Though gold would seem to be the most valuable material for a watch, some collectors view gold as too common.

FORBES

That was short of the 500 hour threshold that is the gold standard of material participation.

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But he adds that a breakthrough in this field would clearly be gold-medal material.

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One common method was to cover small gold particles with genetic material and shoot them into the nucleus of the plant cell with a pressure gun.

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Sometimes, newer operations might only get a gram of gold per ton of mined material.

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The dentist's goal is that one day they may be able to replace mercury-based gold and silver fillings with material more like natural tooth enamel.

BBC: By BBC News Online Science Editor Dr David Whitehouse

For instance, electroplating can be used to coat a thin layer of gold on to a cheap piece of material.

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Some are distinguished by design or material, such as the nearly two pounds of solid gold that King Philip II of Spain attached to his profession of fealty to Pope Paul IV in 1555.

WSJ: Lux in Arcana | Capitoline Museum | The Papacy's Private Papers | By Francis X. Rocca

Among the mutual fund groups that saw inflows this year as oil prices along with gold and silver have steadily climbed the charts are raw material and commodity-related funds.

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