Blog

Gold and All Its Glory

March 12, 2010

Even though centuries have passed since gold’s discovery people still use it in the same ways today.

The most common use of gold is in jewellery manufacturing. In fact, 80 percent of all gold is used to make jewellery. Societies use it as a form of currency and in medical and electronic applications due to its ability to maintain its value, avoid corrosion by air, water, temperature and other harmful chemicals.

More interesting than all the ways people currently use gold is that “15 percent of annual gold consumption is recycled each year.”

O2P would like to help increase this percentage and you can help too by selling your old, broken, scrap gold to us for recycling.

Our intention is to smelt the items, not repair or resell. In doing so, we hope to recycle enough to increase the amount of ethical gold available to the jewellery industry and help supply the rapidly expanding requirements needed for medical and electronic applications.

Dirty Mining – Bad for All – More Horrific for Some

March 11, 2010

“Gold mining is a dirty industry,” said Krista Waddell, CEO of Ounces2Pounds.

“It pollutes drinking water with heavy metals and can leave fresh water thousands of times more acid than a car battery. Even worse than the environmental damage caused by huge, multi-national mining companies can be their inadvertent support of terrorism. Huge tracts of land in the Congo are controlled by the global gold producer AngloGold Ashanti. They have admitted paying extortion money to armed militia in return for access to gold mines.”

Not convinced or feeling a little caught off guard by this new knowledge?

The group, Human Rights Watch, has followed the events in Congo referenced above and on 6^th February Nicholas D. Kristof published the article, “The World Capital of Killing” in the New York Times that put the death toll in Congo at an estimated 6.9 million people.

This is only one example of how dirty gold mining hurts the environment and the surrounding local communities but saying that seems like an understatement.

The “No Dirty Gold” movement is calling on retailers to identify and disclose the source of the gold they sell-and to ensure that jewellery, watches, cell phones, computer chips, and other products do not contain gold mined at the expense of communities, workers and the environment.

As consumers, we can do more. First by educating ourselves on where the items we purchase come from. Second by signing the petition on the “No Dirty Gold” website and third by selling your old, broken, scrap gold to O2P to be recycled.

Our intention is to smelt the items, not repair or resell. In doing so, we hope to recycle enough to increase the amount of ethical gold available to the jewellery industry and help supply the rapidly expanding requirements needed for medical applications.

“No Dirty Gold”

March 10, 2010

Our CEO, Krista Waddell, has chosen the premiere of the film “Dirty Oil” to officially publicize her support for the “No Dirty Gold” movement.

“The connections between the environmental and social damage perpetrated by the oil and gold mining industries are undeniable,” said Waddell.

The premiere will take place at the Barbican Cinema, 15th March, 5:30pm and the film documents the complex relationship between corporations, local communities, environmentalists and the government over the development of the oil sands in Alberta, Canada.

We often reference the “No Dirty Gold” movement in our Golden Blog postings because it is important for everyone to understand that they have the potential to play a small role in preventing, reversing or stopping the effects of dirty mining by recycling their old gold.

Recycle today by selling your gold that is broken, outdated or scrap to O2P!

Gold “Medal” Anyone?

March 3, 2010

Here’s a question, anyone have scrap gold metal they just don’t know what to do with?

O2P knows of one person who will be hanging on to hers for a lifetime – because it isn’t scrap!

Congratulations to Amy Williams, “The first individual British gold medallist at the Winter Olympics for 30 years having won the skeleton event in Vancouver.”

What an accomplishment and according to the article in the BBC, Williams has been tucking her gold medal underneath her pillow every night because she doesn’t “really know what else to do with it.”

Williams’ comment made me think…I bet there are a lot of people who have broken, unwanted and outdated scrap gold lying around because they just don’t know what to do with it.

Luckily, there is a solution…you get cash for gold when you sell to O2P!

That way you can get something you will really cherish and possibly want to tuck underneath your pillow every night too.

Selling Gold to O2P = Recycling Gold

March 2, 2010

How will you spend Earth Day 2010? Here is an idea: host a recycling-themed-gold-party!

According to No Dirty Gold’s website, “Minerals are a nonrenewable resource, which means they can only be taken out of the ground one time.  Once mineral deposits have been depleted, the aftermath of a large-scale mining operation is typically a landscape of devastation:  Thousands of hectares of poisoned, rubble-strewn land drained by acidic streams that will likely remain polluted for thousands of years to come.”

With the knowledge of how devastating mining can be to the surrounding people and landscape it is important to do what one can to mitigate these effects.

Thankfully, almost everything today is recyclable – including your old jewellery!  

To sell scrap gold rings at an O2P Pure Gold Party is recycling at its very basics, much like collecting and recycling aluminum cans. However, selling your old gold to O2P will be far more profitable for you and the environment!

Not to mention the added value of having a fun night out with your friends and the cheque you go home with!

A £ for Your Thoughts – Figuratively Speaking

February 24, 2010

In addition to making a 10 percent commission from your gold party’s total payout and a 3 percent commission from each party booked at your event we have also offered booking incentives.

 Our latest incentive, a spa weekend for two at Champneys, is soon to be awarded to one of our lucky hostesses and we are looking for our next great incentive!

 In the past we have also offered champagne to get your party started but we want to know what you would really be keen on getting or possibly winning.

 Send us your thoughts and maybe it will become our next great-give-away!

 Cheers!

Fool’s Gold or Hidden Treasure?

February 23, 2010

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner you may be wondering if that pot of gold in your closet is real or not so much.

Fortunately, O2P can help you out whether it is at our office or at your gold party!

We test and weigh everything for you so bring your jewellery and we will help make a determination of its value based on its gold content.

Some true gold may have color variations that will surprise you. On the other hand, some gold plated jewellery is done so well that you might think it is real when it actually turns out not to be.

Either way, our trained experts will help you figure out the value of your gold.

If you feel like experimenting at home…simply run a magnet over your scrap gold. If the piece attracts to the magnet the item could be fake, could be plated or could have a very low karat weight.