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Recycled Metals FAQs

The precious metals we use with our responsibly grown gems are also guided by our Made, not Minedâ„¢ principle. To ensure a positive impact on the environment, we are constantly striving to achieve 100% recycled precious metals used in our fine jewelry. Our recycled gold and platinum are of the same high quality as newly mined metals yet leave Mother Earth intact.

Is all Charles & Colvard jewelry made using recycled metals?
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Currently, our gold fine jewelry is made of 99% recycled metals.

What is the benefit of using recycled metals for fine jewelry?
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Gold mining is one of the most harmful types of mining for Mother Earth. Gold mining displaces communities, contaminates drinking water, and is destructive to the environment. We aspire to use 100% recycled metals in our fine jewelry to help diminish the harm done to the earth when gold is mined.

Where does recycled gold come from?
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Recycled gold is made from refined precious metals such as unused metal, electronics components, existing jewelry, and industrial use metals.

Is recycled gold as valuable as mined gold?
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Yes! Gold can be recycled time and time again and never lose its value or purity.

Can white gold be recycled?
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Yes! White gold is not white when mined from the earth. White gold is a mixture of pure yellow fine gold, combined with a percentage of other white metals called alloys. These alloys could include palladium, silver, nickel, and zinc. When white gold is recycled, the alloy components are separated from the pure yellow fine gold, and both the alloys and the pure gold can be recycled again.

Can yellow gold be recycled?
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Yes! Yellow gold is the only type of gold that can be up to 24 karats fine gold in its purest form. Yellow gold in fine jewelry generally contains part fine gold and part alloys consisting of a percentage of copper and fine silver, depending on its karat form. When yellow gold is recycled, the alloy components are separated from the pure yellow fine gold, and both the alloys and the pure gold can be recycled again.

Can rose gold be recycled?
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Yes! Rose gold is a mixture of pure yellow fine gold and a percentage of copper depending on the karat weight. When rose gold is recycled, the copper is separated from the pure yellow fine gold, and both the copper and the pure gold can be recycled again.