WHICH GOLD AND STONE TO CHOOSE
In the workshop, I use as well as the suppliers with whom I work, Fairmed certified Gold, created by the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) in 2007, certifies responsible mining operations applying drastic ecological, human and social standards. . This label guarantees the origin of so-called "ethical" gold, extracted from mines that have embarked on a process of transformation towards eco-responsible progress.
How does the label actually work? Reserved for artisanal mines, it prohibits child labor, slavery, participation in the financing of armed conflicts; it also guarantees gold traceability and satisfactory working conditions for miners. In particular, it provides for a bonus of $ 4,000 per kilogram of gold to be returned to them - earmarked for their safety, improving the daily lives of workers or their social community, such as school equipment for their children. On the ecological level, it sets up extremely strict criteria aimed at protecting the soil, by prohibiting for example the use of mercury or cyanide for extraction or use in a closed circuit.
Fairmined audits and certifies all players in the sector, from the mine to the finished product, ensuring compliance with its traceability and the criteria put in place.
What is the difference between 9ct gold (375 / 1000e) and 18ct gold (750 / 1000e)
For 9 carat gold, the alloy contains 37.5% pure gold (375/1000 gold), more alloy than gold. It is identified by its clover-shaped punch, affixed to the jewel. Its color is pale yellow and over time it requires a little more maintenance to keep its shine.
For 18-carat gold, the alloy contains 75% pure gold (750/1000 gold), more gold than the alloy. It is the traditional alloy, we recognize it thanks to its eagle head punch, affixed on the jewel. Much more durable over time, it does not require much maintenance, only a small cleaning from time to time for dust.
Which gold color to choose
YELLOW AND ROSE GOLD 750 THOUSANDS is composed of an alloy of fine gold 999 thousandths at 75% and 25% of a mixture of copper and silver. Hélène's jewelry is made and thought rather in yellow gold but is perfectly available in pink gold, a softer and more discreet color on most skin tones.
ROSE YELLOW GOLD 750 THOUSANDS: Composed of 75% fine gold 999 thousandths and 25% copper and silver. This is the intermediate color between yellow gold and pink gold, which we use for our customers who are used to wearing yellow gold but who want a less vibrant and powerful color than yellow gold. When ordering, do not hesitate to specify which pink gold you want.
WHITE GOLD: What you will find in most jewelry stores is rhodium-plated white gold. Gray gold, on which a thin film of rhodium was applied. This is how you get a "whiter" glow. But since it is a surface treatment, rhodium plating goes away with time and friction. This rhodium plating is to be renewed every 3 to 5 years and it is a fairly polluting process by electrolysis.
Therefore, at Hélène Turbé, we use non-rhodium-plated palladium gray gold, a white gold with warm golden reflections. Our male customers and some of our customers who are used to white gold find an alternative to white gold. Its advantages, in addition to the warmth of its radiance, lie in the fact that it does not require any particular maintenance, and that over time, a pretty patina is created. The advantage of palladium white gold is not only characterized by its color but it is also a harder and more resistant metal.
What is the origin of the stones
All the stones I use for my creations have been sourced responsibly and from trusted partners in place since my beginnings.
Our diamonds come from mines scattered around the world, mainly from Australia, Africa, Russia and Canada. They are Kimberley Process certified.
What is the Kimberley Process
The Kimberley Process is an international certification system aimed at regulating the trade in rough diamonds. Its objective is to protect the legal trade in rough diamonds by stemming the influx of diamonds from market conflicts. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) has defined a number of rules governing the trade in rough diamonds, as well as minimum requirements that each participant must meet
The so-called 'Kimberley Process' diamonds therefore meet the requirements defined by the international organization, and are said to be clean and do not finance any armed conflict or traffic of any kind, as opposed to so-called blood diamonds.
Do you provide a GIA certificate for your diamonds?
The stones are ordered in batches to allow you to benefit from the most optimized rates that are, we do not receive a GIA certificate for each stone. On the other hand, if you wish to select with me a particular quality of stone, I can request a GIA certificate from our supplier.
Choose your stones according to your month of birth
JANUARY: GARNET, Symbols: Energy, Fidelity, Truth
FEBRUARY: AMETHYST, Symbols: Clairvoyance, Plenitude, Sincerity
MARCH: AQUAMARINE, Symbols: Calm, Serenity
APRIL: DIAMOND, Symbols: Courage, Strength
MAY: EMERALD, Symbols: Protection
JUNE: PEARL and PEARL OF THE MOON, Symbols: Femininity, Marriage
JULY: RUBY, Symbols: Divine love, courage, loyalty
AUGUST: PERIDOT, Symbols: Joy, inner peace
SEPTEMBER: SAPPHIRE, Symbols: Faithfulness, truth
OCTOBER: TOURMALINE, Symbols: Immortality
NOVEMBER: CITRINE, Symbols: Joie de vivre
DECEMBER: TOPAZ, Symbols: Fidelity, Joy