What Is Lab-Grown Gold? (And What It Really Means for Jewelry)

 

industrial gold waste from electronic components

Lab-grown gold is often used as a marketing term to simply refer to recycled or recovered gold. While it is possible for scientists to create lab-grown gold via scientific processes like nuclear transmutation, making true gold in a lab is highly impractical to do at scale.Products marketed as lab-grown gold (or recycled or recovered gold) are chemically identical to mined gold and, as such, are equivalent in monetary value. However, recycled gold may be more sustainable than its mined counterparts to some people and producers.Here’s everything you need to know around the topic of what is lab-grown gold and how you can shop for it confidently.

Can Gold Be Made in a Lab?

The short answer is, yes, it is possible to create gold in a lab. As IDEX reported in July 2025, a recent example is the US startup Marathon Fusion that has been working on the process using mercury-197 to produce gold. However, making gold via nuclear fusion requires an immense amount of energy. Additionally, gold produced under this method remains radioactive for up to 18 years.

Is It Similar to Lab-Grown Diamonds?

As lab-grown diamonds have become a highly popular alternative to natural diamonds, particularly for engagement rings, it’s fair to wonder, if it’s so easy to produce lab-grown stones, why can’t we do the same with a gold nugget? But really, it all has to do with how the two materials form in nature.Diamonds form when carbon is exposed to high-heat, high-pressure conditions – an environment that scientists can more easily replicate in a lab. In contrast, all the Earth’s natural gold was formed billions of years ago through cosmic events, before making its way to the surface of the planet. Think of the merger of neutron stars or massive stars exploding as a supernova. As such, these conditions are a little more difficult to copy in a man-made setting, and because of this challenge, true lab-grown gold hasn’t caught on the way lab-grown diamonds have.

The Lab-Grown Gold Market: A Quick Overview of Recycled Gold

As mentioned, what many sellers offer as “lab-grown gold” is, in reality, just recycled gold – or any gold reclaimed from unwanted jewelry, electronic waste, industrial waste, or automobiles. It’s then returned to its pure form before being transformed into a new piece of jewelry.Recycled gold is chemically the same as mined gold on a molecular level, meaning it holds the same scrap value per gram and exhibits identical long-term market value behavior. At the same time, recycled gold is considered by some to be a more eco-friendly option than mined gold as it reduces the need for traditional mining and the reliance on depleting natural gold deposits.

Lab-Grown Gold Vs. Recycled Gold Vs. Mined Gold

What About Other Types of Gold? An Overview of the Terminology

These are the primary terms you’ll see used to describe gold jewelry in the marketplace. It’s important to know their meanings, so you can be sure of what you’re buying:Solid gold (10k/14k/18k/24k): Pure 100% gold is too soft for jewelry so what you’re buying is gold mixed with other precious metals to form a more durable alloy. The varying karat counts refer to the concentration, and therefore, purity of the gold used. White gold and rose gold also fall under this category.Recycled gold: Real gold with the same value and purity as solid gold, but it’s made by reclaiming and refining previously existing quantities that were used for another purpose.Gold vermeil: The piece features a layer of gold applied over sterling silver; a specific thickness of gold must be applied.Gold plated/PVD-coated: A thin layer of gold is applied to a base metal; durability and value vary.Lab-made gold: Unless the seller is attempting to pose recycled gold as lab-made gold, actual lab-made gold is created via nuclear transmutation. However, you won’t find this in the mainstream jewelry supply.

What Kind of Gold Should You Buy?

Lab-Grown Gold and Recycled Gold Dos & Don’ts

Do: Treat “lab-grown gold” as a marketing term. Any time a seller uses this term, inquire further regarding the metal’s true origins.Don’t: Assume recycled gold will cost less than its natural counterpart (like lab-grown diamonds) or that recycled gold is automatically sustainable as some producers may still use unsustainable practices.Do: Use recycled gold as the most straightforward alternative for real gold jewelry.

Is Lab-Grown or Recycled Gold Considered Fake by Insurers?

No! If you work with a reputable specialty jewelry insurance provider like BriteCo, they will treat your lab-grown and recycled gold as authentic – because it is.Since both true lab-grown and recycled gold are chemically the same as mined gold, and therefore equivalent in value and value retention, BriteCo insures recycled and lab-associated gold jewelry exactly the same, as long as proper documentation is available at the time of appraisal.In the same way that BriteCo covers lab-grown diamonds, coverage is based on value and risk, not origin. So long as the piece of jewelry can be appraised and replaced, it can be insured, regardless of whether the gold is mined or recycled. Getting an online jewelry quote from BriteCo only requires an appraisal, photos, and purchase documentation. You can get coverage as soon as today to protect your jewelry from loss, theft, mysterious disappearance, and accidental damage anywhere in the world, 365 days a year, 7 days a week.

Lab-Grown Gold FAQs

Is Lab-Grown Gold Real Gold?The term lab-grown gold is often a misnomer used to describe recycled gold. However, recycled gold and gold that’s actually grown in a lab (while rare) are both identical to mined counterparts on a chemical level and in value.Can Gold Be Lab-Grown?Yes. While it is very difficult and rare, gold can be made in a lab through nuclear technology.Is Lab-Grown Gold the Same As Recycled Gold?In many cases, yes, lab-grown gold is the same as recycled gold, and some sellers may market recycled gold as lab-grown gold.Does Lab-Grown Gold Have a Karat Count?Yes, lab-grown gold is measured by karats the same way as mined gold.Is Gold Vermeil Better Than Gold-Plated Jewelry?Gold vermeil is better than gold-plated in most cases. Gold vermeil must include a certain thickness of gold applied to a sterling silver base, while gold-plated jewelry may feature any amount of gold and any base metal, leading to a potential lack of durability and value.

Source: DCLA

Namibia: Gold and Uranium Earnings Overtake Diamonds

Namibia has, for the first time, earned more tax revenue from gold and uranium than from diamonds.

Natural diamonds, primarily from marine operations, have long accounted for almost a third of Namibia’s export earnings.

But it has faced a severe contraction since mid-2022. At the same time, gold prices have been surging to record highs, and demand for uranium is rising for nuclear energy production.

Diamond mining is projected to decline by 4.5 per cent in 2025 and 5.7 per cent in 2026, the Bank of Namibia said in its August 2025 Economic Outlook.

“Non-diamond mineral revenues have surpassed diamond revenues for the first time, reinforcing a structural shift towards a more diversified and resilient mining revenue base,” the Chamber of Mines of Namibia said in its report for October, published last week.

It said tax revenue from diamonds in the six months to September was down 79 per cent, year on year. It did not provide like-for-like figures for gold or uranium.

But it said tax revenue from other minerals, mainly uranium and gold, had almost doubled the original budget estimate in the last financial year.

Source: DCLA

Priceless Diamond Jewelry Stolen From The Louvre In Paris

 Priceless Diamond Jewelry Stolen From The Louvre In Paris

The Louvre Museum in Paris was broken into on Sunday morning at opening time, by a group of hooded intruders who made off with antique jewelry that once belonged to Emperor Napoleon. The world-famous museum, which welcomed 9 million visitors from around the world in 2024, remains closed for the rest of the day.

The Louvre has yet to make an official statement, but Agence France-Press reports in vairous French media titles that the group accessed the museum from the Quais François Mitterand, used an external goods lift and breaking first-floor windows to get to the gallery they were interested in, where they broke open display cases. The incident occurred shortly after 9:30am.

According to Le Parisien newspaper, working with AFP, the intruders took advantage of building work that is ongoing at the Louvre to enter and made their way to the Galerie Apollon. While one of them kept watch, two men broke into display cases using chainsaws and made off with nine pieces of jewelry, including brooches, necklaces and tiaras worn by Empress Josephine, that were displayed in the Napoleon and French Sovereigns display cases.

The incident took place in the space of 7 minutes, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told the radio station France Inter this morning. One of the jewels – a crown belonging to Emperess Eugénie – was later found outside the Louvre, damaged.

The total value of the stolen goods has yet to be estimated, but the biggest diamond in the collection, the 140-carat Regent diamond, is safe. With the price of gold now topping $4,100/oz, speculation has begun as to whether the items will be dismantled, melted down and sold as raw materials, or find their way into the hands of private collectors. In mid-September the Museum of Natural History in Paris was robbed of several specimens of rough gold, thought to represent $70,000 and described at the time as “an invaluable loss for research and.

According to Rachida Dati, the French Minister of Culture who was at the Louvre with police and museum teams on Sunday morning, “no-one was injured” during the incident at the world’s most-visited museum.

Source: DCLA

US Jewelry Spending Up 10%, says Citibank

 

Spending on luxury jewelry in May was up by 10.1 per cent, according to Citigroup.

The figure is strikingly at odds with the US Department of Commerce, which puts the year-to-year figure for May at just 2.9 per cent.

Citi, the third biggest bank in the US, bases its analysis of its 10m-plus US credit card holders. The Department of Commerce uses its own estimates, then revises its figures based on actual through-the-till transactions.

Citi also says luxury watch spending increased by 14.7 per cent. The Department of Commerce put the figure at 2.4 per cent.

Citi said the overall spend on luxury goods was weak but recovering in May, down 1.7 per cent year over year, compared with a 6.8 per cent decline in April and 8.5 per cent in March.

Luxury jewelry has consistently outperformed other luxury segments, such as handbags and apparel, since September 2024, according to the Citi data.

Jewelry was the only category to see both an increase in average spend per customer and a rise in the number of individual customers in May 2025.

Consumers are increasingly choosing jewelry over handbags and other luxury goods, which have seen less innovation and sharper price hikes.

Source: DCLA

Gold Surge Pushes up Rolex Prices

Rolex has increased the cost of some watches by up to 8 per cent in response to surging gold prices.

A yellow gold Day-Date with a 40 millimeter black dial now costs $45,809, following a 1 January increase, up from $42,587. And a yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master II is up from $45,100.

Gold prices increased by around 27 per cent during 2024 and currently stand at $2,624 per ounce, after hitting a record high of $2,790 last October.

Prices for watches made of platinum, steel, or other materials have also increased, but generally by no more than 3 per cent.

Rolex, the biggest of all; luxury Swiss watchmakers, traditionally puts its prices up on New Year’s Day.

Meanwhile, prices of second hand Rolex’s fell during 2024 by 4.9 per cent, according to the WatchCharts Overall Watch Market index.

Source: Idex

Gold from Toronto Heist “is in Dubai or India”

Police investigating the theft of CAN$20m (US$14.5m) of gold from Toronto Pearson Airport last April – the biggest heist of its kind in Canada – say much of it ended up in Dubai or India.

The perpetrators used a fraudulent airway bill (carrier’s document of instruction) for shipment of seafood to dupe Air Canada Cargo warehouse staff, then used a forklift truck to empty a container packed with 6,600 gold bars, as well as foreign currency.

“We believe a large portion has gone overseas to markets that are flush with gold,” said lead investigator Det. Sgt. Mike Mavity, as reported by CBC News, Canada’s national broadcaster.

“That would be Dubai, or India, where you can take gold with serial numbers on it and they will still honour it and melt it down. And we believe that happened very shortly after the incident.”

Police have arrested nine men in connection with the case and are searching for three others involved in what is believed to have been an “inside job”.

They say the Project 24 Karat investigation has cost CAN$5.3m so far (US$3.9m) and could end up costing CAN$ 10m (US$7.3m).

Source: DCLA

Passenger Caught with $84,000 of Gold Inside Body

A passenger at an airport in India was caught with almost 1kg (2.2lbs) of gold, most of it concealed inside their body.

They were intercepted at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal, in the northeastern state of Manipur, after a specific tip-off.

Customs officers recovered one packet of gold, in a paste form, within the airport complex, and found two more hidden inside the passenger’s body after a thorough examination.

The gold packets were shaped like eggs, wrapped in rubber sheaths and were found hidden inside the passenger’s rectum.

The passenger has not been identified, and Customs did not say where they’d traveled from.

The total weight of the gold was 972.28 grams, with a market value of Rs 70,31,601 ($84,000).

Source: DCLA

China's Gold Economy: Consumer desire for gold increases, desire for diamonds decreases

In the first half of this year, China consumed nearly 555 tons of gold, up more than 16 percent year-on-year. The trend has been described as a domestic gold craze. But diamonds seem to have lost their attraction, as the market size in China declined to 11.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, 2.5 billion dollars less than in 2021. Xu Hua has more from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, China’s biggest distribution center for wholesale jewelry.

XU HUA Shenzhen Shuibei Jewelry Market “We’re at Shenzhen’s Shuibei Jewelry Market, the biggest wholesale market of its kind in China. The market has been crowded with consumers from all over the country for months, as international gold prices continue to rise. Let’s go and see what the best seller is here.”

The hustle and bustle of the Shuibei Jewelry Market since the beginning of 2023 marked a strong comeback from last year. With attractive designs, diverse styles and low prices, dozens of deals can be reached in seconds.

YU WANLING Shenzhen Resident “Shuibei is well-known for its gold sales. The quality gold is more reassuring than other places.”

ZHENG CE Shenzhen Resident “We are about to get married. We prefer to buy some gold rather than diamonds for inheritance or for wearing.”

China’s domestic consumption of gold jewelry reached 555 tons in the first half of 2023. Among the gold consumption, the purchase of gold bars jumped 30 percent year-on-year to 146 tons, while that of gold jewelry reached 368 tons, up almost 15 percent from the same period last year.

HAO RUNSONG General Manager, Lidu Gold “In 2023, our gold sales increased by 20-30 percent compared with last year.”

By contrast, the doorways of neighboring diamond stores looked relatively lonely, as the precious gems lost some significant value over the last few months.

LIU JINGLI Manager, Yishidai Jewelry “The retail transaction volume of diamond inlays is relatively low, and the wholesale sales of our diamond inlays is also declining.”

ZHAO LI Director, The Gold Plaza Operation Center “The sales of diamond jewelry have declined slightly, partly due to falling prices, fewer marriages, the impact of cultivated diamonds, and changing buyer behaviour.”

For daily social needs, some consumers looked to art jewelry as an alternative to diamond jewelry.

HUANG WEIJUN Brand Director, Shenzhen REIEN Jewelry “Our sales of art jewelry in the first half of this year have increased by about 300 percent over the whole of last year.”

Some economists say the booming gold sales are a direct reflection of a gloomy economic outlook.

WU HAIFENG Executive Director, Shenzhen Institute of Data Economy “When people feel uncertainty about the future, especially on the economy, especially about the income growth, people will think to change their investments platform from a variety of the financial products to hard currencies such as gold, such as real estate.”

However, Wu says that the real estate market hasn’t looked good since the beginning of the last year, so Chinese consumers and investors have been looking at other products. Wu added proper stimulative policies are still needed to ensure a healthy market and economic rebound. Xu Hua, CGTN, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.

Source: DCLA

The gold, diamond, and ruby ring that Tupac Shakur wore days before his death sold at auction for over $1 million

Tupac Shakur’s custom crown-shaped ring, which he wore shortly before he died, sold for nearly $1.02 million Tuesday, becoming the most valuable hip-hop artifact ever sold at auction.

Sotheby’s in New York sold the ring as part of a large sale of hip-hop artifacts, including autographed letters from Shakur and a demo tape for his single “Trapped,” per a press release from the auction house. Prior to auction, the ring was estimated to sell between $200,000 to $300,000.

The lots, meant to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the musical genre, also included memorabilia from many other memorable names — Mos Def, De La Soul, and Wu-Tang Clan, to name a few.

The 14-Karat gold ring, encrusted with diamonds and rubies, features an inscription on the side that reads “Pac & Dada 1996” — a reference to his engagement to actress Kidada Jones.

According to the press release, Yaasmyn Fula, the artist’s godmother, offered the ring for auction, telling Sotheby’s it was custom designed by Pac and assembled by jewelers in New York City following his months behind bars and his newly signed deal with Death Row Records.

“Reflecting his recent affinity for Niccolo Machiavelli’s political manifesto ‘The Prince’ (Tupac would start going by “Makaveli” after reading The Prince while incarcerated), Tupac modeled his design after the crowns of the medieval kings of Europe in ‘an act of self-coronation,’ according to Fula, a celebration of survival through a tumultuous year in an oft tumultuous life,” per the press release.

The ring also appeared on his finger during the September 4, 1996, MTV Video Music Awards — his last public appearance before his tragic murder three days later in Las Vegas.

Source: DCLA

US Sanctions Gold, Diamond Companies Aiding Wagner Group

The US Department of the Treasury has issued sanctions against four companies and an individual in the gold and diamond industries that have provided funding to Russian military organization Wagner Group.

The Central African Republic (CAR), United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia-based entities have “engaged in illicit gold dealings” to help Wagner “sustain and expand” its army in Ukraine and Africa, the government office said Tuesday.

“Treasury’s sanctions disrupt key actors in the Wagner Group’s financial network and international structure,” explained Brian Nelson, under secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “The Wagner Group funds its brutal operations in part by exploiting natural resources in countries like CAR and Mali.”

The targets include:

Midas Ressources, which holds the rights to the Ndassima gold mine in CAR, and Diamville, a gold and diamond purchasing company that participated in a gold scheme and the shipment of diamonds mined in the African country to help fund Wagner activities.
Dubai-based industrial goods distributor Industrial Resources General Trading, which provided support to Wagner leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin by purchasing the diamonds sold by Diamville in exchange for cash to support the military group.
Limited Liability Company DM (OOO DM), a Russia-based firm accused of participating in a gold-selling scheme with Diamville.
Andrey Ivanov, an executive in the Wagner Group who facilitated weapons deals and mining operations with the government of Mali.
The announcement follows Wagner’s attempted rebellion against the Russian government last week. Prigozhin called off the mutiny and went into exile in Belarus.

The sanctions are the latest round against the Wagner Group, which the US has labeled a “significant transnational criminal organization.” Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK and the European Union have also sanctioned the military entity.

Source: DCLA

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Portuguese UN peacekeepers accused of helping to smuggle diamonds, gold and drugs out of Central African Republic

       The Central African Republic has hosted UN                                peacekeepers for years

A “handful” of Portuguese peacekeepers may have been involved in smuggling gold, diamonds and drugs out of the Central African Republic (CAR).

The soldiers, part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in the country, are alleged to have been part of a crime ring that used military planes to transport the illicit goods to Portugal, the office of the Portuguese Armed Forces Chief of Staff said in a statement.

More than 300 inspectors raided nearly 100 properties in Portugal as part of the investigation, police said on Monday.

Officers said the “criminal network” had international links and 10 people have been arrested so far – some of them ex-military. They are likely to appear in court this week.

The Portuguese military said officials became aware of the alleged crime ring in December 2019, along with suspicions that some of its soldiers may have been used as couriers.

More stringent checks have been put in place for soldiers returning to Portugal after peacekeeping missions.

Supporters of a presidential candidate in CAR ride on a flatbed lorry, in an incident unrelated to the crash
At least 78 people killed as truck flips in the Central African Republic In a statement, military officials said: “The armed forces totally repudiate these behaviors which contradict the values ​​of the military institution.”

Portugal’s defence minister Joao Gomes Cravinho said: “Everything suggests that these were activities undertaken on their own initiative by a handful of soldiers and not something systemic.”

Hundreds of Portuguese soldiers have been deployed in the CAR over the past few years, as the country struggles with violence that worsened after a coalition of rebels seized power in 2013.

It is rich in gold and diamonds but it is also one of the poorest countries in the world.

Source: DCLA

Portuguese UN peacekeepers accused of helping to smuggle diamonds, gold and drugs out of Central African Republic

       The Central African Republic has hosted UN                                peacekeepers for years

A “handful” of Portuguese peacekeepers may have been involved in smuggling gold, diamonds and drugs out of the Central African Republic (CAR).

The soldiers, part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in the country, are alleged to have been part of a crime ring that used military planes to transport the illicit goods to Portugal, the office of the Portuguese Armed Forces Chief of Staff said in a statement.

More than 300 inspectors raided nearly 100 properties in Portugal as part of the investigation, police said on Monday.

Officers said the “criminal network” had international links and 10 people have been arrested so far – some of them ex-military. They are likely to appear in court this week.

The Portuguese military said officials became aware of the alleged crime ring in December 2019, along with suspicions that some of its soldiers may have been used as couriers.

More stringent checks have been put in place for soldiers returning to Portugal after peacekeeping missions.

Supporters of a presidential candidate in CAR ride on a flatbed lorry, in an incident unrelated to the crash
At least 78 people killed as truck flips in the Central African Republic In a statement, military officials said: “The armed forces totally repudiate these behaviors which contradict the values ​​of the military institution.”

Portugal’s defence minister Joao Gomes Cravinho said: “Everything suggests that these were activities undertaken on their own initiative by a handful of soldiers and not something systemic.”

Hundreds of Portuguese soldiers have been deployed in the CAR over the past few years, as the country struggles with violence that worsened after a coalition of rebels seized power in 2013.

It is rich in gold and diamonds but it is also one of the poorest countries in the world.

Source: DCLA

WIN ! A PERTH MINT GOLD COIN WORTH OVER $300!

Prize:

The Perth Mint Gold Coin is one of Australia's iconic coins, worth over $300. With Gold prices at an ALL TIME HIGH, hold onto this piece and watch your Kangaroo jump up in value over the years.

How to enter:

Guess the Gold price of this 18 karat, Men's gold bracelet that is 9 years old. Like our page https://lnkd.in/dHTTTEi and comment below your answer to enter!

Date & time:

Competition will close on the 4th of November at 11.59pm.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, associated, endorsed or administered with Facebook/Instagram.
See full terms and conditions here: https://lnkd.in/deEnaBk 

WIN ! A PERTH MINT GOLD COIN WORTH OVER $300!

Prize:

The Perth Mint Gold Coin is one of Australia's iconic coins, worth over $300. With Gold prices at an ALL TIME HIGH, hold onto this piece and watch your Kangaroo jump up in value over the years.

How to enter:

Guess the Gold price of this 18 karat, Men's gold bracelet that is 9 years old. Like our page https://lnkd.in/dHTTTEi and comment below your answer to enter!

Date & time:

Competition will close on the 4th of November at 11.59pm.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, associated, endorsed or administered with Facebook/Instagram.
See full terms and conditions here: https://lnkd.in/deEnaBk 

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