Yes, all gold jewellery is recyclable. Even broken pieces. Give your broken jewellery new life by sending it in for recycling, and we’ll give you a Michael Hill Gift Card loaded with its true gold monetary value.
New life for old loves
You can now recycle your old gold with Michael Hill
Ancient and immortal, gold is a gift from the earth that is eternally crafted, loved and recrafted. Each speck of raw natural gold is brimming with possibilities, so recycle yours with Michael Hill.
We'll give it new life, and you a Gift card to use on a beautiful new piece.
Why recycle with Michael Hill?
At Michael Hill, we pride ourselves on being the jeweller that cares. As a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, we’re committed to ensuring that our pieces are sourced and consumed ethically, sustainably and responsibly.
You can trust us to take care with where your gold comes from and where your gold goes next, as it’s passed from your hands to another’s.
We are on a mission to help save the planet
Our 2030 Sustainability Goals put a clear roadmap in place to guide us and inspire our industry towards a better future. Product circularity, including gold recycling, is an important way for businesses to improve their impact on the planet – reducing waste, saving precious raw materials and contribution to the regeneration of biodiversity.
How does it work?
STEP 1.
SEND YOUR GOLD JEWELLERY TO US
Recycling your gold is easy. Simply create an account, request a secured package to be sent to you, and then post your jewellery to us – for free. We’ll take it from there, and keep you informed across the entire journey.
STEP 2.
WE'LL ASSESS YOUR JEWELLERY
Once we receive your package, our team will assess its ‘true gold’ content and determine our offer to you. Don’t worry if you don’t hear back from us straight away, this process can take up to 14 days.
STEP 3.
YOU'LL RECEIVE YOUR QUOTE, THEN GIFT CARD
Once your old gold’s been assessed, we’ll send you a quote. Its obligation-free too. Simply respond to us within three days to either receive your Michael Hill Gift Card or have your items securely returned to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept broken jewellery?
Do you accept broken jewellery?
Can I recycle jewellery containing gemstones?
Can I recycle jewellery containing gemstones?
Unfortunately, we don’t recycle gemstones or diamonds right now. If you still want to recycle your gold with us, we recommend having the gemstones professionally removed before you send your pieces in.
Does Michael Hill recycle the gold?
Does Michael Hill recycle the gold?
We don't physically recycle the gold, we work closely with a local refiner to melt down the gold and refine it until it reaches its purest form, ready to be transformed into something new.
Can I drop off my jewellery at a Michael Hill store?
Can I drop off my jewellery at a Michael Hill store?
Not at this stage, unfortunately, but you can collect a secured recycling pack from any of our Michael Hill stores here in Australia. From there, simply package up your old jewellery, and head to your nearest Australian Post Office to send it off. The recycling pack will then securely make its way to our Head Office to be professionally assessed.
I don't know what my jewellery is made of, how can I find out?
I don't know what my jewellery is made of, how can I find out?
There are two easy ways to find out – either head into your local Michael Hill store or check ‘unsure’ when filling out the online form and send your pieces in for us to check for you.
When you head into a Michael Hill store, our jeweller will see if there are any small markings or codes on your piece(s) using a ‘loupe’ (jewellery microscope). If it’s easier for you to send the piece in, our team will use X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis (XRF machine) to scan the jewellery and determine its metal composition.
Do you take white, rose and yellow gold?
Do you take white, rose and yellow gold?
We accept all gold as part of our recycling program. We’ll happily recycle any yellow, white or rose gold that’s 9-carats or over.
How is the value of the gold calculated?
How is the value of the gold calculated?
We determine the true gold value using a method called X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis. It's a specialised x-ray that can determine the gold percentage of your jewellery pieces. We then use the gold percentage and the weight of the jewellery to calculate the amount of “pure gold” in your piece.
Once we have all the information, we apply the current market rate for gold to the resulting pure gold weight to provide your quote.
Why is recycling gold good for the environment?
Why is recycling gold good for the environment?
There are many reasons why recycling gold is good for our earth. Gold is immortal, it can be reused and recycled multiple times over without ever tarnishing or decaying. So, when you hand in your gold - you're giving it the opportunity to transform into something new, rather than ending up in landfill.
Research also suggest that, for every gram of pure recycled gold, you can save up to three tonnes of mining waste and 16kg of carbon emissions. If you want to learn more, you can read the research on our Re:cycle website.