Melting and refining workspace

Ethical gold sourcing — Corvaneli

Our commitment to sourcing responsibly-crafted gold for bespoke jewellery in New Zealand: traceable supply chains, verified practices, and community respect.

We design engagement rings and contemporary pieces using materials vetted for ethical origin. Learn how we ensure transparency from mine to ring.

Assorted gold samples

Our sourcing philosophy

Lead designer face
Mara Corvaneli
Founder & Head Designer

We prioritise suppliers who can demonstrate chain-of-custody, fair labour practices, and reduced environmental impact. This means working with recycled gold programs, certified refiners, and regional partners who align with our values.

  • Preference for recycled and responsibly refined gold
  • Supplier audits and documentation checks
  • Long-term partnerships with trusted refiners

Traceability & certifications

Traceability is central: we document origins, verification certificates, and refine histories where available.

What we track
  • Source type (recycled, industrial scrap, mined)
  • Refiner & certification (e.g., Responsible Jewellery Council, RJC)
  • Purchase records and chain-of-custody documents
Why it matters

Responsible sourcing reduces environmental harm, supports ethical labour, and ensures the story behind each piece is one our clients can be proud of.

Supply chain — typical path

Gold bars

A typical ethically-sourced batch we use follows: collection (recycled/scrap) → certified refiner → documented purchase → Corvaneli studio refining & alloying → finished piece. Each stage is recorded.

Certifications & verification (accordion)

We source from refiners and suppliers who maintain RJC-compliant practices where possible. RJC certification provides third-party assurance across the chain.

We prioritise recycled gold streams from verified sources, reducing mining pressure and ensuring minimal new environmental footprint.

Where certification is unavailable, we request audit reports and supplier declarations to verify ethical practices.

Sourcing tiers — quick reference

TierSourceTraceabilityUse
Tier 1Verified recycled goldFullEngagement & bespoke
Tier 2Certified refiner outputPartial (certs)Custom collections
Tier 3Regional suppliersDocumented on requestSpecial projects

FAQ

When possible we use recycled gold; mined gold is considered only when sourced through certified, transparent channels.

Yes — we provide available certificates and procurement records for each commission where suppliers supply them.

Ready to discuss sourcing for your design?

We’ll walk through material options, certificates, and timelines. Consultations available in Auckland or remotely for NZ-wide clients.