The past year has been particularly noteworthy for high impact trends in the metals market. Some, such as the introduction of palladium as a hot new jewelry metal, have drummed up excitement and curiosity in the jewelry community.

Others, such as wildly fluctuating precious metals prices, have kept manufacturers and retailers on a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. Still others, such as the increasing focus on ethical practices in jewelry manufacturing and raw material acquisition (brought to the forefront in part by a Hollywood film, The Blood Diamond, scheduled for release later this year), have influenced some jewelry makers to seek out greener materials and operations.

In this article, we asked refining experts to answer manufacturers’ and jewelers’ most common questions about these trends as they relate to the refining process. On the following pages, the experts share their suggestions for ensuring your efficiency, productivity, and profitability in the current metals market.