Consumers Hold 97,000 Tonnes of Gold in Watches and Jewellery
The Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 report reveals that consumers hold around 97,000 tonnes of gold and 790,000 tonnes of silver in watches and jewellery, a quantity exceeding the output of most active mines this decade. By leveraging recycled metals, repair, resale, and take‑back schemes, the industry could cut its emissions by 20‑30 % over the next five to ten years, while recycled gold offers up to a 99.8 % reduction in carbon intensity compared with newly mined gold. Adopting circular practices also strengthens supply resilience and improves margins as raw material costs rise. Expanding renewable electricity use in mining and embracing laboratory‑grown diamonds further lower the sector’s carbon footprint. Together, these strategies position existing consumer‑owned precious metals as a vital resource for a more sustainable and inclusive watch and jewellery industry.
Buying Time Analysis: This story highlights the massive, untapped gold in consumer watches and jewellery and its potential to reduce industry emissions by up to 30% through increased circularity.
