Independent jewellery retailer EC One has been confirmed as the first to hallmark an item of the new Fairtrade Fairmined gold.

Owner and goldsmith of EC One Jos Skeates received the company's first 20g of Fairtrade Fairmined gold yesterday from which he hand made a gent's wedding band. Skeates found out that the ring was the first piece of Fairtrade Fairmined jewellery to be hallmarked, after taking it to the Assay Office at Goldsmiths' Hall later in the afternoon.

Skeates said: “I wanted to make something that was very simple and not heavily designed so as not to distract from the story of the Fairtrade Fairmined gold. A wedding ring was the obvious option and the gold itself has a rich, almost rosy colour. I’m really pleased to be part of this exciting development within the jewellery industry.”

He added: “As the gold becomes more widely available, we plan to make the majority of our bespoke jewellery in Fairtrade Fairmined gold and I know many of our customers will be pleased that we can now provide this Fairtrade option.”

EC One was selected as one of the first 20 companies to receive the newly certified gold, announced on Feburary 14. The gold Skeates used was refined by Patrick Schein in France who has sent gold to designers and retailers who put their names down for the first batch. An photo album has been added to the EC One Facebook page, showing the step-by-step process of how the Fairtrade Fairmined ring was made.