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Deakin and Francis, the family-owned jewellery firm, has announced a partnership with Single Mine Origin (SMO) to provide its customers with responsibly sourced gold.
Through the partnership, all Deakin and Francis’ manufactured signet rings will be crafted with SMO certified gold.
SMO gold was launched in 2018 through a joint partnership between development and production group Hummingbird Resources, and precious metals firm Betts Group.
The SMO certification provides an auditable chain of custody for the entire supply chain, with the gold mined in accordance with the World Gold Council’s (WGC) responsible gold mining principles.
The certified gold is currently mined from Hummingbirds’ Yanfolila, Mali gold mine, but Endeavour Mining has signed a membership agreement to produce SMO gold at its Ity, Ivory Coast operation.
Henry Deakin, managing director at the group, 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.”
Charlie Betts, managing director at Betts Group, added: “We are delighted that Deakin & Francis have adopted SMO gold in order 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.”
