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In an industry defined by gold, silver and platinum, a new material is quietly emerging that could reshape how jewellers think about precious metals.
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter-based The Betts Group has announced a new collaboration with the Osmium Institute, the global authority responsible for certifying and distributing crystalline osmium. Through this partnership, Betts will serve as the UK wholesale partner, connecting British jewellery designers, makers and manufacturers with one of the rarest precious metals on Earth.
The move positions The Betts Group as the most significant commercial advocate for osmium within the UK market, opening the door for jewellers to experiment with a material that until recently has been largely inaccessible.
Among the platinum group metals, osmium holds a unique position. It is the rarest element found in the Earth’s crust, existing only in minute traces within platinum ores.
Unlike gold or platinum, osmium is never mined directly. Instead, it is recovered as a by-product of existing industrial processes, meaning its extraction creates no additional mining footprint.
A breakthrough arrived in 2014 when researchers in Switzerland developed a process to purify osmium and convert it into a stable crystalline form. This transformation unlocked the metal’s extraordinary visual properties — a dense, shimmering surface that reflects light with an almost diamond-like brilliance.
Today crystalline osmium is formed into flat discs that can be precision cut into shapes for jewellery inlays, or fashioned into round elements often referred to as “osmium diamonds.”
Recording the Osmium 'Fingerprint' - Courtesy of the Osmium Institute
Through its new partnership with the Osmium Institute, The Betts Group now acts as a direct gateway for UK jewellers seeking to explore the material.
As a recognised wholesale partner, Betts will offer streamlined access to crystalline osmium, removing many of the logistical barriers previously faced by British manufacturers.
With the Osmium Institute headquartered in Germany, sourcing the metal directly can involve complex international administration. Purchasing through Betts instead allows UK customers to benefit from local invoicing, VAT handling and simplified purchasing, making the process far more practical for designers and workshops.
For jewellers working on bespoke pieces or experimental designs, the partnership represents an opportunity to incorporate a material that is both technically fascinating and visually distinctive.
One of the defining features of osmium is the rigorous documentation that accompanies every piece.
Each crystalline osmium element carries a unique structural pattern — effectively a fingerprint — that is recorded within a global database. Every piece is registered with its own Osmium Identification Code (OIC), providing a permanent record of origin, ownership and authenticity.
This level of traceability aligns closely with the values that have defined The Betts Group’s approach to precious metals for decades.
Scarlett Clauss, Vice Director of the Osmium Institute, explains:
“We deliberately chose The Betts Group as our UK wholesale partner because of its commitment to responsibly sourced precious metals. Osmium’s unique profile — no primary mining, full traceability, and a responsible market structure — aligns perfectly with The Betts Group’s values and long-term vision.”
Scarlett Clauss, Vice Director of the Osmium Institute
Scarlett Clauss, Vice Director of the Osmium Institute
For The Betts Group, the addition of osmium strengthens an already impressive portfolio of responsibly sourced precious metals.
The company is widely recognised as a pioneer in traceable materials, offering innovations such as Single Mine Origin (SMO) Gold, AgAIN recycled silver, as well as being the only licensed Fairtrade and Fairmined gold refiner in the UK.
By adding crystalline osmium to its offering, Betts continues its tradition of exploring materials that combine technical innovation with transparent sourcing.
Managing Director Charlie Betts says:
“Crystalline osmium is a scarce precious metal that is really making waves internationally as a decorative material for jewellery design. The Betts Group is proud to partner with the Osmium Institute to introduce this material to our customers and highlight the unique characteristics that make osmium such an interesting character in the platinum group of metals.”
Charlie Betts - Managing Director, Betts Group
Charlie Betts - Managing Director, Betts Metals
Founded in 1760, The Betts Group is one of the world’s oldest precious metal businesses, operating from the heart of Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter.
Across nine generations of family leadership, the company has built a reputation for refining, manufacturing and supplying precious metals to jewellers, designers and manufacturers across the UK and beyond.
Today the business blends traditional metallurgical knowledge with modern sustainability initiatives, supporting the industry with refining services, bullion, jewellery findings, grain and specialist metal alloys.
The addition of osmium reflects the company’s continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of what precious metals can be.
Crystalline Osmium Products - Courtesy of the Osmium Institute
The partnership between The Betts Group and the Osmium Institute will be showcased at the Retail Jeweller Festival on March 16–17, where both organisations will present the material to the trade.
For jewellers interested in new materials and creative possibilities, crystalline osmium represents a fascinating addition to the precious metal landscape.
Its rarity, brilliance and traceability offer something entirely different — a metal that sits somewhere between gemstone and precious metal, combining the qualities of both.
Osmium may still be unfamiliar to many jewellers, but the material’s unique visual character and extraordinary rarity make it one of the most intriguing additions to the precious metals conversation in years.
By partnering with the Osmium Institute, The Betts Group is positioning itself at the forefront of this emerging category, bringing a material once confined to scientific curiosity into the hands of designers and makers.
For an industry built on innovation and craftsmanship, crystalline osmium offers something genuinely new — and Betts is ensuring the UK jewellery trade has a front-row seat.
Watch the video to learn more about the rarest precious metal in the world.
To learn more about crystalline osmium and The Betts Group’s partnership with the Osmium Institute, visit: bettsmetalsales.com/osmium-precious-metal
Or visit osmium-institute.co.uk to learn more.
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