Betts Group partners with Deakin & Francis on responsibly sourced gold

The Betts Group has announced a new partnership with Deakin & Francis to provide responsibly sourced gold to customers. Single Mine Origin (SMO) gold was launched in 2018 by gold exploration, development and production company, Hummingbird Resources, and precious metals experts, the Betts Group.

Both established in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter in the 18th Century, Deakin & Francis and the Betts Group have a long history in the jewellery trade. The Betts Group was founded at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in 1760, closely followed by Deakin & Francis in 1786.

The family-owned jewellery company has committed to using SMO certified gold to craft all its signet rings, which continues a two-century-old working relationship between Deakin & Francis and the Betts Group. Deakin & Francis created the first piece of SMO jewellery for a charity auction in Spring 2018 – a pair of custom-made elephant cufflinks. It has also unveiled plans to expand the use of responsibly sourced gold across a range of other fine jewellery products and accessories. It is exciting to see two companies with a proud heritage of working together spearheading an industry-leading move towards material provenance.

Mined in accordance with the World Gold Council’s Responsible Gold Mining Principles, SMO certification provides an auditable chain of custody for the entire supply chain, with full segregation from mine to finished product. The mines that SMO gold comes from must meet strict ethical, environmental, and health and safety standards. Hardly any gold used in the jewellery industry or for investment products is currently traceable. SMO gold aims to provide a traceable, responsible, affordable solution that the whole industry can engage with.

Batch codes and QR codes offer consumers a direct link to the source of the metal used in each product, as well as giving an insight into the impact each purchase has helped to create through community and environmental projects.

SMO gold is currently sourced from Hummingbird Resources’ Yanfolila gold mine in Mali. Endeavour Mining has also recently signed a membership agreement to use its Ity mine in Côte d’Ivoire to produce SMO gold.

Charlie Betts, managing director of the Betts Group, said: “We are delighted that Deakin & Francis have adopted SMO gold to provide real confidence to their customers that their gold can be traced directly to a responsibly operated source. Like the Betts Group, Deakin & Francis has a long and rich heritage within the jewellery trade and it comes as no surprise that a family business of this calibre is among the early adopters of SMO, helping to pioneer the development of transparent, responsible sourcing within the trade.”

Henry Deakin, managing director of Deakin & Francis, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with SMO as a forward-thinking, sustainable alternative to sourcing precious metals. We have a duty to our planet to provide the best option for mining raw materials in a sustainable, more environmentally conscious manner, whilst accommodating the luxury needs of our customers. We believe that this partnership is the right way forward for our family jewellery brand.”

Want to know more about Single Mine Origin gold?

A growing number of jewellers are choosing Single Mine Origin gold for peace of mind that this metal has been produced within strict parameters of corporate, social and environmental responsibility.

Click here to read more about SMO gold and how to purchase it.