Osmium Periodensystem

OSMIUM
World’s Rarest Precious Metal Becomes Unique Opportunity

    Osmium Basic Facts
  • Forms part of the group of eight noble (precious) metals
  • Global mineable reserves only two cubic metres (45,000 kg)
  • Annual worldwide production approx. 1.300 kg (Extraction approx. 100kg)
  • Raw osmium is a toxic material due to the formation of osmium tetroxide
  • Crystallised osmium is non-hazardous. It is used in exclusive high class jewellery and as an investment by collectors and high-net worth individuals
    Characteristics:
  • Osmium is the densest of all stable elements and chemical compounds on earth (it is impossible to counterfeit)
  • A bulk modulus of 462 GPa (it is harder to compress than diamonds)
  • Has the highest abrasion resistance and is an excellent gamma radiation shield
  • Very effective superconductor at low temperatures
  • Unrivalled sparkle even outperforming diamonds

Osmium Periodensystem

Osmium is the rarest and the last of the precious metals with a high value density. There is no risk of substitution by any other precious metals.

Project Development and Timeline

Osmium was discovered in 18041) by Smithson Tennant in London. In its raw form, osmium is chemically reactive and classified as a hazardous material. Therefore, possession of raw osmium is mostly restricted to specialty chemical companies and applications are limited. In 2013, it became possible to crystallise raw osmium. Crystalline osmium is inert and completely harmless with properties which are typical of a precious metal. Its characteristic silvery- blue sparkle makes crystalline osmium ideal for high-end jewellery and luxury accessories. Since 2014, the Osmium-Institut zur Inverkehrbringung und Zertifizierung von Osmium GmbH, the German registered headquarters, has been preparing the global market launch to ensure scalability and reliability of the Swiss-based crystallisation process, and to establish governance for secure transactions. Since 2017, affiliated osmium institutes are being set up around the world to drive local market penetration and manage certification. The project is now being rolled out globally.

Osmium Entwicklung

Market

The osmium crystallisation process and issuing of certificates of authenticity is entirely under the control of the Osmium-Institut zur Inverkehrbringung und Zertifizierung von Osmium GmbH. Certified osmium can initially only be bought from affiliated osmium institutes and partners who are certified to work with and sell osmium. As there is only one single entity controlling the crystallisation process, there is only one place where osmium can be initially purchased. Exclusive delivery contracts for raw osmium have been negotiated with refineries and mining corporations. Only their products are processed into crystallised osmium. No affiliated osmium institute will buy raw osmium from any other distributor, trader or private individual. As part of the authentication process, every osmium piece is photographed, weighed and measured in Germany. The chemical purity, which is at least 99.9995%, is determined per batch. The crystalline surface structure of every single osmium piece is an individual feature, just like a human fingerprint, but with a 10,000 times greater accuracy. Each osmium piece is associated with an eight-digit letter-number code, the Osmium Identification Code (OIC). The OIC is entered into the International Osmium Database along with the information recorded as part of the authentication process. The OIC enables private individuals to verify the authenticity of purchased osmium by visual comparison with the high resolution scan which are stored in the International Osmium World Database.

Expected Price Development

While raw osmium is actually priced at 15 to 26 CHF net/g, crystallized osmium has already seen some significant price increases until it reaches the CHF 1,383.92 net/g mark (19 July 2020).
With new affiliated osmium institutes being founded, new and dynamic developments are expected. Osmium remains in the hands of private individuals or entities until the time when it is sold to the jewellery market. Once worked into jewellery, osmium included in jewellery pieces will mostly not be available again. Once raw osmium can no longer be extracted from platinum ore and demand will rise, we will see this market rapidly changing. Commodity experts refer to this scenario as the Osmium Big Bang and estimate the time period to be between 8 to 15 years.

Osmium Preisentwicklung letzten 7 Jahre

Opportunities

  • Diversification and hedge against inflation
  • Rare and limited supply
  • Available in flat and cylindrical geometries in various sizes including Osmium Disk, Osmium Diamonds, Osmium Stars, Osmium Bars and Osmium Shapes

Risks

  • Future price developments for precious metals generally difficult to predict
  • Currently illiquid market
  • Osmium is an asset similar to all other precious metals
  • Osmium offers no dividends

Terms

Purchase Crystalline, certified osmium is directly purchased from the Osmium-Institut zur Inverkehrbringung und Zertifizierung von Osmium GmbH, Germany, or one of its affiliated local osmium institutes and retailers.
Delivery lead time Depending on order between 1 day and 2 weeks.
Product Boxes Approx. EUR 125,000 per Investor Disk and EUR 1 million per Family Office package (6-7 Investor Disks). Total investment size up to EUR 200 billion.