Product Launch: Ethical Handmade Gold Wedding Rings

WETHERBY, U.K. - March 5, 2019 - PRLog -- Gold Panning in 2019 by Goldsmith Mark Bell

Goldsmith Mark Bell works with alluvial gold from rivers across the United Kingdom found using sustainable methods. This natural gold is alloyed with ethically sourced recycled gold in our range of handcrafted eco-friendly wedding rings. The use of recycled metal and sustainably panned gold dissociates his work from the often harmful humanitarian and ecological effects of mining.

Interview with Mark - 30 Years' Experience

"First of all I would like to ask you about where your love for geology, and specifically gold and gold panning began?"

Many years ago when I was a young child, my father Edward and I used to travel around Scotland during weekends and holidays in an old campervan. Well, we did it until one day we drove over the bridge which crosses the Kildonan burn way up near Helmsdale.

There he spotted an 'old timer' working the burn... cowboy hat, shovel and all. He ejected me from the campervan at high speed to see what he was up to, and when the bearded wildman offered to teach us how to find gold in the river my father put the campervan into park, turned off the engine and did not move for the next two weeks. That was over 30 years ago.

"Did you always plan to use the gold that you found to make jewellery?"

No.... I did not imagine in a million years that I would become a ring maker. For many years I looked for gold as a way to adventure with my father and spend time with those I love. However in more recent years it felt like destiny that ring making, camping in the wilds, finding natural gold, designing, creating and using recycled materials.. which fits perfectly with my ethical standards.

When making wedding rings, I forge both rings from one molten bead of gold and if at all possible, I will include gold or silver from an area within the UK which has meaning to the couple, so please do drop me an email if you have potential preferences to the metals origin. The rings will come with a certificate of provenance showing the origins of the gold found and be hallmarked with my company emblem to guarantee authenticity. Being a trained geologist and avid gold prospector means that the first step of producing a piece, is sometimes the exploration for the gold itself. For example, the gold in my wedding rings, comes from the first river I ever prospected away from the beaten track of the old timers.

Whilst progressing this element of my life, I took the time to become a chartered member of the Institute of Water and Environmental Management and a chartered Environmentalist

I believe my qualifications should reflect my beliefs that the recovery of precious metals should, and can, be undertaken sustainably in a manner which does not harm the environment. Many times I have found myself removing mercury from rivers, the presence of which is a stark reminder of how mining can damage the river ecosystem. Besides the moral satisfaction of bettering the world around me, I get paid for my endeavours with gold, surely it can't get better than that.

The sustainable nature of my jewellery is further embraced by using Eco gold and silver in all my work, which is 100% recycled from the world around us. There is no large scale destruction of the natural world, simply the re-use of existing materials moving with as much grace as can be afforded from one form into the next.

Jacqueline and Edward now sell their wedding rings online and ship globally. Buy online at https://www.jacquelineandedward.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umizb52ZGbE