Clogau Gold

Clogau Gold of Wales Ltd

Industry	Jewellery
Founded	1994
Founder(s)	William Roberts (Chairman)
Headquarters	Wales, UK
Key people	Ben Roberts (Managing Director)
Products	Jewellery, Watches, Accessories
Employees	48
Website	clogau.co.uk

Clogau Gold (pronounced “clog-eye”) is a second-generation Welsh family jewellery brand. Clogau Gold manufactures and retails watches and jewellery containing a small amount of Welsh gold taken from the Clogau St. David's gold mine in Dolgellau.

History

The Clogau St. David's gold mine was founded by William Roberts in 1989. Roberts initially intended to open the gold mine as a tourist attraction, with the hope of encouraging visitors to pan for their own gold. However, this idea was opposed due to the location of the mine within the Snowdonia National Park.^[1]

Roberts subsequently decided to resume mining in hopes that the Welsh gold supply was not completely exhausted. Due to the nature of Welsh gold, this decision came with its difficulties; the gold veins within the mine were inconsistent and difficult to locate, which resulted in only a few years of small-scale mining. Mining eventually ceased in 1998.^[2]

Roberts decided to use the Welsh gold extracted to create jewellery which would contain only a touch of the Welsh gold, as to ensure its longevity. In 1994, the Clogau Gold brand was born, with the launch of five pieces of jewellery which were sold through small souvenir shops near the Clogau mine.^[3]

Clogau Gold Today

There are no longer any working gold mines in Wales, making the remaining Welsh gold extremely rare.^[4] Welsh gold from the Clogau St. David's mine holds a Royal association, as it was this gold that was used to create the wedding ring for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.^[5] During the 2011 Royal wedding between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the use of a pure Welsh gold wedding band prolonged the tradition into its 88th year.^[6]

Clogau Gold sells through over 500 UK outlets as well as other multiple channels, including independent and multiple jewellery stores, department stores, travel retail in-flight magazines, TV shopping channels, and direct mail.^[3] Clogau Gold launched their very first television campaign and new 'Touch' lifestyle image in 2010 with the intended purpose of playing on the emotional appeal of its jewellery.^[7]

Design

Consumers and the jewellery industry recognise Clogau Gold for its more established collections such as Tree of Life^[8] and Cariad (Welsh word meaning love, beloved or darling). The brand designers use the natural beauty of Wales as their sole design inspiration; this is due to the small content of Welsh gold from the Clogau St. David's mine that is included within each piece of jewellery. Although a recent statement by Ben Roberts on BBC Radio Cymru on 9th October 2011 states each item contains a touch of Welsh Gold, either from Clogau OR Gwynfynydd Mines^[9] A genuine piece of Clogau Gold jewellery can be identified by its Clogau Gold and Welsh Dragon stamps which indicate that it contains a small amount of Welsh gold.^[10]

Associations and Memberships

Clogau Gold is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, British Jewellery Association, Jewellery Distributors Association, Tax Free World Association, Institute of Directors and Investors in People.^[11] As well as being in association with Historic Royal Palaces, Clogau Gold are an official licensee of the Welsh Rugby Union and were also an official licensee of The 2010 Ryder Cup, for which a dedicated and exclusive jewellery collection was created.^[12] Clogau Gold was also a high-camp sponsor of the world-first 737 Challenge, carried out in 2010/2011 by Richard Parks, an ex-international Welsh rugby player in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.^[13]

International

In 2008, Clogau Gold entered the travel retail market and now has several airlines,^[14] shipping and airport trading partners throughout Europe, North America and Asia. Current trading partners include British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Harding Brothers, Heathrow, Gatwick, World Duty Free and Harrods.^[15]

References

1. ^ Evans, Simon (14 June 2009). "Welsh jeweller is 'running out of gold'". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/welsh-jeweller-is-running-out-of-gold-1704579.html. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
2. ^ "Golden opportunity to reopen mine". BBC. 20 December 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/4546012.stm. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "The History of Welsh Gold". http://www.welshgold.co.uk/history-of-welsh-gold.html. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
4. ^ Devine, Darren (15 June 2009). "Clogau Gold – a glittering history". WalesOnline. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/06/15/clogau-gold-a-glittering-history-91466-23877106/. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
5. ^ "80 facts about The Queen (see fact 67)". The official website of the British Monarchy. http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Factfiles/80factsaboutTheQueen.aspx. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
6. ^ "Clogau Gold contacts palace after royal engagement". 22 November 2010. http://www.professionaljeweller.com/article-8678-clogau-gold-contacts-palace-after-royal-engagement/. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
7. ^ "Clogau Gold First Ever TV Advertisement". The Electronic Guide. 18 November 2010. http://www.teg.co.uk/news/000186.php. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
8. ^ "Clogau Gold launches luxury gold jewellery collection to celebrate 15 years since founding in Wales". The Moodie Report. 13 October 2009. http://www.moodiereport.com/document.php?c_id=34&doc_id=22046. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
9. ^ "Clogau Gold to present Autumn/Winter 2011 collection in Cannes". The Moodie Report. 11 July 2011. http://www.moodiereport.com/document.php?c_id=34&doc_id=27889. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
10. ^ "Welsh Gold Jewellery". http://www.welshgold.co.uk/welsh-gold-jewellery.html. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
11. ^ "Company Achievements: Memberships". Glogau Gold. http://www.clogau.co.uk/AboutClogau/Achievements.aspx. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
12. ^ "Clogau Gold teams up with The 2010 Ryder Cup". Ryder Cup. http://www.rydercup.com/2010/europe/news/clogau092809.cfm. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
13. ^ "The 737 Challenge". http://www.737challenge.com/sponsors-highcamp.html. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
14. ^ Pentol, Andrew (12 August 2010). "Clogau Gold enters Asia/Pacific travel-retail". DFNIonline. http://www.dfnionline.com/article/Clogau-Gold-enters-AsiaPacific-travel-retail-1860254.html. 
15. ^ Henry, Graham (25 August 2010). "Airport outlet part of Clogau Gold plan to double turnover". WalesOnline. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2010/08/25/airport-outlet-part-of-clogau-gold-plan-to-double-turnover-91466-27129694/. Retrieved 6 August 2011.