China’s 'hard pure gold' set to reshape global market

As China's retail sector sees a boom during the ongoing eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, "hard pure gold", a groundbreaking innovation in gold manufacturing, is making global waves after debuting at the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair in September.

The World Gold Council teamed up with 14 leading Chinese manufacturers to unveil this new type of gold at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. The gold category combines exceptional fineness with impressive durability.

"This category has proven itself in China: it's fast-growing, beloved by young consumers, and resilient enough for repeat purchases even with high gold prices. Now, to meet an undeniable market gap, the time to act is right," said Wang Lixin, Regional CEO (China) of the World Gold Council.

The excitement was palpable at the event, especially among buyers from overseas.

"Consumers in Asia, in India as well as in China, love pure gold, love high karat gold, and 22 karat gold is extremely popular in India," said Vipin Sharma, chief merchandising officer at Bluestone.

Behind the showcase lies a major technological leap. In Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, factories are fusing metallurgy and precision engineering to craft this new class of gold jewelry.

Inside the Batar facility, the complexity of the manufacturing process is apparent. The company that operates the facility has developed special technology to achieve the balance between purity and hardness.

"'Hard pure gold,' known for its high durability, is crafted through two patented core technologies -- proprietary electroforming and a hardened casting process -- that enhance hardness and precision, with strict quality control ensuring all standards are met," said Xia Zeliang, vice president of Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group.

In addition to technical advancements, artistic innovations have also been playing a role in boosting the category's popularity. Foreway, another major company in Shenzhen, has employed craftsmanship methods rooted in ancient techniques.

"We pursue timeless beauty through ancient techniques. Machines have limits with complex structures, so we keep craftsmanship central. The human touch creates more dimensional and beautiful pieces," said Luo Xiaolin, supervisor of the Ancient Artistry Department at Shenzhen Foreway Holding Investment Group.

Looking beyond China, companies have set their sights on Southeast Asia and the Middle East, using Hong Kong as a launchpad. Scaling up is already underway.

"We've been upgrading our factories with smart, digital systems. We've enhanced our supply chain flexibility, which prepares us for international demand," said Xia.

Chinese manufacturers believe collaboration and global standards are key to scaling this innovation.

"Relying on a single company is not enough. We highly appreciate the World Gold Council's effort to build standardization. This is crucial for us to go global together with this mature technology," said Ye Xiangzhou, chairman of Shenzhen Foreway Holding Investment Group.

From a domestic best-seller to an emerging international trend, "hard pure gold" combines advanced production, artistic heritage, and market insight to position itself as the next big player in the global gold industry.

China’s 'hard pure gold' set to reshape global market

The Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission conducted its last comprehensive practice before launch on Friday, completing function checks of all systems and other preparation work.

The combination of the spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket was transported to the launch site last Saturday and is scheduled for launch in the coming days, with all facilities and equipment at the launch site in good condition, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Carried out by the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Xi'an Satellite Control Center, and various control stations under the coordination of the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center, the drill simulated all stages of the launch mission, including pre-launch preparations, liftoff, climb, and the in-orbit phase.

"The joint practice is to test the system's communication links, command capability, equipment, and personnel. Based on the current progress, everything is normal. What's going on in parallel is a full-system gas leak detection," He said.

The rehearsal validated the reliability of key systems, including the rocket, the spaceship, the launch site, the control and communication equipment, and the coordination between different systems. It also verified the functionality and technical status of the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft-rocket combination.

"The Shenzhou-23 spaceship is in the third batch of spacecraft after the completion of the construction of the space station. It incorporates many new quality control measures, and its payload transport capacity, reliability, and safety have all been significantly improved," said Li Zhe, an employee of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

With all facilities in good condition, the Jiuquan launch site will later conduct rocket propellant filling and launch operations.

Search and recovery drills are also underway at the landing site, in preparation for the return of the Shenzhou-21 crew.

Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship ready for launch