Casting Off

Provenance, cast in gold

Responsible Casting Company sets out to reframe how the jewellery industry engages with the provenance of gold.

Jos Skeates knows a thing or two about building a responsible business. The pioneering master goldsmith founded his ethical jewellery company E.C.One in 1997 and went on to become only the second UK jeweller to be awarded B Corp certification for their business (in 2019) and became among the first to adopt Fairtrade Gold following its introduction in 2011.

A fresh take on gold sourcing

Now, having also gained a master's degree in corporate responsibility and sustainability, Skeates has launched Responsible Casting Company, a new venture set to reframe how the jewellery world engages with gold sourcing. Skeates' vision for the company was inspired by an unexpectedly simple idea: choosing gold should feel as considered and transparent as selecting beans in an artisanal coffee shop. "As makers ourselves, we wanted to create a business that offered customers meaningful choices and clearer provenance throughout the supply chain," he explains.

More than a commodity

Rather than treating precious metal as a mere commodity, Responsible Casting Company invites brands and designers to actively engage with the origin, impact and story behind the gold they use. "Different designers and brands have different priorities, which is why we work with a range of certified and traceable materials," says Skeates. "We love working with SMO Gold because it gives our customers a real connection to the origin of their material. Every batch can be traced back to a single approved mine, creating a level of transparency that is very rare within the jewellery industry."

By encouraging conversations around provenance and supply chains, Skeates hopes to foster a more collaborative and accountable jewellery industry; one that not only values craftsmanship and design but also recognises its potential to be a force for positive change.

Written by

CHARLIE BETTS

Co-Founder & Managing Director, SMO Gold

Charlie Betts is Co-Founder and Managing Director of SMO Gold, and the ninth consecutive generation of the Betts family to lead Betts Group, a business focused on refining precious metals and manufacturing jewellery and investment products. He has seen first-hand the surge in consumer engagement with responsible sourcing, and understands the challenges jewellers face in acquiring gold with detailed provenance, reliably and at scale.

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