Osmium Guidelines

Comprehensive Guide for Working with Crystalline Osmium

Material Overview
  • Osmium is the densest and most abrasion-resistant precious metal, featuring a unique silver-blue sparkle that intensifies in sunlight.
  • Due to its chemical stability, osmium does not react with skin and does not tarnish.
  • The material allows innovation in the high-end jewelry making and is easy to work with when processing guidelines are followed. As a rule of thumb: If one knows how to set stones, one knows how to set osmium.
  • Crystallized osmium is super rare, with most likely less than half a ton ever available to the luxury market.
  • In crystalline form Osmium is chemically inert, non-toxic, and highly valued in the luxury market for its brilliance, rarity, and unforgeable crystalline structure.
  • The crystalline surface is unique and recognizable in every piece. Even on a single square millimeter, it is 10,000 times more precise in recognition than a human fingerprint. Since each individual piece is certified and stored in a global database, the material is considered absolutely unforgeable and certifies the jewelry and luxury items in which it is used.
  • It features a silver-blue sparkle that intensifies in sunlight, making it highly attractive for visible and luxury applications. The sparkle of osmium can be seen up to 40m (a diamond is visible up to e.g. roughly 6m).
  • The Quality of crystallized osmium from the German Osmium Institute always exceeds 99,99999%.
  • Osmium is a precious metal but used like a gemstone. It is not the carrier material. Due to hyper precision when cut it is a perfect substitute for a pavé but can also be used as a solitaire.
  • However, osmium is brittle and must be handled carefully to avoid fractures or buckling during the processing. As soon as it is set correctly it is very durable and suitable for every day jewelry. Best to treat it like an Emerald (7 on the Mohs scale)

Note: Working with osmium requires strict adherence to these guidelines. This is only meant as an overview to kickstart your design process, but before finalizing the design or processing always refer to the full Processing Guidelines for detailed instructions and safety precautions.

Processing Techniques
Cutting and Ordering Shapes
  • Cutting Process:
    • Designers and processors do not cut osmium themselves. Instead, they provide technical drawings or CAD files to certified osmium institutes.
    • The German Osmium Institute ensures precise cutting and optimized material usage by grouping orders. This minimizes waste and maximizes material efficiency.
    • Traceability: Certified pieces are registered in the Osmium World Database, ensuring they retain their value and authenticity.
    • Convenience: Ready-to-use shapes or custom-cut inlays eliminate the need for on-site cutting and recertification.
  • Pre-Certified Shapes:
    • Ready-to-use standard shapes (e.g., bars, discs, diamonds, stars, hearts etc.) can also be ordered. They are cheaper and are shipped the day after payment.
    • Every piece is certified after cutting and registered in the Osmium World Database to maintain traceability and value.
Setting and Joining
  • Setting Osmium:
    • Flat shapes are simple to set compared to traditional gemstones. Bezel or prongs settings are commonly used.
    • Avoid applying lateral pressure during setting to prevent buckling. Severe bending can cause the crystal structure to break, a solid base metal avoids the problem.
  • Adhesives:
    • Jewelry adhesives and multi-component adhesives work well for bonding osmium to surfaces. Ensure no forces are exerted on the inlay during bonding.
  • Soldering and Welding:
    • Soldering at low temperatures (below 400°C) is possible but not recommended unless necessary. Use fume hoods and proper ventilation to avoid residual risks.
    • Laser spot welding can also be employed with extreme caution and appropriate safety measures.
Heat Usage
  • While soldering or welding is possible, excessive heat can cause oxidation and form osmium tetroxide, a hazardous compound. Osmium tetraoxide is highly volatile and harmful to health.
  • It is strongly recommended to avoid heating osmium whenever possible. If heat is essential, ensure adequate safety measures (e.g., ventilation and protective gear) or have it carried out by a specialized company. Please consult full processing guidelines!
Machining and Finishing
  • Diamond Grinding:
    • Delicately used for minor adjustments, like removing positioning noses.
  • Subsequent processing like polishing or Rhodium Plating:
    • Not suitable; these processes change osmium’s natural crystal surface, rendering the certificate worthless and are anyways unnecessary due to its inherent brilliance.
    • Rhodium plate or polish final jewelry piece before setting osmium if necessary.
Sparkle Levels of Crystalline Osmium
  • Influencing Factors:
    • Sparkle is determined by crystallization time, which affects the growth and thickness of the osmium layer.
    • Layer thickness ranges between 0.2 mm and 1.4 mm, standard thickness within 0.4 mm to 1.00 mm, with thicker layers producing larger crystals.
  • Sparkle Levels:
    • There are five sparkle levels, classified based on crystal size and appearance:
      1. Light, Even Sparkle: Fine and subtle.
      2. Gradual increase in intensity.
      3. Balanced, medium sparkle.
      4. Pronounced and bold sparkle.
      5. Strong, Rough Sparkle: Intense and striking.
  • Design Implications:
    • Larger crystals create a rougher, more prominent sparkle, while smaller crystals result in a finer, more even sparkle.
    • The choice of sparkle level is a design decision—there is no “better” or “worse,” only what suits the intended aesthetic. If unsure about perfect sparkle fit, please consult local Osmium-Institute.
Design and Handling Guidelines
Design Considerations
  1. Use Flat Shapes:
    • Osmium must be used in flat forms as it cannot be bent or shaped like gold or silver. Ensure material has a flat surface which it can be set on.
  2. Protective Design:
    • Incorporate osmium inlays in protective settings to prevent mechanical shocks and damage.
  3. Bar Widths and Thickness:
    • Maintain bar widths of at least 1.5 mm to ensure stability. If it needs to be more filigran, consult Osmium-Institute first. For larger inlays, account for slight variations in layer thickness.
  4. Precautions Against Buckling:
    • Avoid applying forces parallel to the crystallization plane to prevent fractures.
Handling Tips
  • Cleaning:
    • Use soap, water, or an ultrasonic bath to clean osmium. Avoid abrasive tools.
  • Storage:
    • Store osmium pieces securely to avoid drops or impacts, as the material is slightly brittle.
Certification and Traceability
Certifications
  • Every osmium piece is registered with a unique Osmium Identification Code (OIC), ensuring its authenticity and value.
  • When osmium is incorporated into jewelry, processors can request an X-Code to register the final piece. This combines all inlays into a single certification.
Creating an X-Code
  • Processors can generate an X-Code themselves or with assistance from the German Osmium Institute, free of charge. This ensures traceability and simplifies resale or insurance claims.

The Processing Guidelines ensures you have the essential techniques, precautions, and resources to process crystalline osmium safely and effectively, while maintaining its unmatched value and beauty. Please ensure to read the full processing guidelines before finalizing designs or production of the piece. For further support or training, contact your local or the German Osmium Institute.