Our Ecological Mine
Not all gold and silver is created equal. At Made of Gold, we source ours from small-scale ecological mines on the beautiful West Coast of New Zealand, take inspiration from the nature that surrounds us, honour the legacy of those who have come before us, and proudly take our jewellery from the land to your hand.
What is ‘ecological mining’?
Mining is carried out without toxic chemicals, with careful management of waterways, and with land restoration as a priority once extraction is complete. This approach prioritises environmental care, transparency, and long-term stewardship over speed or scale. It ensures the gold we use honours both its place of origin and the generations who will follow.
From Land to Hand
Take a look into the process our premium West Coast gold undergoes to get from gravel to jewellery box.
The Beginning
Gold, like other heavy elements, is believed to have originated from supernova explosions, occurring when massive stars end their life cycles in a spectacular burst, dispersing elements into space. The intense conditions during supernovae enable the synthesis of heavier elements, including the precious gold. So yes, your gold is from the stars!
Our Mines
We obtain gold from small-scale, eco-friendly mines on the West Coast, currently from our owned land in Ruatapu flats, where two contracting firms and 30 locals work on the mine! We follow strict ecological mining practices, avoiding harmful chemicals like mercury or cyanide, ensuring the land is restored to lush pastures, and minimising disruption to the surrounding environment.
The Process
We source our gold from West Coast mines. The heavier concentrated materials are separated from the alluvial gravels. Earth moving machinery and gold screens are used to separate the gold from the gravels. The material is then taken off the large screens, the black sands are then removed over concentrating tables or gold wheels to prepare the gold for melting.
Refinement
The gold, at 95-97% pure, undergoes refining at Awa Refinery in Greymouth to achieve jewellery-grade granules with a purity exceeding 99.6%.
Design
Our jewellery designs are inspired by the textures of the West Coast landscape. Guided by artist Holly Schroder, she blends traditional drawing, clay modelling, and modern technology in the jewellery design process to create unique pieces that capture the textures of the local Mountains, Water and Bush.
Goldsmith
We work with a team of highly skilled New Zealand jewellers, carefully shaping and moulding the gold into unique forms. This craftsmanship ensures that each piece reflects the provenance and concept.
The Jewellery Collection
This meticulous process culminates in crafting distinctive jewellery pieces. Every step, from inception to completion, takes place locally in New Zealand. From necklaces to rings, each item serves as a tangible testament to the celestial journey of gold—its origin in supernovae, transformation into wearable art, and connection with the West Coast in our designs. Intended to be cherished across generations.
Meet our Designer
Coast-born multimedia artist and designer Holly Schroder has reached great heights on NZ’s art scene. Holly has lent her artistic vision to Made of Gold as the talented designer of our first collections.
Just like our jewellery, multimedia artist and designer Holly Schroder was born on the Coast. Holly holds a Bachelor of Visual Art from Auckland University of Technology and a Graduate Diploma in Creative Technologies from the Media Design School.
Holly's work is inspired by figures, landscapes and architectural forms and encompasses everything from vibrant paintings to dynamic light projections. Her work has featured in numerous exhibitions throughout New Zealand and made it into some pretty swanky private collections. Outside the gallery, she created the striking large-scale light installation titled ‘Emerging Fabrications’, which was featured on Auckland's waterfront during Artweek in 2019, and she has also partnered with renowned brands such as BMW, Veuve Clicquot, Asahi and Garage Project.
Holly has lent her artistic vision to the first jewellery range for Made of Gold, a collection inspired by the textures of the West Coast's brutal yet beautiful landscape. She’s also lending her skills to the Gold for Good mentorship programme in the hope that she can mine and refine a few more local artists and inspire them to follow their creative dreams.
Meet our Makers
AWA REFINERY
Made of Gold refines its gold through Awa, who are a boutique West Coast gold refinery based in Greymouth, that sources ethical gold solely from alluvial miners. The gold is traced to source, always guaranteed to be local and ethical.
LANDAU JEWELLERY
Landau has been crafting exquisite jewellery here in New Zealand's South Island since 1985. Their unwavering dedication to quality and craftsmanship ensures that every piece reflects our commitment to beautiful design, our appreciation for local resources, and our respect for heritage.
STOCKISTS
HOKITIKA
Polish & Pan
CHRISTCHURCH
Silvermoon Riverside
QUEENSTOWN
Goldfields Jewellers of Queenstown