50 A Life in Precious Metal Founded in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter in 1760, The Betts Group has grown alongside the craft of jewellery and metalworking. Here, Charlie Betts, Managing Director tells us more... Tell us a little bit about the company. Where are you based? When did the company start? The Betts Group is one of the world’s oldest precious metal businesses, having been established in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter in 1760. We offer a range of specialist services, such as precious metal refining and manufacturing, and provide access to an unrivalled breadth of products, including investment bullion and coins, wedding rings, wrought items, grain, findings, and professional tools. Our Tools & Technology Department has grown into a one-stop shop for jewellerymakers, including students, hobbyists, small business owners and bench professionals. We offer an extensive range of essential equipment, including hand tools, innovative micromotors, polishing supplies, magnifiers, lights and jewellery gauges. Our goal is to support jewellers as they strive to create the most efficient and streamlined working environment possible. Who founded the company and why? The original family business, specialising in the smelting and refining of precious metals, was founded in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter by Alexander Betts at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in 1760. Alexander was part of a wave of entrepreneurs who travelled to Birmingham at this time, likely drawn by emerging technologies and inspiring possibilities. When Alexander died in 1781, his son, Edward, continued his legacy. Today, I am the ninth consecutive generation of the Betts family to lead the business. We pride ourselves on being custodians of the past and pioneers of the future. How has the company evolved? Today, The Betts Group is a much bigger and more diversified company, offering one of the most extensive ranges of responsibly sourced gold in the UK, plus tools, technologies, refining, investment metals, wedding rings, and so on. On the average day, we can be providing independent retail jewellers with wedding rings, giving a hobbyist a fresh supply of 9ct gold grain, extracting precious metals from workshop carpets, or recycling NHS X-ray films to produce AgAIN Silver. We’re passionate advocates of responsible sourcing and have pioneered Single Mine Origin (SMO) Gold, which offers brands and designer-makers a fully traceable option without a premium price. Our segregated refining capabilities mean we are also the only UK refinery licensed to process Fairtrade and Fairmined gold. What do you specialise in? The great thing about offering such a wide range of services and products is that we can support jewellery businesses of all levels, from amateur makers to large manufacturers and international brands. However, what we really specialise in is precious metals – this historic expertise and passion are what underpin all our services and ensure our customers have the utmost confidence in what they are buying. In more recent years, we have established The Betts Group as a market leader in responsibly sourced precious metals, including Single Mine Origin (SMO) gold, Fairmined and Fairtrade gold, as well as AgAIN Silver, which is extracted from redundant medical X-rays collected from NHS sites nationwide. We believe in transparent supply chains, known-provenance recycling, and stringent safety and security for mining communities across the world. Talk us through the current products you’re particularly excited about. Do you have a favourite? AgAIN Silver really hit the spotlight in 2025, and we had so much interest in this recycled source of fine silver. Initially launched in 2022, AgAIN Silver is fully recycled from redundant medical X-rays sourced from NHS storage facilities
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