Certification of post-consumer recycled content gold jewelry

Abstract

A method of providing a metal includes providing a discarded manufactured object that includes a metal. The metal is removed from the discarded manufactured object. The removed metal is certified as including removed metal from a discarded manufactured object. The removed metal is incorporated into a second manufactured object. The second manufactured object may be labeled as including the removed metal.

1 . A method of providing a metal comprising: 
 a. providing a discarded manufactured object that includes a desired metal;    b. separating said desired metal from other portions of said discarded manufactured object;    c. providing a document certifying that said separated metal is from a discarded manufactured object; and    d. incorporating said separated metal into a second manufactured object.    
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said desired metal comprises a precious metal.  
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said precious metal comprises at least one from the group including gold, platinum, palladium, and silver.  
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said second manufactured object comprises jewelry.  
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said jewelry includes a wedding ring, a bracelet, or a necklace.  
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said second manufactured object does not include any newly mined gold.  
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said discarded manufactured object is a discarded electronic device, wherein said removed precious metal is gold, wherein said second manufactured object is jewelry, further wherein said certifying includes certifying that said removed precious metal is recycled gold.  
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said certifying further includes certifying the percent of gold that is recycled gold.  
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said discarded manufactured object comprises an electronic device.  
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said electronic device includes at least one from the group including a computer, a computer peripheral device, a cell phone, an integrated circuit chip, a printed circuit board, a connector, and a connector pin.  
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said desired metal includes gold, further comprising independently determining the percent of gold in said discarded manufactured object.  
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said desired metal includes gold, further comprising independently determining percent of gold in at least one from the group including said separated metal and said second manufactured object.  
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising fabricating a jeweler's feedstock before said incorporating, and independently determining percent of gold in said jeweler's feedstock.  
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said certifying includes certifying a first percent of gold in said second manufactured object and also certifying a second percent of gold derived from recycling in said second manufactured object.  
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said certifying includes documenting source material of said separated metal.  
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said certifying includes providing chain of custody of said separated metal.  
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising providing a label for said second manufactured object, wherein said label indicates that said second manufactured object includes at least one from the group including recycled, post-consumer, and mining-free.  
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said separating involves providing a chemical.  
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said separating involves a mechanical process.  
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising advertising that said second manufactured object includes recycled metal.  
   
   
       21 . A method of providing a metal, comprising: 
 a. providing a first manufactured object that includes a thin film of a precious metal;    b. removing said thin film of precious metal from other portions of said first manufactured object and recovering said removed precious metal;    c. providing a document certifying that said removed precious metal includes precious metal removed from a previously manufactured object, and providing chain of custody of said removed precious metal; and    d. incorporating said removed precious metal into a second manufactured object.    
   
   
       22 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein in said removing said thin film of precious metal is not mixed with precious metal derived from a source other than manufactured objects having a thin film of precious metal.