What is recycled gold, and is it as good as new gold?

Recycled gold is gold that has already been mined and used, then collected, melted and refined back to pure gold so it can be made into new jewelry. Once refined, it is chemically identical to newly mined gold, so an 18K recycled gold ring has exactly the same purity, color, strength and value as any other 18K gold ring. The difference is where it came from, not what it is.

Where does recycled gold come from?

Gold almost never wears out or corrodes, so nearly all the gold ever mined still exists somewhere. Recycled gold comes from that existing supply:

• Old and broken jewelry that people sell or trade in
• Offcuts, filings and scrap from jewelry workshops
• Electronics, which use small amounts of gold in connectors and circuit boards
• Dental and industrial gold

A refiner melts this material and separates out the other metals until only pure, 24 karat gold remains. That pure gold is then alloyed again with silver, copper and other metals to make 14K or 18K gold for jewelry.

Is recycled gold the same quality as new gold?

Yes. Gold is an element. An atom of gold that came out of a mine last year and an atom that spent fifty years in a necklace are the same atom. After refining there is no way to tell them apart, not by eye, not by hardness, and not by the way the metal polishes or ages.

That is the part I love most as someone with a background in physics and biology. The material does not remember where it has been. It only carries what you give it next.

The Wavy Diamond Ring is a good example. It is handcrafted in 18K recycled gold with ethically sourced natural diamonds, and it behaves exactly like any other 18K gold ring: the same warm color, the same weight in the hand, the same care routine.

Does recycled gold change the karat?

No. Karat describes how much pure gold is in the alloy, regardless of the source:

• 24K is pure gold, too soft for most fine jewelry.
• 18K is 75% gold, rich in color and ideal for fine pieces.
• 14K is 58.3% gold, slightly harder and a little paler.

An 18K recycled gold piece is stamped and valued exactly like an 18K piece made from newly mined gold. If you are choosing between karats, my guide to 14K vs 18K gold goes into the details.

Why choose recycled gold for fine jewelry?

Mining new gold moves enormous amounts of earth and uses a lot of water and energy for every gram it produces. Recycling uses gold that is already above ground. You get the same metal, with a smaller footprint behind it.

There is also something quietly poetic about it. The gold in a recycled piece has already been part of other stories before it reaches you. The Sun Goddess Ring, a signet with a sun face set with ethically sourced diamonds, is made in 18K recycled gold. I like to think of it as old sunlight, reshaped.

Does recycled gold look or feel any different?

Not at all. Color depends on the alloy, not the source. Yellow, rose and white gold are created by the metals mixed with the pure gold, so recycled gold can be made in all three. Texture is a design choice too. The Rock on Rock Studs from the RAW collection are cast in 18K recycled solid gold with a raw texture and high polish, set with natural diamonds of 0.12 ct each.

Key facts about recycled gold

• Recycled gold is refined back to pure gold, then re-alloyed into 14K or 18K.
• It is chemically identical to newly mined gold.
• Karat, color, durability and value are the same.
• It can be made in yellow, rose or white gold.
• It uses gold that already exists instead of mining new metal.

Frequently asked questions

Is recycled gold real gold?

Yes. It is real, solid gold, refined from existing gold and alloyed to the same karat standards as any other fine jewelry.

Is recycled gold worth less than mined gold?

No. Gold is valued by weight and purity. An 18K recycled gold piece contains the same 75% gold as any other 18K piece.

How do I know if a piece is made with recycled gold?

Check the materials listed in the product details. At my studio, pieces made in recycled gold say so in their description.

At Margaret Krinetz Fine Jewelry, handmade in Tel Aviv, many pieces are made in 18K recycled gold, including much of the Wavy collection. Every piece is made to order in 4 to 6 weeks and shipped with DHL Express. Choose a piece that already carries a little history, and give it a new one.