Paulo
Gold foundry artisan

This secret place within the Manufacture is dedicated to a material that has been coveted for centuries. Small, shiny nuggets whose weight and density one would not suspect at first glance. It is the realm of Paulo, one of our gold foundry Artisans. He shapes the ingots that will be used by the Artisans of the Manufacture to create luxury watches and gold jewelry. These craftsmen watch over this noble material, guaranteed by Chopard since 2018 to be of ethical and responsible origin.

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PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: I work with my hands a lot.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: My hands work automatically, but my eye is always watchful.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: I am the gold founder at Chopard.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: I stumbled into this profession a little by chance.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: Some people see me as an alchemist because I transform gold.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: We produce our own alloys.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: That's really important for Chopard.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: It allows us to ensure our gold is 100% ethical.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: There's no training for gold founders, you learn as you go.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: You have to be interested in the job because some people say it's repetitive.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: But it depends on each person and the emotion a gold bar brings them.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: Even though it's physical, it's something you have to love.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: If you don't love it, you can do it, but the emotion's missing.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: When I look into the furnace, I still feel the same emotion, whether it stems from a previous bar I poured, the first or the latest.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: Every bar has its own story.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: I could almost say that someone out there is wearing a piece of jewellery made from my gold.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: You could see it like that!


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: In some way, I help people to dream.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: In any case, I think, and I'm sure that there's a part of me in every bar.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: We're here, but not forever.


PAULO GOLD FOUNDER: We'll be gone one day but these noble metals, be they gold, palladium or platinum, will be here forever.


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"Some people see me as an alchemist because I transform precious metals, while ensuring that Chopard gold is 100% Ethical. Realizing that people out there are wearing a watch, or a piece of jewelry made from my gold makes me feel that in some way, I help to make their dreams come true."

- Paulo, Gold Foundry Artisan

Paulo, Gold Foundry Artisan

"Authentic luxury is knowing the real footprint of our supply chain and I am very proud of our gold sourcing program. As Artistic Director, I am extremely happy to be able to share the story of each piece with our customers, and I know they will wear our creations with pride."
Caroline Scheufele

At Chopard, gold is the basis of everything. It is in gold cases that we assemble the movements that are the beating heart of our luxury watches; and it is on gold rings and chains that we set our precious stones. Yet the gold of our creations radiates a special aura thanks to its origin: since 2018, all this precious metal used in our workshops is 100% ethical. And it is Paulo who serves as the alchemist in this quest. Paulo arrived in this job through one of life’s happy coincidences and has found great fulfilment in his endeavors. He knows that he is the first Artisan in the Maison to touch the gold that will later shine on the women and men who wear

our creations. An honor that has nurtured his passion since he joined our Manufacture in 2001.

In this secure workshop, Paulo receives all the materials that will be used to shape 18-carat gold ingots. He places them in the bottom of a crucible before firing them at a temperature of over 1,000 degrees Celsius. The Artisan pours the molten mixture into molds that will form bars, then cools it in water to crystallize it. The rolling of the ingots will finally give the alloy its hardness. A formula endlessly repeated by Paulo, our skilled alchemist – and always with the same precision.

Chopard
The privilege of having one's own foundry

Having an in-house precious metal foundry is a rare privilege: few watch and jewelry manufacturers have a workshop of this kind in which the alloys used for production are made from raw materials. Luxury watches and fine jewelry are in fact never made of solid gold. As gold is naturally too soft, an alloy is used that is composed mainly of pure gold, to which silver, copper and palladium are added. The dosage of these components determines the color of the 18-carat gold: rose, yellow or white. Chopard has been performing this task at the heart of its ateliers since 1978.

Artisan of emotions
Meet our artisans