18/03/2026
PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PRECIOUS METAL RECOVERY IN JEWELRY PRODUCTION
1. Introduction
In jewelry production, metal loss is inevitable.
What makes the real difference between an efficient and an inefficient company is the ability to control, track, and recover these losses.
Even small percentages (0.5% – 1.5%) can translate into significant amounts of metal over time, directly impacting margins.
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2. Where Metal is Lost
Metal loss occurs throughout the entire production process:
• Mechanical operations (filing, drawing, machining)
• Polishing and finishing
• Dust collected by extraction systems
• Production residues and contaminated materials
These losses are not concentrated in one area, but spread across the workflow — which is why they are often underestimated.
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3. The Main Problem: Lack of Control
Without a structured recovery system:
• you don’t know how much metal you are losing
• you don’t know where the loss occurs
• you cannot optimize recovery
The result is continuous, untracked loss of value.
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4. The Starting Point: Proper Burning
Effective recovery starts with correct material preparation.
Burning is the first critical step.
When done correctly, it allows you to:
• eliminate organic residues
• open up the material
• prepare it for further processing
If burning is not done properly:
• residues remain trapped
• the material is not fully opened
• recovery efficiency drops significantly from the start
Everything that follows depends on this phase.
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5. Milling: Material Opening
Milling is essential to:
• reduce particle size
• release trapped precious metal
• make the material processable
Poorly milled material leads to incomplete recovery during refining.
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6. Mixing: Homogeneity of the Batch
Mixing ensures:
• uniform material composition
• better sampling accuracy
• more reliable evaluation in refining
Without proper mixing, the material is inconsistent and its real value may be underestimated.
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7. Control and Traceability
An effective recovery system includes:
• separation of materials by type
• tracking of material flows
• monitoring of quantities
Only with this approach is it possible to have a real metal balance.
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8. Economic Impact
Practical example:
• Production: 10 kg of gold per month
• Loss: 1%
Result:
• 100 g per month
• over 1 kg per year
This is not scrap.
This is lost margin.
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9. Conclusion
Recovery is not a secondary phase.
It is an integral part of production and cost control.
Companies that manage recovery properly:
• reduce losses
• improve yield
• gain real control over their metal
Those who don’t, lose value every day — often without realizing it.
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10. Final Consideration
This is not about recovering waste.
This is about managing precious metal.
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11. How We Can Support You
Today, with precious metal prices constantly rising, recovery management is no longer optional — it is essential.
Reducing even a small percentage of loss means recovering real value every day.
We can support you with:
• dedicated solutions for milling and mixing
• specialized equipment for in-house recovery
• technical guidance to improve your process
• a practical, experience-based approach
The goal is not only to improve recovery, but to help you gain full control over your metal.
Because today more than ever, with raw material prices increasing, every gram truly matters.
