The largest deposits are in New Guinea, South Africa, Russia, Australia, the USA and Mexico.
However, we at Feichtinger prefer to rely on 100% recycled gold – for the sake of the environment and people!
Recycled gold, also known as scrap gold, has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reasons. This sustainable approach to using gold offers numerous benefits that impact both the environment and the economy.
A key benefit of recycled gold is its environmental friendliness. Traditional gold mining is an extremely resource-intensive process that has a significant environmental impact. Recycled gold, on the other hand, does not require new mining. It is extracted from pre-existing jewelry, electronics or other sources and reprocessed. Extracting new gold requires significant amounts of energy and water, resulting in high carbon emissions. In contrast, reusing scrap gold requires fewer resources and helps reduce the gold industry's environmental footprint. This is especially important at a time when sustainability and climate change are becoming increasingly pressing issues.
In addition, recycled gold offers economic benefits. Melting and reusing scrap gold creates local jobs in the jewelry and recycling industries. This can help strengthen the economy in certain regions and help support local communities.
The quality and purity of recycled gold is also impressive. It can be just as pure and high-quality as newly mined gold because it is reprocessed through specialized processes. This ensures that jewelry made from recycled gold has the same quality and durability as those made from new gold, so consumers don't have to compromise on quality.
Additionally, using recycled gold helps reduce the need for landfills. By reducing the amount of jewelry and electronics that end up as waste in landfills, the burden on these landfills is reduced and heavy metals and other harmful substances are prevented from entering the environment.
In summary, recycled gold offers a sustainable and ethical option for jewelry manufacturers and consumers. It helps minimize the environmental impact of the gold industry, supports local economies, and helps promote ethical jewelry. With the increasing importance of sustainability and environmental protection, recycled gold is an important choice for those who want to enjoy high-quality jewelry without harming the environment.
In Austria, two precious metal finenesses are used for gold: 14-carat (585/000) and 18-carat gold (750/000). This means that a piece of jewelry must consist of at least 58.5% or 75% pure gold. The rest is made up of metal additives - usually copper, silver, palladium or platinum - which affect the malleability, melting temperature, light refraction properties and of course the color of the alloy.
There are over 100 colored gold alloys!
White gold, rose gold, red gold, yellow gold – what’s the difference?
To produce yellow gold , silver and copper (both alloy metals) are added to the fine gold (which remains the same depending on the fineness) in a ratio of 2:1. The aim of the production process is to retain the original color of pure gold, but still obtain a raw material that has advantages when it comes to processing into jewelry: better hardness and castability.
White gold does not occur in nature, it is a gold alloy. Gold alloyed with palladium, platinum, silver or tin produces white gold. The appearance tends towards grey, as no more nickel can be added, which produces a beautiful white. To achieve this white, white gold is often coated with a layer of rhodium. White gold is another extremely popular colour in the world of jewellery and fashion. This modern and noble colour has gained great popularity in recent decades and is still a sought-after element in jewellery design today. White gold is produced by alloying gold with other metals, such as palladium or silver, giving it its characteristic light, silvery-white colour. This simple and timeless colour suits almost every skin tone and is therefore extremely versatile. White gold is often used for engagement rings, wedding rings and jewellery and exudes elegance and modernity. Its shimmering surface and ability to perfectly accentuate diamonds and gemstones make it a timeless choice for special occasions and everyday jewellery use alike.
Rose gold , the particularly elegant variation of red gold, is a precious metal with a lower copper content and a higher silver content. Rose gold has become an extremely popular trend in the world of fashion and jewelry in recent years. This elegant shade, which is a mix of delicate pink and shimmering gold, began to gain popularity in the late 2010s and has been firmly established ever since. Rose gold is primarily flattering for those with warm skin tones, as the warm undertones of rose gold blend perfectly with the skin and add a touch of sophistication and elegance.
To produce rose gold , silver and copper (both alloy metals) are added to the fine gold (which remains the same depending on the fineness) in a ratio of 0:1. The intensity of the red tone is determined by the copper content. Rose gold is a timeless and elegant shade that has played an important role in fashion and the jewelry industry for many decades. The trend for rose gold has increased again in recent years and is enjoying great popularity. This exquisite shade is a mixture of gold and copper and is characterized by its warm, reddish shine. Rose gold is particularly suitable for people with a warm or neutral skin tone, as it accentuates natural skin tones and adds a touch of luxury. It is a versatile shade that is often found in jewelry designs, watches, wedding rings and other accessories. Its timeless elegance makes it a popular choice that will continue to endure well into the future.
