Gold Price

Trace Your Gold → User Login → Cart (0) →
ETC Investment
Buy SMO
Why SMO
About
Our Mines
Our Partners
Met Gala
Trace your metal
Journal
Contact

Single. Mine. Origin.

Our gold comes from selected mines that are accredited with internationally recognised responsibility standards, and it can be traced every step of the way.

Buy SMO

What we do

SMO works with selected World Gold Council accredited mines and other independent bodies to extract, refine and sell responsibly sourced gold that can be traced every step of the way, while providing vital social, environmental and cultural support to the communities we operate in.

Ity mining facility, Cote D’Ivoire. 2022

SMO has oversight of every step of the process, forging the link between miners and buyers of gold

Extraction

SMO mines adhere to the exacting standards of the World Gold Council Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs), Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) or International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) principles.

The World Gold Council RGMPs were established in September 2019, an overarching framework that represents international best practices in exploration, operation and closure of gold mines. Current SMO mines have signed up to adhere to the RGMPs alongside other leading ESG international standards. An independent auditing procedure is expected to certify our full compliance to the RGMPs by the end of 2022. From 2023, all SMO mines will submit an annual implementation report and also obtain an annual independent assurance report.

Other mines will join the SMO community in the future and we will guarantee they are certified by an independent body such as the World Gold Council (RGMPs), IRMA or ICMM.

More Info

Segregation

SMO gold remains segregated from any other material throughout the supply chain. Mining partners use independent auditors to monitor mine output; world-class logistics partners ensure gold remains segregated whilst being transported; LBMA refiners maintain segregation throughout the refining process; and any manufacturing prior to materials being delivered to jewellers is completed under segregated conditions. The journey is fully documented: a paper trail is maintained on a mass-balance basis for SMO gold from each mine.

Producing SMO gold does involve some necessary additional costs in the chain of custody from mine to market, especially paying for independent audit of segregation through the refinery. Wherever possible, we absorb these costs and provide products to jewellery and investment markets with no additional premium. However, this is not always possible with very high volume, low margin products (eg large investment bars and casting grain), for which there may be a very modest premium.

More Info

Refinement

SMO gold is refined by LBMA refiners in total segregation from any other material. This process is overseen every time by an independent auditor. Most of the world's gold becomes untraceable the moment it hits the refinery when gold from many sources enters one big melting pot. SMO therefore considers our refinery the most critical part of our chain of custody.

The segregation of SMO gold at our refinery is audited by Bureau Veritas. We’ve had process assurance for this chain of custody from MHA McIntyre Hudson, which is a division of Baker Tilly International.

SMO is also involved in the World Gold Council's trial with aXedras to assess the benefits of implementing blockchain across the whole chain of custody.

More Info

Manufacturing

SMO gold can be supplied to jewellery partners as fine gold grain directly from the LBMA refinery, or it can be alloyed and turned into alloyed grain, wrought product, rings, chain or castings for delivery to jewellers.

All manufacturing prior to delivery to SMO’s jewellery partners happens in total segregation from any other metal. Finished items of jewellery manufactured with SMO gold can be hallmarked with the SMO mark, subject to mass balance checks.

More Info

Tracing

Each batch of SMO gold is fully traced through the chain of custody from mine to jeweller, with a complete documentary paper-trail maintained. SMO gold is supplied with a QR code, allowing end consumers to see exactly where their metal was mined, and learn more about the social and environmental impacts associated with their purchase.

More Info

Betts Trade Counter in the 1920s

Our history

The Betts family name has been inextricably linked with the precious metals industry since the family refinery business was established in Birmingham in 1760. When brothers Dan and Charlie Betts came to the helm in 2012, they quickly became frustrated that they could not provide enough responsibly sourced gold to meet demand. A new standard of gold was required so Dan Betts broke away from the family business to form Hummingbird Resources, search for gold, and pioneer a long-overdue market solution.

In doing so, Dan came to understand that less than 1% of gold in the world is fully traceable. Without traceability there is no accountability and therein lies the need for change. And so, SMO was born.

Betts Metalworks, Birmingham. 1890

Betts Metals original paperwork

The journey to SMO

1760

Betts is founded in Birmingham by Alexander Betts, providing refining services to the UK's newly industrialised jewellery trade.

1985

Betts Metal Sales is established to complement the refining services of Stephen Betts & Sons, by manufacturing and selling precious metal to jewellers.

2001

Dan Betts joins The Betts Group from Anderson Consulting.

2004

Charlie Betts joins The Betts Group from ING Barings.

2005

Dan and Stephen Betts establish Hummingbird Resources, a gold exploration business with licences in Liberia.

2010

Hummingbird Resources becomes a public company listed on London’s AIM market with Dan Betts as CEO.

2012

Charlie Betts takes over as the ninth consecutive generation of the Betts family to be Group Managing Director.

2014

Hummingbird acquires Yanfolila Gold Project in Mali from Goldfields and begins work on Definitive Feasibility Study.

2016

Betts Group acquires Capella and becomes the only UK Fairtrade and Fairmined certified refiner.

2017

With the first pour of gold from Yanfolila, Charlie and Dan obtain control over the full chain of custody from mine to finished product.

2018

Yanfolila moves to commercial production and with the introduction of audited segregation begins refining batches through LBMA accredited refineries.

2018

Single Mine Origin is launched as a joint venture between Hummingbird Resources and the Betts Group.

2019

The Betts Group moves all internal manufacturing to SMO gold and jewellers begin to adopt SMO gold.

2020

SMO hallmarks are established at UK assay offices and Boodles becomes the first international jewellery brand to move all production to SMO.

2021

SMO signs up a second RGMP compliant gold source with Endeavour’s Ity Mine in Cote d'Ivoire, significantly increasing the volume of gold available.

Our founders

Charlie Betts

Charlie Betts represents the ninth consecutive generation of the Betts family to run The Betts Group; a business focusing on refining precious metals and manufacturing jewellery and investment products.

Charlie has seen first-hand the recent explosion in consumer engagement with responsible sourcing in the jewellery industry. He also has expert understanding of the challenges faced by jewellers in reliably and cost-effectively acquiring products with detailed provenance.

Charlie Betts

“What we’re doing is trying to get jewellers, watchmakers, tech manufacturers and investors across the spectrum to engage with the provenance of their gold.”

Charlie Betts

Dan Betts

Charlie’s brother, Dan Betts, is the CEO of Hummingbird Resources PLC, an AIM-listed multi-asset gold company with a producing gold mine in Mali, West Africa.

Dan is actively engaged with the challenges of developing socially and environmentally responsible gold mines and ensuring such projects are beneficial to their host communities.

Listen to Dan and Charlie discussing SMO

Play

Dan Betts

"I think mining can be a force for good, enriching the local community in terms of health, environmental protection, education and alternative livelihoods.”

Dan Betts

Invest in the
future of gold

Every ounce of SMO gold you purchase, whether bullion, coins or jewellery, has a lasting impact on the lives of local people and the environment. Let’s show the gold industry that provenance matters.

Buy SMO Trace your Metal

Sunset in Djenne, Mali