Recycling is not just for plastic bottles anymore.
Marshallton’s Whitten’s Fine Jewelry is producing a line of rings, called whimsy, which are made entirely from reclaimed gold, silver and gemstones.
Creating recycled rings makes a lot of economic sense considering the increasing number of people visiting the jewelry store to sell their gold, silver and gemstones, said Susan McNeill, the jeweler’s spokeswoman.
With the price of gold reaching 20-year highs of almost $1,000 an ounce, people looking for extra cash have a lot of incentive to sell, she said.
From an economic standpoint, the jeweler saves money because it is purchasing materials at below market rates, she said, but the desire to go green also drove the new line of rings.
“Today’s consumers expect more from the products they purchase -- merchandise that is created responsibly,” said R. Craig Whitten, of Wilmington. “Silver, gold and gemstones are finite resources, and mining is one of the dirtiest industries in the world."
Mining to produce a single gold ring creates 20 tons of hazardous waste, according to the No Dirty Gold campaign, an international lobbyist.
Metals mining is the top toxic polluter in the U.S.: the industry was responsible for 25 percent of toxic waste production in 2006, including arsenic, mercury and lead, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
As long as forgotten bent bracelets and orphaned earrings are sitting in the bottom of jewelry boxes, there is no need to mine for more precious metals, said McNeill, and reclaimed jewelry is becoming an industry trend.
Whitten made the first ring for his wife, Cindy, in December and started selling whimsy rings in March. The sterling silver Hannah sells for $125, the silver and gold Sarah sells for $225 and the diamond embellished Megan sells for $399.
For more information, call 995-7464 or visit whimsyworldwide.com.
