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.

Image of 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. Shown here are 18K Gold beads, which are melted down to create new jewelry.
Image of 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. Shown here are 18K Gold beads, which are melted down to create new jewelry.

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.

Image of Our gold

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.

MOST JEWELRY COMPANIES

PLATED

VERMEIL

FILLED

% GOLD

Gold plated - less than 0.1% 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.

less than .01%

Gold plated - less than 0.1% 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.

.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.

OR&ELLE
GOLD Or&Elle Gold

10 K

14 K

18 K

% GOLD

10K Gold icon - 10% 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.

42%

14K Gold Icon - 58% 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.

58%

18K Gold Icon - 75% 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.

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

Gold plated - less than 0.1% 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.

less than .01%

Gold plated - less than 0.1% 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.

.01%

5%

10K Gold icon - 10% 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.

42%

14K Gold Icon - 58% 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.

58%

18K Gold Icon - 75% 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.

75%

QUALITY & COST

TARNISH

SKIN IRRITATION

REMOVE TO WASH

LOWEST

RAPID

PROBABLE

REQUIRED

 

 

 

 

MOST JEWELRY COMPANIES

HIGHEST

NEVER

SAFE

SAFE

Or & Elle icon
OR&ELLE
GOLD
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. Pictured here are several gold rings.

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

 ECO FRIENDLY GOLD

OR&ELLE
 

Dirty gold

'Clean' gold

Recycled gold

uknown origin

Uses unethically sourced gold from conflict or non-disclosed regions

    

Known origin

Uses gold of a known source

  

ethical

Every member of the supply chain is known and paid above-market wages for their labor

    

Clean

Does not use toxic additives like Mercury, and hazardous chemicals in its processing

    

Responsible

Does not require any new mining or excavation of the Earth, leaving ecosystems unharmed

    
Recycled 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. Pictured here is the Dalliance Ecluse Earring.