What is the Biggest Use of Gold?

The biggest use of gold globally is for making jewellery.

Gold is highly valued for its beauty and durability, making it the most popular metal for crafting ornamental items. According to available data, approximately **78% of the total gold mined each year is made into jewellery**. This overwhelming majority highlights the dominance of the jewellery sector in gold consumption.

## Why Gold is Ideal for Jewellery

Several unique properties make gold exceptionally well-suited for jewellery production:

*   **Workability:** Gold is very easy to work, allowing artisans to shape it into intricate designs.
*   **Ductility:** It can be easily drawn into thin wires.
*   **Malleability:** Gold can be hammered into extremely thin sheets.
*   **Meltability:** It can be melted and cast into various shapes.
*   **Tarnish Resistance:** Gold does not tarnish or corrode, maintaining its lustre over time.
*   **High Lustre:** It possesses a brilliant shine.
*   **Desirable Colour:** The rich, yellow colour of gold is universally appealing and synonymous with luxury.

These characteristics, combined with its inherent value, solidify jewellery as the primary application for mined gold. While gold has other important uses in investment, technology, and industry, its role in adornment remains by far the most significant.

## Other Uses (Briefly)

Although jewellery is the dominant use, gold is also utilized in:

*   **Investment:** Gold bars, coins, and bullion are held as a store of value.
*   **Technology:** Small amounts are used in electronics due to its conductivity and resistance to corrosion.
*   **Central Banks:** Held as reserves by countries.

However, none of these applications rival the sheer volume consumed by the global jewellery market.