S. Koreans cash in gold teeth as price soars
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South Koreans are cashing in their gold teeth and other dental work as the price of the precious metal soars internationally, traders said on Tuesday.
At the same time, they are shunning traditional gold engagement rings and baby gifts or making do with less expensive versions.
"We are handling gold teeth far more than usual as the price of gold is rapidly increasing," Nam Seung-Woo, CEO of dealer Gold Seven told the media.
The company has bought golden whole teeth, fillings or crowns from more than 100 customers in the past month and receives at least 10 emailed pictures for free appraisals every day.
Nam said he was unaware of anyone extracting gold dental work just to cash in, but patients who previously left extracted gold teeth or fillings at the dentist were now taking them home to sell them.
A gold crown fetches at least 40,000 won ($36.85) and up to 100,000 won depending on condition and size.
The high gold price is also undermining the Korean tradition of giving a 3.75 gram (0.13 ounce) gold ring to babies for their first birthday.
Jewellers are now marketing one-gram rings instead, along with nine-carat gold rings for adults rather than 18-carat ones.
Even engaged couples are economising.
"In the past, it was common custom to prepare three sets of matching necklace, earrings and ring in three themes: simple gold, gold with diamonds, and gold with pearls," Kim Ki-Joon, a goldsmith in Seoul's Jongno district, told the JoongAng Daily.
"But now couples tend to settle for one set in simple gold."
Gold hit $1,509 an ounce on the London Bullion Market on April 21, topping $1,500 for the first time on record.
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