"Green" Gold

We are all aware of our responsibility to be proper guardians of this wonderful planet, but there are resources that we need to tap into as well. I have always been aware of the impact that mining has on our environment. The town my mother was born in was excavated decades ago and engulfed by the copper mine that her father worked in. I have always supported responsible mining regulations so that we leave as small a footprint as possible.
Now, finally, the best of both worlds is upon us! All of the gold and platinum that we use at Given Gold Jewelers is alloyed from reclaimed metals. No newly mined resources are used at all. With the value of precious metals, especially now, there is great incentive for us all to recycle any unused jewelry and precious metal scrap. I buy as much gold from clients as I can, not just to make or save money, but to keep that stream of fresh unused metal flowing. I feel much better about the pieces that we create when I know that elements of the gold experienced previous incarnations as treasures from a different time.
I remember a story that I learned at GIA about the amount of jewelry that has been melted from the British Royal Jewels over the years. The story goes that virtually every piece of gold jewelry that has been made over the last hundred years has a very small amount of gold that once made up a piece of that most esteemed of collections. Now we can count Grandma's jewelry in that alloy as well.
Along with responsible diamond supply, inlcuding Canada, and supporting Artisan miners of colored gemstones, we can appreciate the art of jewelry even more. One craftsman on Piedmont Avenue cannot change the world alone, but it sure feels nice to know that we are helping our planet and small miners around the world. We are only helping, however, when you fall in love with one of our creations and adopt it as your own.
You can easily contribute to the cause. Other than buying our jewelry, you can sell us your unwanted pieces. Gold, platinum, silver, palladium, if you have anything that you do not and will not wear, bring it in. We can recreate a piece to your tastes, or buy it from you so that the legacy of reclaimed gold continues. Gemstones enjoy a similar benefit, so dig deep into that drawer or jewelry box and see what you may find to aid the cause and put some "Green" in your own pocket.
A quick note about the ethics of buying jewelry from the public: Most of the metals we buy are from well known clients. We do make a copy of ID and assess anyone that we have not dealt with before. We do not wish to contribute to the premature separation of an heirloom from it's guardian.