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From old gold to new jewellery
There are many good reasons for reusing old gold: It is better for the environment, it can retain the sentimental value, and it helps lowering the total price of the jewellery. By reusing your old gold, memories of your loved ones can be transfered into your new piece, for instance a set of wedding rings created from the gold of previous generations.
Here is the process, regardless of whether we reuse your gold in the new piece of jewellery or only take it as part of the payment:
First, we find out which piece of jewellery you would like. The price depends on whether we will base your piece on a pre-existing model in our portfolio, which we have a mold for, or whether we will be designing from scratch. Naturally, the mold-based version is less costly than a unique version which triggers a design fee of DKK 3,000-12,000, depending on how big and complicated your design is. If you yourself have the gems which are to be included in the piece (perhaps they are set in the old jewellery), they are not included in the calculation. You merely pay to have them set.
Then we weigh your gold and establish the alloy via the stamp and testing it. These are the typical alloys:
333 – is 8k (333 out of 1000 per thousand)
585 – is 14k (585 out of 1000 per thousand)
750 – is 18k (750 out of 1000 per thousand)
In order to determine the value of the gold, we benchmark against Nyfortuna - one of the companies in Denmark which pay the highest price for old gold. We find this comparison the fairest to our customers. Once we have determined the price of your old gold, we will deduct this amount from the price of your new piece of jewelry. Please note, that you can cover a maximum of 50% of the price of the new piece with the value of your old gold.
Example:
- An INANNA ring (existing mold) of 18k gold with a 4mm blue sapphire will cost 7,600 + 3,000 for the gem = DKK 10,600. Hence you can pay up to DKK 5,300 with the value of your old gold.
- A custom designed ring with the same sapphire as above, could have a design fee of DKK 5,000. In addition, the actual production of casting the ring in 18k gold and finishing it, could be DKK 8,600 = DKK 16,600. In this case you could pay up to DKK 8,300 with the value of your old gold.
ATTENTION! The price changes regularly. This is the calculated price from 1/6 2023.
If we assess that others might also be interested in your design, we can choose to create a mold of it. You will then have the number 1 engraved in your piece of jewellery and be given a certificate that your piece is the original (number 1) of this particular design. In that case, we will reduce the design fee by a minimum of DKK 1,000.
We only use your old gold in the new piece if you specifically ask for it. Doing so adds on additional costs which is why we ask for a surcharge of DKK 800. If there are many gems set in your gold, we charge an hourly price to remove the gems before it can be processed. You will subsequently receive these gems, unless they are part of the new design.
If you would like us to create a piece of jewellery for you, you are welcome to book an appointment for a design meeting where we can talk in more detail about your jewellery dreams.
What about silver?
We happily reuse the old gold of our customers and often it makes good financial sense. Silver is however rarely worth it due to a gram price of 4 DKK.
What if the old gold is another karat than the new piece should be?
So you want us to reuse an old piece of jewellery with a lot of sentimental value, but of for instance only 8karat. However, the new piece should be 14karat. In this case we re-alloy, which means that we add some fine gold (24k) before casting the gold for further process.
Recycling old gold is an environmentally good choice
The gold we use at Castens, is always recycled. This gold has been sold to buyers around the world. It is then shipped to factories, which under controlled conditions melt it down and extract the fine gold for new alloys.
When we in Denmark purchase gold, in the shape of sheet or wire from our suppliers, it is always gold which has been recycled in this way. Unearthing new gold can have many environmental and human consequences which, is why we so ardently support the recycling of the gold, which has already been wrestled from the bones of Mother Earth.
Using your own gems
We happily recycle the gems from your old jewelry - or loose gems which you provide yourself. However, the workshop accepts no responsibility for your own gems damaged while being set. A gemstone which has been used may have hidden flaws and cracks, which might cause the gem to be fractured during the setting process. If this happens, we will of course do our best to find a suitable replacement, which will be added to the final bill. Should this happen, we will always first inform you about the necessity of finding a replacement, allowing you to select another alternative, should you desire so.
Be advised, that if we have to remove more than 3 gems from your old jewelry, an additional fee for the time spent doing so, will apply.
A second possibility: Transforming your old piece
Another good way to repurpose your old gold is by changing the design of the old piece. Often the new design can leave the old piece looking brand new and virtually unrecognizable. However, if the old piece holds engravings or other personalized marks, we will do our best not to damage these, proving, that the new piece of jewellery actually has old and genuine roots.
