The Impetus
We don’t purify our Gold, we take it from the raw form and forge directly into jewelry. This not only creates more vibrant pieces, it creates a story of origin, a traceable lineage that most of the world’s jewelry cannot claim.
Our goal is to create transparency in the gold market and bring to life a system that the world can use to see where their gold comes from.
Our Gold Is A Testament To Artisanal Craftsmanship That Breathes Life Into The Very Soil It Stems From.
Our History
1965
Humble Beginnings
In 1965, Roy Conner founded Orocal, a family business dedicated to crafting gold-nugget jewelry. Situated in Northern California, Orocal quickly gained a reputation for its exquisite and unique pieces. Roy’s vision was to create jewelry that showcased the natural beauty of gold nuggets, celebrating the rich heritage of gold mining in the region. Today, Orocal continues to produce stunning gold-nugget jewelry, maintaining the legacy that Roy Conner began decades ago.
1980
Family Business
3rd Generation David Conner followed in his father's footsteps, expanding the family business by introducing gold-bearing quartz into their jewelry pieces. David marketed these pieces to tourists in Alaska and on cruise ships. This innovation not only broadened Orocal's product line but also enhanced its reputation among travelers seeking distinctive souvenirs, further cementing the Conner family's legacy in the jewelry industry.
2013
The Worlds Best Gold
Grant Conner established Nuggets by Grant, an online store dedicated to selling high-quality, ethically mined gold nuggets. Coming from a family with generations of experience in the gold business, Grant is the first to take their legacy global. His innovative approach ensures that customers worldwide can access and appreciate the finest gold nuggets, continuing the family tradition with a modern twist.
2020
A New Gold Standard
Grant Conner launched a documentary titled A New Gold Standard. "The goal is to shed light on the industry as a whole and make people question where their gold comes from," Conner explained. The documentary highlights reclamation efforts of artisanal miners and exposes the dark side of the industry.
2022
Provenance And Traceablity
The team embarked on a journey, delving into innovative ways to track and trace the origins of gold. Our goal was to create a transparent supply chain that allows us and our customers to understand precisely where our gold comes from. This initiative not only ensures the integrity of our products but also reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
2024
Organic Gold
We are excited to announce the launch of our provenance-backed jewelry line, ensuring that each piece comes from a verified ethical source. Additionally, we are making our ethically sourced gold casting grain available globally, enabling other jewelers to create with confidence, knowing that their gold is responsibly mined and traced. This initiative not only elevates our commitment to ethical practices but also aims to inspire a broader movement towards sustainability and transparency in the jewelry industry.
Our Partners
Creating Impact
Recognizing the gold industry's impact on water contamination, we source exclusively from chemical-free placer mines. Additionally, we donate a percentage of our profits to support clean water initiatives, reinforcing our commitment to environmental stewardship.
FAQs
What Makes This Gold Different?
In contrast to the widespread practice of blending gold from diverse and unethical sources, including mines in Africa and South America notorious for child labor and environmental hazards such as mercury and cyanide, our approach stands apart. We exclusively source from placer mines that utilize environmentally friendly methods, using water alone to extract gold from soil. We retain our gold in its raw state without purification, preserving its original chemical composition. This commitment not only maintains the integrity of our gold's provenance and story but also upholds our dedication to ethical practices and environmental stewardship.
What Is Provenance?
Provenance refers to the documented history and origin of the gold, tracing it from its source to its current form. This is crucial for ensuring the authenticity, and ethical sourcing of the gold.
How Do Provenance Reports Work?
Each batch of gold we receive is meticulously labeled and assigned a unique QR code. This code links to a detailed provenance report that includes crucial information such as the purity of the gold, the date it was mined, and the specific origin of the material. This ensures comprehensive traceability and transparency for every batch we process.