economy
February 16, 2026
This is the most expensive metal in the world: It's worth 400 times more than gold
Gold ranks fifth, a well-known precious metal widely used in jewelry and industry. Its price is close to $50 per gram. Fourth place is iridium, which has high resistance to chemical attacks.
TL;DR
- Gold is priced around $50 per gram.
- Iridium, known for its chemical resistance, costs nearly $70 per gram and is used in rocket engines and satellites.
- Palladium, in demand for the automotive industry, electronics, and jewelry, is approximately $100 per gram.
- Rhodium, a rare metal produced in less than one ton annually, is primarily used in automotive catalytic converters and can cost up to $4,000 per gram.
- Osmium is considered the rarest and most expensive non-radioactive metal, with prices for its crystalline form exceeding $10,000 to $20,000 per gram.
- Osmium's unique properties include the highest density of all stable elements and resistance to corrosion.
- A method for crystallizing osmium was discovered in 2013, making it safe for handling and jewelry.
- The market for high-purity crystallized osmium is strictly regulated due to its limited supply and considered a long-term asset.
- Investment forms include 'investment disks,' with prices ranging from $1,000 to $150,000 depending on size.
- Osmium's uses include high-quality jewelry and high-precision industrial/medical applications.
- Rhodium, though extremely expensive at $4,000 per gram, is considered less exclusive than crystallized osmium.
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