for something old and something new, try recycled jewelry
By on November 16th, 2008
There is no end to the options of wedding jewelry and wedding rings that are available to today’s bride and groom.
You can choose from any style of setting, and varying degrees of brilliance in yellow and white gold. Just seeing these shiny baubles beautifully displayed in jewelry stores and retail shops can be enough to brighten your day.
An important issue to consider is the impact of jewelry on the environment.
For example, the production of one gold ring generates approximately 20 tons of mining waste and some gold mines use several tons of cyanide a day in order to leach raw gold out of ore. These chemicals can leak into the water supply in nearby communities or ruin the once pristine environments where the mines are often located.
Because most gold is purchased in retail stores and factory outlets, most consumers are not aware of the origins of the gold . In addition, most couples and jewelry consumers are not aware that there is enough gold above ground (already mined) to satisfy all demands of the jewelry industry for the next 50 years!!!
The majority of this gold sits in bank vaults and in the form of old and unused jewelry. Meanwhile, mining continues at a pace of 2500 tons a year.
For the individual or couple that is looking for a sentimental and socially responsible alternative to traditionally purchased and sold jewelry, there are several options available for you to recycle, reuse or donate gold jewelry.
Here are some of the most common ways to recycle and reuse gold jewelry as well as some links to websites that can offer more information about gold mining practices and alternatives to gold and store bought jewelry. Enjoy!
Recycle
Ask family and friends to donate old gold. Have the gold melted down and made into a new style or setting. The benefits are many; You now own a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, with sentimental value. You’re also contributing to solutions on reducing waste. If you are looking to sell unused jewelry you can ensure that your precious metals will not go to waste, and can generally make a nice profit from the sale of these items. If you choose to recycle your own gold jewelry (and not reuse it to make new jewelry) you will want to shop around to make sure that you will be compensated for what the ring is actually worth before selling it.
Reuse
Owning jewelry that has been passed down from a family member or friend is a beautiful gift, often more valuable than any amount paid for store-bought jewelry. Purchasing antique rings also ensures that already mined gold and gemstones will not go to waste and often times results in owning a unique cut and style of jewelry that is sure to appreciate in value.
For information on how to recycle, reuse or donate your unused or old gold jewelry, visit greenCarat at www.greenkarat.com. To purchase recycled, fair trade gold and platinum and/or conflict-free diamonds visit Sumiche Jewelry/located in Walterville, Oregon: www.sumiche.com, Brilliant Earth: www.brilliantearth.com or Leber Jewelry, Inc: www.leberjeweler.com.
If you would like to learn more about the effects of gold mining, or would like more information on how you can support the efforts of those working to end dirty gold mining practices please visit No Dirty Gold at www.nodirtygold.org.
Yours, The Green Bride
November 24th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Great post! I think having a green wedding is very important. It’s a wonderful day but that one day can use a lot of resources when you count in food, decorations, invitations and jewelry! A great spot for eco-friendly jewelry is All Wired Up. I think their multi-functional necklace is a great choice for brides and bridesmaids. It can be worn three different ways so it can be worn after the wedding. Another plus is it can be worn with a broach that has been handed down. You can check them out online at http://www.allwiredupjewelry.com.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Hi There - This is Danielle from Brilliant Earth. I thought it might be helpful for me to offer some information regarding conflict free diamonds and recycled precious metals. We are very committed to diamond origin education, and will be more than happy to answer questions about our company, conflict free diamonds and metal mining issues.
All diamonds purchased from Brilliant Earth include a certificate guaranteeing their conflict-free origin. Our diamonds originate from one of two Canadian diamond mines in the Northwest Territories of Canada: Diavik and EKATI. All of our Canadian diamonds have certification policies compliant with one of the leading bodies for Canadian diamonds such as the Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct, Canadamark, or the Government of the Northwest Territories. Our diamonds larger than 0.30ct are also accompanied by a laboratory grading report as well as a laser inscription on the girdle of the diamond which further helps you to identify your diamond. We don’t believe that you should have to pay more for an ethically sourced product – as a result, our prices are quite competitive.
For more information regarding the diamond verification and Canadian diamonds, please visit the following links:
http://www.brilliantearth.com/certification.aspx
http://www.brilliantearth.com/Canadian-diamonds.aspx
While there is currently no standard for fair trade diamonds, Brilliant Earth is actively working to promote the development of such standards. We are also active in various pilot programs for ethically sourced African diamonds. The mining regions of West Africa remain among the poorest in their respective countries with few benefits of the mineral wealth trickling down to mining communities. We support the development of a healthy industry for ethically-sourced diamonds as the surest way to promote social reform, providing a direct economic incentive for our industry to implement fair trade diamond practices. As part of this social mission, we also donate 5% of profits to help communities in Africa and to help build a foundation of infrastructure for this fair trade future.
In addition to our policies on ethical gemstone sourcing, Brilliant Earth uses 100% recycled gold and platinum in the jewelry we produce.
I would be excited to answer any of your questions either by phone or email, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Warm Regards,
Danielle
Danielle Mainas
Brilliant Earth
http://www.brilliantearth.com
danielle@brilliantearth.com
t: 415.354.4632
f: 505.212.4881