RECYCLED GOLD
What exactly is recycled gold?
Recycled gold is made from consumer products, waste products, unused metal, and other gold-based items. When these are no longer in use, they are sold to be melted down.
Recycling gold and precious metals is a less expensive and more sustainable way to create new jewellery.
Is recycled gold more ethical and environmentally friendly?
Recycled gold is usually considered as far more ethical and sustainable than regular gold.
Gold can be recycled without losing quality, allowing it to be reused multiple times, making it a far more sustainable solution than mining for new alloys.
Furthermore, most of the gold has already been mined, with only a few mining regions remaining. Gold mining can have negative consequences such as water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, but the beauty is that we can avoid mining for new materials thanks to recycled gold.
How is gold recycled?
The gold is melted and refined until it is pure. The gold can also be separated from any other alloys with which it may have been mixed, which aids in determining the true karat value of the gold.
Is recycled gold of good quality?
Gold has the advantage of being infinitely recyclable without losing its integrity, and yes, recycled gold is considered good quality gold! The process of melting and recycling gold has no negative impact on its quality. When gold is melted down, it is refined and purified, giving it the same purity as newly mined gold.
FAQ
About Recycled Gold
AMBER-WIND has pledged to use only 100% recycled 18K solid gold
How pure is recycled gold?
The purity of gold has not changed since the day it was mined. Recycling gold uses fewer chemicals and causes less environmental damage than mining new gold from the ground. Unlike other metals, gold does not oxidize or corrode.
Is recycled gold the same as gold?
Recycled gold is gold that has been melted down, refined, cast again, and made into a new piece of jewellery.
Gold has the advantage of being infinitely recyclable; it can be melted down millions of times without losing its integrity. Recycling gold requires fewer chemicals and electricity than mining new gold. In fact, mercury and cyanide pollution from gold mining can pollute waterways and land. In case you didn't know, these are toxic chemicals that affect aquatic ecosystems and the health of nearby communities.
What are the three biggest benefits of recycled gold?
1. Less harmful to the environment. Gold mining requires the discovery of new sources of gold that are naturally formed; however, these sources are depleting, and the environment is being destroyed in the pursuit of new gold. Recycling gold requires fewer chemicals and electricity than mining new gold. Furthermore, recycling existing products reduces the need to source new gold.
2. Some untrustworthy retailers obtain their gold from unethical sources, whereas recycled gold is produced from existing materials and products, providing peace of mind that no additional harm is being imposed on the environment.
3. If you become bored with an old design and want to recycle your jewellery, you can do so again. Recycled gold can be melted down and recycled endlessly without losing its value or purity.
Which gold is most ethical?
Fairtrade Certified Gold is the world's first independent ethical gold certification system. Purchasing Fairtrade Gold jewelry means you are assisting small-scale miners in receiving a fair wage for their efforts, as well as protecting the environment and improving the lives of themselves and their communities. Traceability, responsible mining, fairer trade conditions, and community support all come at a cost: fair mined gold costs more than conventional and recycled gold. It typically costs between 10% and 20% more than traditional gold.
Is the gold used by AMBER-WIND Fairtrade?
Not yet, we currently only use recycled gold.
AMBER-WIND has committed to using fairtrade gold by 2030.
As members of the jewelry industry, we face numerous challenges. Starting with supply chain traceability, which is extremely difficult because the raw materials we use (metals and gemstones) come from all over the world and pass through multiple hands before becoming a piece of jewelry. Creating responsible jewelry is an ongoing journey in which we will strive to do better for workers, society, and the environment. As a result, we made a commitment to use only fairtrade certified gold by 2030.
Let's explore gold quality in more detail after discussing recycled gold.
AMBER-WIND uses 100% recycled 18K solid gold in 3 colours: YELLOW, WHITE and ROSE.
What exactly does 18K (carat) gold mean?
K or 'Carat' is the purity of gold alloyed with other metals. 24K (carat) gold is pure gold that contains no other metals. Lower carat number contain less gold; 18K gold contains 75% gold and 25% other metals, most commonly copper or silver (different alloys used result in different final 18K gold colours). The purest, but also the most delicate metal is 24K gold. 22K has a lower purity but is more durable than 24K gold. 18K gold - 75% pure is more durable than the other types. 14K gold is 58% pure on average, but it is more durable than 18K gold.
18K gold with 750 gold stamp
All AMBER-WIND jewellery will have the 750 gold hallmark. The 750 gold stamp indicates that the metal is 75% gold and 25% other metal(s). A 750 gold stamp is one of the internationally recognized fineness marks. Fineness is a numerical representation of an alloy's gold content in parts per thousand. 'Carat' is an alternative purity measurement. Gold carat shows an alloy's gold content in parts per 24.
What is the difference between yellow, white and rose gold?
Pure gold has a distinct yellow colour, as we all know. Pure gold, on the other hand, is rarely used in jewellery because it is too soft. As a result, it is almost always combined with other metals to form alloys. As previously stated, 24 karat gold is 100% pure gold, whereas 18K gold contains 75% gold and 25% other metals. Gold can change colour depending on the 'other' metals added. The most popular gold jewellery colours are yellow, white and rose. Copper, silver, nickel, palladium, and zinc are among the 'other' metals mixed with gold. To enhance the colour, a metal plating may be applied.
FAQ
About 18K Gold
Is there a value difference between different gold colours?
Yellow, white and rose gold all contain the same percentage of pure gold and thus have the same monetary value.
How is 18K YELLOW gold made?
Silver, copper, and zinc are the most common metals used (together with pure gold) to make yellow gold. Yellow gold is the closest colour match to pure gold. It is recommended to polish yellow gold jewellery on a regular basis to preserve its beauty and remove scratches.
How is 18K WHITE gold made?
White gold is typically made by combining pure gold with nickel, palladium, and silver. Its properties vary greatly depending on the metals and proportions used in the mixture. The finished product, however, retains a slight yellowish tint. As a result, most white gold jewellery is rhodium plated. Many people mix up the colour of rhodium with the colour of white gold. The metal that gives white gold its colour is rhodium. Not only that, but it also makes white gold more durable by adding a protective layer to the softer gold alloy. Because rhodium plating wears off over time, it is recommended that you re-plate your white gold jewellery with rhodium from time to time.
How is 18K ROSE gold made?
Rose gold is made from a combination of pure gold and copper. It is also known as ‘pink’ or ‘red’ gold at times.
The difference between red, rose, and pink gold is the copper content: the higher the copper content, the stronger the red coloration.
It is recommended to polish rose gold jewellery on a regular basis to maintain its beauty and remove scratches.
How do you choose a gold colour?
Colour is usually chosen based on trends and personal preference.
Combining two or three different gold colours in one piece of jewellery is also possible. These pieces of jewellery are known as two-tone, three-tone, or multi-coloured.
However, there are some tricks in gold colour and gemstone combination in jewellery design that help to significantly enhance the beauty of the gemstones and diamonds when selecting the 'correct' gold colour for the jewellery setting.
