Our gold
LUXURY IS SUSTAINABILITY
Or & Elle's gold is sourced from heirloom jewelry and melted down to its original form, enabling the creation of new jewelry and the circularity of our supply chain.
All our gold is 18K and recycled, bringing together our commitment to using materials of both the highest quality and cleanest origin.
Or & Elle's gold is sourced from heirloom jewelry and melted down to its original form, enabling the creation of new jewelry and the circularity of our supply chain.
All our gold is 18K and recycled, bringing together our commitment to using materials of both the highest quality and cleanest origin.
Truth behind the precious metal
SURFACE GOLD
Surface gold is used in low quality alternative gold products. These pieces are filled with other dirty metals and only plated at the end with extremely thin layers of gold.
PLATED
VERMEIL
FILLED
% GOLD
less than .01%
.01%
5%
QUALITY & COST
TARNISH
SKIN IRRITATION
REMOVE TO WASH
LOWEST
RAPID
HIGHLY PROBABLE
REQUIRED
LOW
LESS RAPID
PROBABLE
REQUIRED
SOLID GOLD
Solid gold is measured in karatage, the purest being 24 karat. 24K is too soft to wear as jewelry, so it is mixed with other fine metals to hold its shape, with 18K being the highest grade.
GOLD
10 K
14 K
18 K
% GOLD
42%
58%
75%
QUALITY & COST
TARNISH
SKIN IRRITATION
REMOVE TO WASH
HIGH
LESS
PROBABLE
RECOMMENDED
HIGHEST
NEVER
SAFE
SAFE
PLATED
VERMEIL
FILLED
10 K
14 K
18 K
% GOLD
less than .01%
.01%
5%
42%
58%
75%
QUALITY & COST
TARNISH
SKIN IRRITATION
REMOVE TO WASH
LOWEST
RAPID
PROBABLE
REQUIRED
HIGHEST
NEVER
SAFE
SAFE
THE ETHICS OF
Recyled gold
In order to completely avoid mines in all aspects of our supply chain, as well as to minimize new production and consumption, all our gold comes from heirloom jewelry melted down into gold beads of the highest purity and quality.
REQUIRES NEW MINING |
OR&ELLE |
||
---|---|---|---|
Dirty gold |
'Clean' gold |
Recycled gold |
|
uknown originUses unethically sourced gold from conflict or non-disclosed regions |
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Known originUses gold of a known source |
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ethicalEvery member of the supply chain is known and paid above-market wages for their labor |
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CleanDoes not use toxic additives like Mercury, and hazardous chemicals in its processing |
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ResponsibleDoes not require any new mining or excavation of the Earth, leaving ecosystems unharmed |