FAQ

Is it true that the British Royal family traditionally have wedding rings made from Welsh Gold?

Yes, the tradition dates back to the marriage of The Queen Mother to King George VI in 1923. Since then many royal marriages have chosen Welsh Gold wedding rings including:

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip

Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon

Princess Anne and Captain Phillips

Prince Charles and Princess Diana

King Charles and Queen Camilla

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

What is the Welsh Maiden trademark that you use and does it appear on all your jewellery?

The Welsh Maiden trademark is an internationally-recognised guarantee of 100% Welsh gold. The Welsh Maiden mark was used by the Gwynfynydd mine to indicate 100% purity and, since the closure of the mine, we have been entrusted to take the mark over. No other company can use this mark. It is your guarantee that the item contains 100% pure Welsh gold.

Why isn’t my order confirmed instantly?

Because our jewellery is crafted from authentic Welsh gold, which is sourced in extremely limited quantities, each order must be manually verified against our available reserves

Does Welsh gold look different to other gold?

No, it doesn’t. There is a myth that it is naturally rose coloured and some manufacturers artificially induce that colour by introducing copper into the mixture.

How long will it take my piece of jewellery to reach me?

On average, it will take 4-6 weeks from time of ordering to receiving your beautiful piece of Welsh gold jewellery. This is often quicker for a simple band ring but can take longer for more complex designs. We once made an engagement ring for someone within 2 weeks (including the design process) and whilst it's not something we’d like to repeat often, we are very willing and good at meeting tight deadlines, so don't be afraid to ask!

I would like advice about caring for my Welsh gold ring please.

Answer:

Caring for Your Welsh Gold Ring

Welsh gold wedding bands require the same level of care as other gold jewellery. To keep your ring looking its best, follow these simple care instructions. We suggest using Talk of the Town polishing cloths, which are available on Amazon. These cloths can be reused multiple times but avoid washing them as this will reduce their effectiveness.

Cleaning

To maintain your ring’s brilliance, clean it regularly with a mild, soap-free detergent and warm water. Soak it for 20-30 minutes, then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently remove any dirt. Rinse under warm running water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Avoiding Chemicals

Gold jewellery can be damaged by harsh chemicals. Always remove your ring before using cleaning products, swimming in chlorinated pools, or handling substances that could cause tarnishing.

Proper Storage

To prevent scratches, store your ring separately from other jewellery. A soft cloth pouch or a jewellery box with individual compartments is ideal for protecting its surface.

Handling with Care

Avoid wearing your ring during activities that could cause physical damage, such as gardening, playing sports, or lifting heavy objects. Removing it beforehand will help prevent dents and scratches.

Professional Check-ups

If your ring features gemstones, it’s wise to have a professional jeweller inspect it annually to ensure that the settings remain secure. This can help prevent the loss of any stones.

Polishing

For a refreshed look, you may occasionally opt for a professional polish to restore its shine. However, polishing too frequently can wear down the gold, so it should be done sparingly.

Avoid Abrasive Surfaces

Be mindful of rough or abrasive surfaces that could scratch your ring. Handling your jewellery with care will help preserve its beauty.

Insurance Protection

It’s always a good idea to ensure your ring is fully covered by insurance. Keep detailed photographs as part of your records, just in case you ever need to make a claim - though we certainly hope you won’t need to!

Do you deliver internationally?

Yes, we do, using recognised shipping agents. Delivery is free whether you live in the UK or abroad, although we reserve the right to charge should it be difficult to export to a particular country. Please note, the customer is responsible for payment of import Customs duty and/or other taxes to the authorities in their own country.

What’s the difference between a Welsh gold ‘ring’ and Welsh gold ‘band’?

The words are used interchangeably. In the USA the word ‘band’ is used whereas in the United Kingdom (which includes Wales) the word ‘ring’ is used.

Can you please explain what 18 carat gold means?

Jewellery is rarely made in 24 carat gold (that is, 100% pure gold) because it is too soft and easily damaged. Over the centuries jewellers have added other metals, often silver, to add durability. The percentage of other metals added to the gold determines whether a ring will be 9 carat, 14 carat, 18 carat or 22 carat. The Assay Office tests the particular piece of jewellery and marks it with the appropriate carat designation, which is referred to by the Assay Office as the Standard Mark. In the case of an 18 carat item it will bear the Standard Mark 750, the figure shows that the article consists of 750 parts of gold by weight to 250 parts of other metals i.e. 75% gold. This is equal to 18 carats (18 parts in every 24), the traditional way of describing the purity of gold. However the Assay Office will still mark the item as 18 carat if the gold content is higher than 75% but not quite up to 91.6% which would take the item into the 22 carat category.

What percentage of pure Welsh gold do your 18 carat rings contain?

We have our Welsh gold securely refined for us by a long established UK specialist company to slightly in excess of 18 carat purity that means that the Welsh gold content is a little over 750 parts per thousand. Occasionally we have our Welsh gold refined to 22 carat which is 916 parts of gold per thousand. We like to have a small amount of 22 carat Welsh gold available as customers sometimes ask for repairs to their old 22 carat jewellery. In the main, people choose 18 carat rings because it is harder wearing than higher carat Welsh gold. All our rings and other jewellery are hallmarked by one of the four UK Assay Offices. We also create pieces in 9 carat Welsh gold as well as 14 carat Welsh gold.

Will I receive a Certificate of Authentication that my jewellery contains Welsh gold?

Yes, you will.

Are the items featured on your www.welshgold.com website available in Fairtrade gold without any Welsh gold content?

We get asked this regularly. We are glad to say the answer is 'yes', and the items will be made to the same high level of design and craftsmanship as all our jewellery. Of course such items will not carry the Welsh gold marks but they will be marked as Fairtrade gold. By the way, we are a member of the Fairtrade Goldsmith Registration Scheme.

The name of your company is Aur Cymru Limited, what does it mean?

The words Aur Cymru mean Welsh Gold in the Welsh language.

Where do you source your Welsh gold?

Our main source is gold panned from rivers and streams in Wales. This is time-consuming and yields are low, meaning we can only supply a limited number of 100% Welsh gold items each year. We also have a reserve stock from the old Gwynfyndd mine.

What do businesses mean that claim to include 'a touch of Welsh gold’ in their jewellery?

We feel strongly that those companies that use phrases such as ‘a touch of Welsh gold’ should be legally required to state exactly what the Welsh gold content is. It is difficult to think of any product where the vendor is not required to disclose what it contains and until the speculation is ended by an open statement of content, there will always be uncertainty.

When you buy from Aur Cymru Limited we state and certify exactly what the Welsh gold content is.

Do you make jewellery from other rare gold?

Whilst the history and tradition of Welsh gold will always make it the most popular of all rare precious metals, we are also passionate about other rare golds, namely Scottish, Irish, English and Cornish gold. Discover our sister websites here: www.scottishgold.com, www.englishgold.com, www.cornishgold.com and www.irishgold.co.uk. We are very happy to combine any of these in your piece of jewellery to reflect your own individual story - just get in touch here: Contact Us. We are also aiming to launch a second website in 2025 to do with Welsh gold - www.heritagewelshgold.com. This will feature a gorgeous range of cast jewellery items made from 20% Welsh gold alloyed with 80% Fairtrade gold.

Could you make a triband ring, i.e. three slender rings joined together to make one ring, with one slender ring being made from Welsh gold, the second slender ring being made from Scottish gold and the third slender ring being made from Irish gold?

Yes, we can do this in any combination of our country specific golds. And it need not be three slender rings joined together, it can be two. Customers sometimes ask for one of the slender ring to be platinum and we can do that too. We're very flexible, which is the joy of making things by hand rather than casting

I heard a whisper that Geoff, the founder, is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle fan. Is that correct?

It's true. And more than that he produced some innovative, rather beautiful circular jigsaws, made in silver and other metals, which are now available at www.poshpuzzles.co.uk - please take a look. Unusually they don't feature designs - just highly polished on both sides.