Star Refining
Star Refining is a US-based main-line precious metal refiner that purchases gold, platinum, palladium, and silver dental scrap directly from dental offices and laboratories, offering on-site and mail-in (Star Jar) service channels with same-day cash payouts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersWest Palm Beach, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Star Refining does
Star Refining (legal entity: Star Refining, DBA Star Group Dental Refining / Star Group Refining) is a US-based precious metal refining company focused exclusively on dental scrap. Founded in 2003 and headquartered at 6560 W Rogers Circle, Unit 14, Boca Raton, Florida (West Palm Beach, FL market), it operates as a main-line refiner that purchases gold, platinum, palladium, and silver-bearing dental materials directly from dental offices and dental laboratories, eliminating intermediary brokers. Accepted materials include gold crowns, bonded crowns, bridges, inlays, and platinum foil.
The company's core technology is a proprietary iPhone-based on-site valuation system, described as unique among precious metal refiners, which enables rapid, transparent, and accurate metal evaluations at the customer location. Star Refining monetizes through the spread between acquisition cost and refined metal market value (priced daily against London Metal Exchange rates), supplemented by processing fees ($35 charge under 30 grams; $30 wire-transfer fee). Customers transact via two channels: an on-site pickup service staffed by a field network of local purchasing representatives providing same-day cash payment, and a Free Mail-In Service (Star Jar) with insured prepaid FedEx shipping and 24-hour offer turnaround. Distribution is direct-to-practitioner, supported by call centers (800-333-9990; 888-781-6776 for labs), BBB accreditation, and organic social media presence, with a "Pay More Than Any Competitor" guarantee as a commercial wedge.
Star Refining firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Star Refining
- Legal name
- Star Refining
- Website
- https://starrefining.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Star Refining is a US-based main-line precious metal refiner that purchases gold, platinum, palladium, and silver dental scrap directly from dental offices and laboratories, offering on-site and mail-in (Star Jar) service channels with same-day cash payouts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Star Refining industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precious Metal Refining
- NAICS
- Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094)
- akta.pro industry
- Precious Metals Minting & Bullion ProductsIndustrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Precious Metals Mining & Refining (Gold, Silver, Platinum Group)
Keywords
Where Star Refining is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Palm Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Star Refining business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Precious Metal Scrap Purchase and Refining: Star Refining purchases precious metal scrap (gold, platinum, palladium, silver) from dental offices and laboratories. The company serves as the main line refiner, eliminating middlemen. They acquire dental crowns, bridges, inlays, bonded crowns, and platinum foil, then refine the materials for resale. Revenue is generated through the spread between acquisition cost and refined metal market value.
- Processing Fees: Fees applied for processing small quantities. If less than 30 grams of precious metals is received, a $35 charge is deducted from payment. Wire transfer processing incurs a $30 fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Market-leading price guarantee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Free shipping with insurance |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Star Refining product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Star Refining purchases and refines precious metal scrap from dental offices and laboratories, processing gold, platinum, palladium, and silver recovered from gold crowns, bonded crowns, bridges, inlays, and platinum foil. The company operates as a main line refiner and offers two delivery channels: a free on-site pickup with cash payment on acceptance of valuation, and a Free Mail-In Service (Star Jar) with insured prepaid FedEx shipping. Both channels use the company's proprietary iPhone-based valuation system to provide rapid, transparent, on-site metal evaluations.
Product overview
Star Refining is a dental precious metal refining company offering two primary service channels: a Schedule a Pickup Service (on-site valuation with cash payment) and a Free Mail-In Service (Star Jar program with prepaid insured FedEx shipping). Both services are powered by the company's proprietary iPhone-based valuation system, which enables rapid, accurate on-site metal evaluations. The company processes dental scrap containing gold, platinum, palladium, and silver, accepting materials such as gold crowns, bonded crowns, bridges, inlays, and platinum foil.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Star Refining Europe: European division of Star Refining located at starrefining.co.uk
Products and services
- Schedule a Pickup Service On-site pickup service where Star Refining purchasing representatives visit dental offices to perform on-site valuation of precious metal scrap (crowns, bridges, inlays, platinum foil) and provide cash payment on the spot if the offer is accepted. Free for locations throughout the United States and Canada.
- Free Mail-In Service (Star Jar) Mail-in service where customers receive a free Star Jar containing an insured prepaid FedEx return envelope and secure packing materials; customers ship gold crowns, bonded crowns, bridges, inlays, and platinum foil to Star Refining for an offer within 24 hours of receipt, with payment issued same business day if accepted. Shipments are insured up to $2,500 at no charge.
- Dental Precious Metal Refining Core refining service that processes dental materials containing gold, platinum, palladium, and silver, including gold crowns, bonded crowns, bridges, inlays, and platinum foil. Operates as a main line refiner, eliminating middlemen, with 24-hour offer turnaround for crown evaluations and 15-day turnaround for melt-and-refine materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24-hour offer turnaround for received mail-in materials
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Star Refining
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Star Refining technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Star Refining partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Star Refining competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heraeus Precious Metals: Global precious-metals conglomerate offering industrial-scale refining, trading, and recycling across multiple end markets including dental, vastly larger and broader than Star Refining but addressing overlapping refining customers.
- Johnson Matthey: Large diversified precious-metals refiner operating globally across industrial, automotive, and jewelry/dental markets with broader portfolio capabilities; competes with Star Refining indirectly as a possible downstream buyer or alternative refiner.
Direct peers
- DM Refining: Dental-focused precious-metals refiner operating mail-in programs for dental offices and labs processing gold, platinum, palladium, and silver scrap with settlement services, directly comparable in customer mix and refining model.
- Pease & Curren Refining: Long-standing precious metals refiner with a strong dental and jewelry-scrap focus, offering on-site pickup and direct mail-in service to dentists and dental labs, directly comparable to Star Refining's core vertical and service model.
- Manhattan Gold & Silver: Precious metals refiner serving jewelry, dental, and industrial customers with refining and assaying services, overlapping with Star Refining in the dental and jewelry scrap refining segment.
- Midwest Refineries: US-based precious metals refiner serving dental practices, jewelers, and industrial customers with refining and assaying services, directly comparable in the dental-vertical precious-metals refining market.
- Continental Precious Metals: Precious metals refiner processing dental and jewelry scrap with mail-in and pickup services, competing in the same SMB-to-dentist refining niche as Star Refining with overlapping acquisition economics.
- A-1 Specialized Services & Supplies: Specialized dental precious-metals refiner serving dental practices and labs with mail-in refining and on-site services for gold crowns, bridges, and PFM scrap, directly competing for the same dental customer base as Star Refining.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Star Refining social profiles
Digital presenceStar Refining financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Star Refining leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Star Refining funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Star Refining M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Star Refining
What does Star Refining do?
Star Refining purchases and refines precious metal scrap from dental offices and laboratories, processing gold, platinum, palladium, and silver recovered from gold crowns, bonded crowns, bridges, inlays, and platinum foil. The company operates as a main line refiner and offers two delivery channels: a free on-site pickup with cash payment on acceptance of valuation, and a Free Mail-In Service (Star Jar) with insured prepaid FedEx shipping. Both channels use the company's proprietary iPhone-based valuation system to provide rapid, transparent, on-site metal evaluations.
Is Star Refining a public or private company?
Star Refining is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Star Refining founded?
Star Refining was founded in 2003. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Star Refining based?
Star Refining is headquartered in West Palm Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Star Refining make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Precious Metal Scrap Purchase and Refining is the primary driver. The others are processing Fees.
Who are Star Refining's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heraeus Precious Metals and Johnson Matthey. Direct peers are DM Refining, Pease & Curren Refining, Manhattan Gold & Silver, Midwest Refineries, Continental Precious Metals and A-1 Specialized Services & Supplies.
Does Star Refining have an API?
No public API is recorded for Star Refining.
What industry is Star Refining in?
Star Refining's product category is Precious Metal Refining. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAEAJ, Precious Metals Minting & Bullion Products. Its NAICS code is 423510 and its SIC code is 5094.