WORDS BY JOSEPH FURNESS
Gold is the world’s most beautiful element: it’s a gift from mother nature to humankind. The precious metal brings us immense pleasure, and we’re eager to ensure that our descendants have the same access to it as we do today. Therefore, it’s paramount that we preserve every ounce of gold we’ve already accumulated.
When it comes to investing in gold jewelry, the most sensible and sustainable option is recycled gold. Not only does recycled gold come free of guilt, but it’s also just as valuable as newly mined gold. Fortunately, we’re well acquainted with an array of prestigious jewelry brands that are using the reprocessed material to form sophisticated treasures.
Here to talk about their use of recycled gold are four of-the-moment jewelry labels: Annoushka, Anonymous, Courbet and Loyal.e Paris. Read up about their use of recycled gold below.
Anonymous
Please talk us through your recycled gold sourcing process.
We work with trusted and audited suppliers of recycled gold and ensure that we abide by guidelines outlined by the RJC.
How ethical and sustainable is the process?
Choosing recycled gold over newly mined gold will always be more sustainable because we’re reusing what has already been sourced from the Earth. It’s important for us to use recycled gold to live up to our commitment to contributing to a circular economy.
Why does the brand use recycled gold?
Using recycled gold is paramount to Anonymous as the jewelry industry negatively impacts the environment; thus, opting for recycled gold is one step we can take to ensure our pieces are as conscious as possible.
Additionally, we work with recycled gold to ensure pieces last for generations. Both longevity and sustainability are fundamental tenets of the brand.
Why should all jewelry consumers invest in recycled gold jewelry?
There's a large amount of gold available to use from pre-existing jewelry – whether that's from vintage or contemporary jewelry. By working with recycled gold, we're choosing a mindful approach to fine jewelry design that allows consumers to shop Anonymous, guilt-free.
Which recycled gold jewelry pieces are you most proud of?
We're proud of the recycled gold pieces in Collection 1: we carefully considered each piece's texture, finish, details and unisex appeal. Our fine jewelry is ideal for everyone, and our recycled gold pieces can act as a weighty, textured and treasurable second skin.
Annoushka
Please talk us through your recycled gold sourcing process.
The recycled gold we use originates from a range of existing products – from gold bars, to jewelry to electronic components. We know this as our trusted, certified manufacturers source reputable refineries that sort and document all of the gold that’s melted.
How ethical and sustainable is the process?
We exclusively work with Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC) members to guarantee that the supply chain has been audited and all requirements – including human rights and environment-focused requirements – have been met.
Why does the brand use recycled gold?
At a time when we’re all becoming increasingly conscious of our investments, Annoushka is proud to create 18kt solid gold products.
11 years ago, we decided to eschew gold plating so that all of our gold products are endlessly recyclable. After all, 90% of recycled gold is made from existing gold jewelry. We encourage all jewelry designers to use real gold, including recycled gold, where possible, so that it can be treasured and passed onto future generations.
Why should all jewelry consumers invest in recycled gold jewelry?
We believe that jewelry should last forever: our mantra is reflected in the timelessness of our designs and the integrity of our materials. We want to be the best we can be for the planet and its people, especially since we’re so heavily inspired by nature. Consequently, we believe in buying less and better, and we encourage our customers to wear, cherish and pass down our solid gold jewelry.
We must preserve and restore the Earth, which is why we’re dedicated to sourcing pre-extracted materials. To us, it seems like a no-brainer to recycle the gold that’s already in circulation: it holds the same value as newly mined gold, and it comes free of the negative environmental impact.
Which recycled gold jewelry pieces are you most proud of?
Our Love and Commitment collection is our first collection crafted with 100% recycled 18kt gold. The pieces are centred around the idea of enduring love – aptly, they’re designed to be worn forever, alongside your existing go-to jewelry pieces.
Our Love and Commitment engagement rings are crafted using recycled 18kt gold, GIA-certified diamonds and responsibly sourced gemstones. We’ve formed a connection between the symbol of everlasting love and everlasting materials.
Courbet
Please talk us through your recycled gold sourcing process.
Courbet uses 18kt recycled gold that’s predominantly sourced from urban mines (places where rare metals are recovered from electronic devices).
Courbet knows that there’s plenty of gold above the ground; thus, there’s no reason to rummage through Earth as science and technology provide us with an alternative.
How ethical and sustainable is the process?
When it comes to gold, we considered many options – Fairmined was one of them. In the end, we preferred recycled gold as it allows us to avoid new production and, in turn, protect the environment.
Why does the brand use recycled gold?
Every day at Courbet, we make tough decisions. Whatever the question, we opt for the most sustainable answer. Naturally, this isn’t the easiest road to take, but it’s cardinal that we put the planet first.
Even in the best conditions, gold mining is detrimental to the environment: it destroys the land, consumes vast amounts of water and generates chemical pollution. The consequences to humans are equally catastrophic: the gold mining industry facilitates everything from hazardous working conditions to illegal activities. Ergo, recycled gold is the only real option.
Why should all jewelry consumers invest in recycled gold jewelry?
The World Gold Council estimates that 187,000 of 24,400 tonnes of the Earth’s gold reserves have already been mined. Two-thirds of which have been mined in the past 70 years.
Extracting enough precious gold to make a plain gold band produces two tonnes of waste and more than 40kg of CO2. And it uses 5,000 litres of water.
It's our responsibility to work with gold that’s already been mined rather than digging deeper and deeper in search of new supplies. So, step back, think further and choose the ultimate alternative – recycled gold.
Which recycled gold jewelry pieces are you most proud of?
We're proud of the recycled gold rings and bracelets in our Céleste collection – these pieces bring brilliance to one’s everyday life. Additionally, we’re pleased with the recycled gold pieces from our meaningful CO line and playful O2 collection.
Loyal.e Paris
Please talk us through your recycled gold sourcing process.
Our jewelry is made with 18kt recycled gold that's sourced in France and subsequently taken to our Parisian atelier. The gold is RJC-CoC (Responsible Jewelry Council Chain-of-Custody) certified, meaning it's all fully traceable and produced in line with strict ethical standards.
How ethical and sustainable is the process?
Gold recycling is by far the most ethical and sustainable solution to creating gold jewelry, especially since gold is infinitely recyclable. It’s estimated that over 90% of the gold mined in history is still in use – this just goes to show that gold never loses its value or purity.
We must give new life to pre-existing gold as the gold mining industry generates two tonnes of waste for every gram of gold mined. Mining companies dump 180 million tonnes of hazardous waste into water streams each year which is more than 1.5x the waste US cities send to landfills each year.
Why does the brand use recycled gold?
Our jewelry unites two precious materials: 18kt RJC-Coc certified recycled gold and the finest climate-neutral lab-grown diamonds. By choosing these materials, we stand against the working conditions and environmental impact of gold and diamond mining.
We unite the finest traditions of Parisian craftsmanship with conscious and transparent practices to protect our planet’s precious resources. Loyal.e is all about fusing beauty and ethics to produce contemporary elegance.
Why should all jewelry consumers invest in recycled gold jewelry?
The mining industry is finally being exposed for its human and environmental wrongdoings. And although new standards and certifications are being put into motion, the industry is far from solving its real problems.
For example, the world must acknowledge that gold miners often develop severe skin and respiratory diseases due to prolonged exposure to mercury. And the gold mining industry says that it aims to minimize mercury emissions, but there can’t be gold mining without mercury emissions!
It's also important to be savvy about the industry’s poor working conditions, child labour issues and destructive impact on ecological systems. Bearing all of this in mind, we believe recycled gold is the only sustainable solution.
Which recycled gold jewelry pieces are you most proud of?
We're proud of all of our gold jewelry pieces, but most especially our Perpétuel.le collection.
It's formed on angles and lines and finds a perfect balance between strength and grace; it pays homage to freedom by calling on you to express who you are and dream about who you will become.