With the rising price of gold and silver, every speck of precious metal counts.
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, host Kelly Twigg sits down with Mark Cutler from Mastermelt to explore the fascinating and often overlooked process of reclaiming and refining precious metal scrap for jewellers and metalsmiths.
Founded in 1985 in Hatton Garden, London, Mastermelts has grown into a global refining company trusted by both the jewellery trade and industrial sectors. Mark shares expert insights into how jewellers can recover value from every stage of their workshop, from lemel (high-grade metal scraps) to sweeps (low-grade material like polishing waste and dust).
Learn why simple workshop habits can make a huge difference in reclaiming precious metal content.
Mark offers practical tips for:
Maximising recovery - from bench dust to old carpet and even water waste (and find out just how much gold was reclaimed from one jeweller's carpet!.
Safe and sustainable refining - what not to put in your sweep bags.
Understanding the full refining cycle - how reclaimed metals return to the trade as new bullion and casting grain.
Choosing your return option - whether you prefer a direct payment or fine metal grain to reuse in your next jewellery creation.
Packed with insider advice and sustainability insights, this episode is a must-listen for any jeweller looking to reduce waste, recover hidden value, and close the loop on precious metal use in their practice.
Listen now to discover how every speck, scrap, and sweep can make a difference - both for your business and for the planet.
To find out more about Mastermelt, check out their website