User:Freddie Burnet/sandbox

= CRED Jewellery = CRED Jewellery is a British company, with expertise in the importation of Fairtrade gold and the manufacture of ethical jewellery. CRED is a family run business established in 1996, with stores in London and Chichester. CRED is a member of the Company of Master Jewellers (CMJ).

History
CRED Jewellery was set up in 1996 by Greg Valerio in Chichester, before Alan Frampton took control of the company in 2010 when gold became Fairtrade accredited.

In 2011 CRED open a store in Clerkenwell, London, specializing in bespoke services; the flagship store remained in Chichester.

CRED, whilst capitalized, is not an acronym.

Fairtrade Gold
CRED Jewellery begun selling gold in 2011 from Fairtrade accredited mines in the SOTRAMI (Sociedad de Trabajadores Mineros- Mining Workers Society) and MACDESA (Minera Aurifera Cuatro de Enero-4th of January Gold Miners) communities, in Peru. This gold was used to make the first independently guaranteed fully traceable jewellery in the world to bear the Fairtrade gold mark.

The first shipment of Fairtrade gold from Africa to the UK was facilitated by CRED in 2017. The first Fairtrade gold shipment was commemorated with an African signet ring, with the Fairtrade logo over Uganda, the gold's origin.

The Fairtrade system stipulates a minimum price for workers and producers, for gold that price must be at least 95% of the international market price. CRED commit to 99% as a Fairtrade minimum price, additionally, CRED commit to an extra US$2000 for every kilo of gold purchased paid direct to miners (this is known as the Fairtrade Premium). This has led to CRED being recognized as a global leader in driving the sustainable and responsibly sourced gold narrative.

Products
In addition to using Fairtrade gold, CRED Jewellery use ethically sourced stones in their jewellery. These are broken down into three distinct categories:

Lab Grown Diamonds. The controlled conditions in which Lab Grown Diamonds are created mean they are free of child labour, conflict and poverty. They are also highly traceable as they are serialized at source. All CRED's C.V.D Lab Grown Diamonds are type IIA, the purest form of diamond - this type of diamond only represents 2% of natural diamonds.

Mined Diamonds. CRED source their mined diamonds from Canada and Namibia. Canadian mined diamonds are completely traceable and can be individually tracked due to laser inscribed serial numbers. They are also ISO14001 certified, the highest international standards for environmental protection. CRED's Canadian diamonds come from the Diavik Mine.

Coloured Gemstones. CRED use a range of suppliers, from cutting edge, sophisticated commercial mines to tiny cooperatives. However, they all have one thing in common, all stones are responsibly mined and sourced by CRED due to their low environmental and social footprint. CRED source Sapphires from Sri Lanka, Malawi, Montana and Australia.

CRED focus primarily on producing engagement and wedding rings.

Impact on Mining Communities
CRED's has raised and paid US$441,138 in Fairtrade Premiums to the SOTRAMI and MACDESA communities.

CRED, along with the CMJ, raised and donated US$24,000 for sewing machines and a further US$1,800 for computers for women in the MACDESA community to produce protective clothing for miners.

CRED regularly visit the mining communities which produce Fairtrade gold, the most recent visit was in April 2019 by Alan Frampton to the Puno district in southern Peru.

Honours and Awards
CRED was named the Ethical Jeweller of the Year at the Retailer Jeweller Awards 2018.