The traditional art was in fact using gold as a binding for the broken pieces. A lower cost version that somewhat maintains the general aesthetics is to glue and paint. Sort of like how furniture used to mostly be wood but those who wanted the look of wood without the use of materials or costs often go for some sort of composite with a veneer of real wood, and later on composites etc. with a vinyl or other polymer covering to simulate wood grain.
Or in simple and short terms:
The painted cracks are like the “IKEA” version of the original. Easier to mass produce and much cheaper.
Or in simple and short terms:
The painted cracks are like the “IKEA” version of the original. Easier to mass produce and much cheaper.