01335 216 004 Phones Open: 8:30am - 6:00pm
Cart Cart

The History of Clogau Welsh Gold

Jewellery & Watch News

Clogau Welsh Gold jewellery needs no introduction; it’s breathtaking collections of necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings have become precious heirlooms, sacred possessions and sentimental everyday accessories for thousands of people across the globe.

Where does Clogau Welsh Gold come from?

Based in Wales, between the heather-clad hills and the gladed valleys, Clogau finds itself instantly absorbing the magical history and interesting folklore of the Celtic countryside. But Wales isn’t just a place for inspiration for the Clogau brand, it is also the place where another treasure can be found – beautiful Welsh gold.

Welsh Gold can be found in two main areas of Wales. The first is in North Wales in a band stretching from Barmouth past Dolgellau and up towards Snowdonia. Two of the largest mines in this area were the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine near Ganllwyd and the Clogau Gold Mine near Bontddu. The second place where Welsh Gold can be found is in South Wales in a small area in the valley of the River Cothi at Dolaucothi. It is believed that the Romans were the first to mine for Welsh gold here.

Why is Clogau Welsh Gold so rare?

Welsh Gold is considered one of the rarest and most precious metals in the world. Geologists believe it dates back to 75AD when the Romans began panning for gold in the river beds at Dolaucothi. From then on, large scale mining took precedence and from 1862 until 1911, the Clogau St. David's Gold Mine near Dolgellau produced 165,031 tonnes of gold ore resulting in 2,442 kg of Welsh gold to be found. This period was known as the ‘gold rush’.

Very little gold mining takes place in Wales today to help ensure the longevity of the Welsh Gold supplies. This, however, makes the gold incredibly valuable and expensive. In November 2017, 10 lots of Clogau gold which had been previously mined between 1979 and 1981 went to auction and was expected to fetch around £9,000. Instead, the lot went for £44,000 proving the exclusivity and demand for the precious metal.

Due to the overmining that took place in the late 1800’s, Welsh gold is now rarer than it has ever been and only a small amount is included in each piece of Clogau jewellery. This not only assists with the sustainability of Welsh gold supplies but also keeps each piece of Clogau jewellery affordable for its customers.

The Birth of Clogau Jewellery

Before closing in 1911, St. David’s gold mine was considered the largest and richest of its kind located in the Dolgellau gold mining area. It was rediscovered by a local man named William Roberts in 1989, who found it in a disused condition. He decided to test his luck and reopen the mine to see if there was any Welsh Gold remaining within. His risk was rewarded and after a few years of small-scale mining, he was able to discover a significant amount of high quality Welsh gold.

In 1994, Roberts released the first range of Clogau jewellery which consisted of only five pieces that he sold in a handful of gift shops near the St David’s gold mine. Since then, the Clogau jewellery collections have continued to grow with every Clogau necklace, bracelet or ring containing a piece of the rare Welsh Gold that William Roberts had found.

Clogau remains a family-run business today now into its second generation. It’s breathtaking collections of jewellery have captured the hearts of customers across the globe including several members of the British Royal Family including the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Princess Diana, The Duchess of Cambridge, and more recently, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.

At C W Sellors, we have a huge selection of Clogau jewellery to admire from Clogau necklacesClogau braceletsClogau earringsClogau pendants, Clogau rings to Clogau charms. You can explore all the Clogau jewellery collections here.

If you would like any more information about our range of Clogau jewellery, please get in touch with our team of jewellery experts at sales@cwsellors.com or on 01335 453453.

WhatsApp