinum. In the process, 10,000 tons of platinum ore contain only 30 grams of osmium. Separating the metals is complex and expensive.

If platinum mining declines, osmium will no longer be mined. This will further increase its rarity.

According to current data from the Osmium World Council, the mined quantities of osmium, which refer to platinum mining with osmium as a by-metal, are approximately one ton per year. Unfortunately, the information on production volumes is only of limited value at present, as the reserves that can currently still be mined and the underlying resources can only be estimated to a limited extent due to the loss of Russian suppliers. However, it can be assumed that global reserves are already below 20 tons. Raw osmium from nickel mining is generally not used, as ethical mining guidelines generally do not permit this. Of the one ton of raw osmium produced, approximately 400 kg per year is sent to crystallization for refining. The remaining quantities are kept on stock or are used in research, medicine and technology on a tiny scale. In the future, osmium organochemistry with hundreds of compounds could also become exciting. (Explanation: Reserves are raw materials that can be extracted, and resources are raw materials that are available in principle but can only be extracted at great expense or in a way that is not economically viable or ecologically justifiable).

Osmium jewellery

The use of osmium in the manufacture of exclusive jewellery, timepieces and other luxury goods is constantly rising. 

To date, two-dimensional osmium pieces, i.e. osmium bars cut into specific shapes, have been predominantly combined with other (precious) metals such as gold, silver, platinum and titanium. It has now more recently become possible to crystallise osmium onto three-dimensional substrates of almost any shape, opening up a virtually unlimited spectrum of options for jewellery designers, manufacturers and retailers! 

However osmium is used in the manufacture of jewellery and other luxury goods, its rarity, unique surface crystal structure and distinct bluish-silvery to bluish-whitish lustre impart a sense of exclusiveness, timelessness and sophisticated understatement to the final product.

Buy now