What is precious metal refining in jewellery?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Refining is the metallurgical process of separating precious metals from the other materials they are mixed with, recovering pure gold, silver or platinum from alloys, scrap or low-grade ore. In the jewellery trade, jewellers collect their metal scrap, filings and unused pieces and send them to a refinery, where the alloy metals are removed to leave pure precious metal, which is then reused to make new alloys and new jewellery. Refining keeps precious metals in circulation indefinitely, which is one reason gold and silver are considered renewable resources.
Frequently asked questions
- How is gold refined?
- The two main methods are the Miller process, which uses chlorine gas to remove impurities, producing gold of around 99.5% purity, and the Wohlwill process, an electrolytic method that achieves over 99.99% purity. Most large refineries use both, with the Miller process as an initial step.
- Do jewellers refine their own scrap?
- Most jewellers collect their scrap and send it to a specialist refinery rather than refining it themselves. The refinery processes it and returns the value in the form of pure metal credits or payment, and the scrap metal is then reused in new jewellery.
- Is refined gold different from mined gold?
- Chemically they are identical; refined and recycled gold is exactly the same as freshly mined gold once it has been processed. Many jewellers actively use recycled gold to reduce environmental impact.
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