Gold prices surge! "Gold mining" suddenly becomes popular, experts warn→

On March 27, Eastern Time, gold and silver skyrocketed late at night, with spot gold briefly surpassing $4,555 per ounce. On March 28, the price per gram of gold jewelry from several domestic brands approached 1,400 yuan. Currently, gold has become a new favorite for handmade crafts, with many young people opting for “home goldsmithing.” Experts warn that aside from safety hazards, property loss is the most common “pitfall” for home goldsmiths, as gold loss due to operational errors far exceeds expectations.

Domestic gold jewelry prices from multiple brands approach 1,400 yuan per gram

On March 28, a comparison of domestic gold jewelry prices showed that several gold jewelry brands announced price increases for domestic 24K gold jewelry compared to the previous day.

Lao Feng Xiang quoted 1,396 yuan per gram, up 28 yuan from the previous day’s 1,368 yuan;

Lao Miao Gold quoted 1,397 yuan per gram, up 32 yuan from the previous day’s 1,365 yuan;

Chow Sang Sang quoted 1,391 yuan per gram, up 27 yuan from the previous day’s 1,364 yuan.

Young people fall in love with goldsmithing

Goldsmithing involves processes such as melting gold, making molds, shaping, and polishing to create jewelry like rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Recently, this ancient craft has become popular again, with the “goldsmithing” topic on some social media platforms exceeding 1.3 billion views.

A goldsmith told reporters that it takes about one to three hours to craft a piece of jewelry, including melting gold, making molds, shaping, polishing, and finishing. The labor cost for basic gold jewelry ranges from 10 yuan to 40 yuan per gram, while more complex pieces like filigree or hand engraving can cost dozens to hundreds of yuan. Compared to the high brand premiums and processing fees at gold stores, this more cost-effective and personalized way of consuming gold has gained favor among many young people.

Many consumers told reporters that the “renewal” of old gold jewelry retains the intrinsic value and emotional memories of gold while aligning with contemporary trends, becoming a new national trend that combines aesthetics, emotion, and financial function.

Wang Huiqun, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Gold Jewelry Industry Association: Goldsmithing involves processing techniques and environmental requirements, so it’s essential to choose a larger goldsmithing shop, observe the skills of the goldsmith, and clarify any questions beforehand to reach an agreement.

New faces in an old trade

“Post-00” goldsmiths inject new vitality into the industry

The current popularity of goldsmithing has also created a batch of young goldsmiths who infuse traditional craftsmanship with new energy through aesthetics and creativity while carving out their own career paths with their hammers.

The owner of a goldsmithing shop told reporters that after noticing the growing popularity of goldsmithing three years ago, she opened this shop. Now she has two stores and 20 employees, including 10 goldsmiths, most of whom are “post-00s,” with the oldest being only 28 years old. In her view, the greatest advantage of a young team is their strong innovative ability and the ability to accurately grasp customer needs.

During the interview, the reporter learned that there are currently no significant age or educational restrictions for goldsmiths in the industry; whether recent graduates or professionals looking to switch careers, there are opportunities to enter this field.

Zhou Baolin, manager of a goldsmithing shop in Yuyuan Street, Huangpu District, Shanghai: In the goldsmithing industry, the basic salary is around 10,000 yuan per month, while skilled craftsmen, like engravers, generally earn around 15,000 yuan per month.

“Home goldsmithing” becomes popular

These risk hazards need attention

Gold has transformed into a handcrafted new favorite, and many young people wanting to breathe new life into old jewelry are opting for more cost-effective and personalized “home goldsmithing.” On social platforms, content related to “home goldsmithing” is ubiquitous. To save on labor costs, some people buy crucible pliers, torches, and oil clay, becoming “goldsmiths” themselves and starting to try home goldsmithing.

How exactly does one perform “home goldsmithing”? Can it save money while being “wealthy”? What safety hazards need to be heeded behind this seemingly “money-saving and fun” trend?

On social platforms, a casual search yields many video tutorials about “home goldsmithing,” mostly sharing successful experiences that lead people to mistakenly believe that the actual operation is not complicated. However, a blogger who deeply shares the goldsmithing process reveals that “home goldsmithing” has strict steps.

A complete set of “home goldsmithing” tools can be easily purchased on e-commerce platforms. Searching for “goldsmithing kit” yields cheap sets for just over 100 yuan, with the expensive ones costing no more than 200 yuan. According to the tutorial blogger, a basic toolkit includes long-nose pliers, toothbrushes, files, agate knives, borax, blowtorches, short-nose pliers, electronic scales, old materials, oil clay, some plaster molds, gas cans, and a fireproof board.

First, use an iron basin lined with a fireproof board to prevent gold from splattering and causing losses when pressing the oil clay;

Assemble the blowtorch for melting gold, remove the outer paper layer from the goldsmithing molds, and heat them with the blowtorch;

Press the oil clay vertically, steadily, and evenly, cool for about ten seconds, and quickly remove it to place it in cold water.

Although this blogger has published very detailed goldsmithing video tutorials, there are also professional goldsmiths sharing on social platforms that even replicating the steps in the video one-to-one may still lead to failure.

A staff member from a goldsmithing shop in Beijing also told reporters that more and more people are choosing “home goldsmithing,” but not many succeed; many who fail later come to the shop seeking solutions.

Wang Chao, director of the Gold and Jewelry Testing Center at Ningbo Quality Inspection Institute, believes that theoretically, home goldsmithing is not entirely impossible. Individuals with certain manual skills can indeed complete the production after mastering the correct methods. However, most people’s uncertainty during the operational process and the quality factors of the molds themselves can lead to corresponding problems.

Wang Chao, director of the Gold and Jewelry Testing Center at Ningbo Quality Inspection Institute: The melting point of gold is over 1,000 degrees Celsius, and since it involves high temperatures, home operations certainly carry risks. It’s advisable to take precautions in a well-ventilated environment, such as wearing thick gloves, using long tongs, and keeping a safe distance from high temperatures during operations, which will reduce risks. If a person has strong manual skills and learning abilities, they might succeed on their first attempt. However, if they lack strong manual skills, the chances of failure will be relatively high. Moreover, the molds may not necessarily produce perfect results, and any defects may only be discovered after production.

While home goldsmithing has a certain operability, Wang Chao also points out the risk points in the goldsmithing process.

Wang Chao, director of the Gold and Jewelry Testing Center at Ningbo Quality Inspection Institute: It’s important to check if the metal has high purity; if it contains other metals, such as easily volatile metals, they might vaporize when heated due to their lower melting points, leading to potential hazards. For example, if it contains mercury, it would turn into mercury vapor, which could cause poisoning in poorly ventilated environments.

In addition to safety hazards, property loss is the most common “pitfall” for home goldsmithers. Due to operational errors, the gold loss far exceeds expectations. Common mistakes include improper preparation of plaster molds leading to broken castings and metal melting or breaking during welding; these mistakes can result in gold residues or losses that are difficult to recover, ultimately requiring professional repair, which adds to costs.

Wang Chao admits that “home goldsmithing” cannot simply be achieved by following tutorials; the possibilities and limitations of “home goldsmithing” should be viewed rationally.

Source: CCTV News

Source: Great Wall New Media