FAQs

Q: I placed an order. Why hasn’t my card been charged?

The total dollar amount of your order is reserved on your card at the time you place an order, but the actual transfer of funds does not occur until we are preparing to ship.

Note: If using a debit card, it is normal to see the charge subtracted from your account when you place an order, only to have those funds reappear a few days later. It will be subtracted again near the time of shipment. In the interim, you may confirm the active status of your order through our Order Update function.

Q: What, specifically, are your ecological representations?

While greenKarat makes every effort to source materials and make our jewelry with ecological integrity, there is no independently set standard for ‘green’ jewelry. It therefore falls to you to evaluate your proposed purchase through the lens of your knowledge and values.

We pledge to you that the primary metal in every greenKarat design is recycled, and that every gem is either created or recycled. We provide Green Assay disclosures for every component of every product, and openly share our practices with you, whether they’re good, or short of ideal. These disclosures are your tools for comparing us to other jewelers.

If you don't see the information you need at greenKarat, please ask us. If you don't see the information you need at another jeweler, ask them. That's one important way you can effect change.

Q: What is the post-consumer content of your jewelry?

About half of our products are now always made with 100% post-consumer gold, and are so labeled. Depending upon our daily success in acquiring metal, the post-consumer content of other products will vary, with a recycled mix filling in as needed. Most products on the site can, however, be made with gold you submit through our myKarat program, so you have the ability to make certain that your piece will contain 100% post-consumer gold.

Q: Does your white gold contain nickel?

Yes, our regular white gold contains nickel. That may be of concern to individuals with nickel sensitivity. Most of the white gold pieces on the site are, however, also available in palladium white gold, which contains no nickel. Please ask if you do not see that option.

Q: How does recycled gold differ from ‘new’ gold?

As far as content, the metal recycled is refined into 99.99% pure gold, so there really is no difference to you between recycled gold and mined gold, which usually starts out in ore. Gold, as an element, is identical wherever it comes from. The difference in buying recycled, of course, is the joy of knowing that you've become part of the environmental solution.

Q: Isn't most gold at least partially recycled?

It is true that discarded precious metals are carefully captured and recycled because of their value, so gold that you use today may actually have been used throughout the history of mankind. It’s very hard, however, to find refineries which use only recycled gold. Most will feed freshly mined stock in as needed, and some deal exclusively in freshly mined gold.

Every time a refinery makes a purchase of freshly mined gold, there is an incentive for some company to continue ravaging the environment to provide that gold. By ensuring that our gold is entirely sourced from recycled metals, we ensure that we have not contributed to that vicious cycle.

Q: Isn't gold refining also part of our environmental problem?

Absolutely. Refining is an inherently dirty business, so choosing a responsible refinery is very important. Although refining utilizes lots of water and dangerous chemicals, there are techniques to recycle the water and capture chemicals. The refineries we use are zero-discharge and/or ISO 14001 certified. Clean refining is actually quite rare. We are proud to support those who have made the effort to be environmentally responsible.

Q: I’ve seen other jewelers selling 'green' gold. Isn’t that ecologically responsible, too?

That can be confusing, because when gold is mixed with silver as an alloy, it is sometimes referred to as green. That reference holds no ecological implications. At greenKarat, the term 'green' refers to the environmentally friendly character of our products.

Q: What is the source of the recycled gold you use?

We strive to use post-consumer gold whenever possible (though we still sometimes have to supplement with post-industrial gold). Given that additional supply diminishes the incentive for mining, we believe what’s needed is a way to coax post-consumer gold out of hiding. Gold is so valuable that businesses never discard it, and are instead very efficient recyclers. Using gold which has been recycled from industry (including jewelers’ scrap), therefore, doesn’t change the current cycle of mining damage.

Vast quantities of gold sit unused, however, in the form of old jewelry. Individuals can’t easily get value for their retired jewelry, so it rests idle in jewelry boxes and dresser drawers. The broken chain, the one remaining earring and the unused class ring all represent dormant gold. greenKarat is creating demand specifically for post-consumer metal, and that’s driving a beneficial change.

Q: Do you provide financing?

We would be pleased to discuss layaway arrangements, if you think that appropriate to your situation.

We do not facilitate financing, as we dislike the industry practice of prescribing how much you should spend, and then providing the special financing to make it possible.   Rather than using a percentage of income as a benchmark, we think it makes more sense to look to that part of your income which is disposable, even if that amount is modest. 

Engagement, wedding, and commitment rings are just symbols. Make the symbol yours. You could tie a string, and express your commitment only through your actions. Or you could create a lifetime poem in the ring your partner wears every day. Regardless of what you spend or how you fund that expenditure, we encourage you to express your love within the context of your means; it’s another way to embrace your marriage of values.

Q: Do you have a printed catalog you could mail to me?

We made a hard decision not to print a catalog, with the philosophy of perhaps saving a tree. It isn’t that we don't care about you, your support, or your business... We'd be happy to print and mail the pages that interest you, and we can always take orders by phone.

Q: Why do you use Rhodium on your white gold products?

Rhodium, a member of the platinum family, provides a hard, protective coating to white gold which brightens the color. While not used universally, it is an accepted practice in fine jewelry. This picture demonstrates the visual impact of Rhodium. The bottom ring is white gold without Rhodium, the top ring is white gold with a Rhodium coat.

Some people find that the Rhodium plating degrades over time in daily wear, gradually revealing the color underneath.  The ring can be replated when this happens.  On the other hand, omitting Rhodium from the beginning obviates the problem.  We would be happy to do so upon request.

Q: Can you make sizes in-between the listed ring sizes?

Yes. To order a quarter size, simply select the nearest half size from the drop down menu.  During the purchasing process, you will have an opportunity to type in special requests and comments.  Just tell us what size you need.  This is not considered a custom request.

Q: Can you do custom work?

Yes. You’ll find details here.

Q: What is the greenKarat lending library?

From time to time we come across books we’d like to share, so we make those available to you. We invite you to read them, jot an observation in the margin somewhere (by the way, not all of these books espouse viewpoints you'll agree with), and send it back to be circulated again. This is better than recycling, as we feel the volume gains value with each observation added by a greenKarat community member.

Simply send us an email requesting the volume you are interested in reading, and we’ll send it to you when it becomes available. (Sorry, this offer is only available in the US, where we enjoy subsidized media mailing rates.)

There is no charge. Books are loaned on the honor system. We encourage you to read and return the volume within a month so that others may also share.

Catalog of Titles

Print

• Let the Mountains Talk, Let the Rivers Run - David Brower
  Donated to the greenKarat library by customers Shaye and Doug (who had the privilege of working with author David Brower). Observes Doug – “This is a very accessible book with short, inspirational essays on a variety of subjects and a focus on positive solutions for ecological restoration-- including green businesses.”
  
• Constant Battles – Steven A. LeBlanc
  Do wars get started because resources become scarce? Perhaps exercising environmental responsibility could also lead to world peace.
  
• Glitter & Greed – Janine Roberts
  An in-depth look at the diamond industry from top to bottom. Details exploitation of indigenous people, slavery, debt bondage, terrorism, child labor, and environmental destruction from South Africa to Canada.
  
• Organic Weddings – Michelle Kozin
  Ideas and resources for those striving to make their ceremony and celebration ecologically and socially responsible.
  
• The Real Environmental Crisis – Jack M. Hollander
  Premise: Environmental sustainability depends upon extending prosperity to the developing world.
  
• The Skeptical Environmentalist - Bjorn Lomborg
  Written by a former member of Greenpeace, this volume is critical of the way environmental organizations make "selective and misleading use of scientific evidence".
  
• Hard Green – Peter Huber
  From the cover: Charles Peters (Washington Monthly) – “Too many liberals ignore thoughtful conservatives. Don’t make that mistake with Peter Huber. His book may make you mad, but it will definitely make you reexamine your assumptions.” We agree.

Video

• Mine Your Own Business (the Dark Side of Environmentalism)
  On DVD. 1 hour. From the website: "Mine Your Own Business, a film produced by New Bera Media in association with the Moving Picture Institute, looks at the dark side of environmentalism. It talks to some of the world's poorest people about how western environmentalists are campaigning to keep them in poverty because they think their way of life is quaint. It is the first documentary to ask hard questions of the environmental movement."
  
  Mine Your Own Business was largely underwritten by Gabriel Resources, which has an interest in the mining project. For balance, see the PBS 'Wide Angle' documentary titled Gold Futures, at www.PBS.org.
  
  
• The Diamond Empire – Produced by Janine Roberts
  High quality documentary addressing the same issues as Glitter & Greed, but in less depth. Approx 1 hour in length. This video is on CD, which plays on your PC or Apple using typical free media software such as Windows Media Player.