Recycled gold

Up to 1 kg of gold can be found in a tonne of electronic waste from smartphones, tablets and computers.

These precious metals need to be recycled. Our 18K recycled gold suppliers mainly source the gold from obsolete IT equipment. According to the Gold Standard Institute, there is more gold on the earth's surface than will ever be mined. Let's use and recycle this gold, rather than continuing to dig the soil and perpetuate the polluting conditions of extraction.

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Recycled gold

Recycled gold comes from the recovery and refining of existing gold, particularly in old jewellery and obsolete computer equipment, as it is a material that is highly resistant to corrosion and an excellent electrical conductor. Today, more gold has already been extracted from mines than remains underground. Recycling gold avoids any mining and optimises the resources already available, thereby reducing its environmental impact. It can also be recycled ad infinitum, making it an obvious solution for COURBET as it reconciles the quality of the material with respect for the planet.

Fairmined gold

Fairmined gold is certified by the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), an organisation that works with artisanal and small-scale mines. These Fairmined mines must meet a number of criteria:

Fairmined-certified mines must comply with strict standards in terms of working conditions, safety and health.

A bonus is paid for every gram of gold sold, to fund community projects such as education and infrastructure.

Mines must minimise their environmental impact, adopt sustainable practices and avoid the use of harmful chemicals such as mercury.

Fairtrade gold

Fairtrade gold is certified by Fairtrade International, an organisation known for its fair trade certifications in various sectors. The characteristics of Fairtrade gold include :

as with Fairmined gold, Fairtrade-certified mines must meet rigorous standards in terms of working conditions and safety.

Producers receive an additional bonus for each gram of gold sold, which is used to improve the living conditions of miners and their communities.

Fairtrade-certified mines must adopt responsible environmental practices, including waste management and reducing the use of hazardous substances.

COURBET has chosen to turn exclusively to recycled gold, the only solution that allows us to avoid mining, which remains an ethical and environmental danger for our planet and its inhabitants.

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18K gold is 75% pure gold. Mixed with other metals such as copper, silver or nickel, it is more solid and less malleable than pure gold, also known as 24K gold, but retains all its brilliance and the intensity of its colour. Pure gold is much more fragile, less resistant to knocks and scratches.

18K gold, on the other hand, enables our craftsmen to create jewellery with a complex design, while ensuring its solidity. It is the perfect compromise between beauty and quality, preciousness and durability, which is why it is the most highly valued gold in jewellery.

COURBET only offers 18K gold jewellery in yellow, white or rose. The white and rose gold colours are obtained by alloying silver and copper respectively.

In addition to being 18K, our gold is recycled, thus living up to our motto: "Without goodness, beauty means nothing".

An alloy is a fusion of several metals. The different gold colours result from the alloys used.

18K yellow gold is an alloy composed of 75% pure gold, 12.5% silver and 12.5% copper.

18K white gold is an alloy made up of 75% pure gold, with the remaining 25% divided between silver, copper and palladium.

18K rose gold is an alloy made up of 75% pure gold, with the remaining 25% divided between silver and copper, the percentage of which will be higher than for yellow gold in order to give it its pinkish hue.

All COURBET creations in white gold are made of 18K palladium-coated gold. Their alloy is made up of 75% pure gold, with the remaining 25% divided between silver, copper and palladium. The palladium protects your jewellery from yellowing.

As well as being palladium-plated, COURBET white gold creations are also rhodium-plated to make them scratch-resistant and to keep their surface looking new for longer.