ANCIENT Colombian civilisations covered the bodies of future kings in it; the Greeks used it in burial masks; Spandau Ballet devoted a song to it. Gold has entranced humankind for millennia: the earliest gold artefacts are believed to be 7,000 years old. Last year, the price of gold reached an all-time high, proof of our implicit faith in the precious metal. But the process of extracting it from the earth and refining it into its familiar lustrous form isn’t always pretty.
Dangerous working conditions, child labour, pitiful pay and chemical poisoning still plague the industry. Illegal operations are rife and even regulated mines have environmental pitfalls, including pollution and deforestation. An estimated 20 tons of waste are generated to produce enough gold for one plain band and the livelihoods of an estimated 100 million people worldwide depend on artisanal and small-scale mining, which typically occurs in unsafe, illegal mines. Great efforts have been made to eliminate blood diamonds from the jewellery supply chain and, now, consumers are turning their attention to the provenance of their gold.
Certified Fairmined and Fairtrade gold comes from artisanal mines that adhere to strict environmental standards, including the safe use of chemicals. Miners receive a fair price for the gold, with measures in place to protect their health and safety, eliminate child labour and create a positive impact on the wider community. Both organisations offer online directories where customers can find jewellers who work with Fairtrade or Fairmined gold. ‘It’s wonderful to know that a purchase of jewellery handcrafted with Fairmined gold makes a difference on a humanitarian level, improving the lives of so many people,’ says one such jeweller, London-based Thelma West.
This story is from the May 19, 2021 edition of Country Life UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 19, 2021 edition of Country Life UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
