Taking care of sustainability so you can enjoy your jewellery guilt free.
We don't want the enjoyment of our jewellery tarnished
If you do any research into the effects of mining precious metals and gemstones you can quickly discover that there can be a murky side to fine jewellery. I don't want to dwell on the negatives but there are some inhuman conditions, poisonous chemicals and practices that destroy ecosystems and pollute water sources. When you buy your jewellery you want to be sure it doesn't contribute to this.
What to look for when buying gemstones
Traceability is key. Does your jewellery designer know where their stones come from and that they come from mines with strict ethical standards ?
This means they are extracted from the ground with minimal environmental damage by miners who are not exploited or suffering terrible working conditions and the profits are not used to fund war, terrorism or political corruption.
The best option is small scale artisanal mining practices where families or villagers work together in streams or shallow pits, often using picks and shovels rather than mechanized equipment, which can be quickly returned to arable farm land. Countries that are know for this practice are shown here:
Sapphires (teal, blue, pink, yellow) | Montana USA |
Yellow Sapphire | Thailand |
Hessonite Garnet, Ruby & Sapphires | Sri Lanka |
Tsavorite Garnet ( emerald colour) | Tanzania |
Zircon, Sapphire, Garnet | Cambodia |
Tanzanite | Tanzania |
Sapphires (teal, blue, pink, yellow) | Queensland Australia |
Are Lab grown stones more environmentally friendly?
In summary yes! Lab grown diamonds and moissanite stones have all of the lustre, quality, durability and beauty of mined diamonds without the human and environmental costs
They require less energy, 250 kW per carat vs 500kW for mined diamond extraction. Some diamond labs use renewable energy souces and carbon capture to achieve carbon neutrality.
Far less water usage required and no environmental pollution. Diamond mining uses 127 gallons per carat and cyanide which pollutes the water sources
Better for workers: The lab grown diamond industry generally offers fairer and safer working conditions compared to some mining operations.
Lab diamonds don't suffer from the political and human rights issues that are associated with diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance corruption and armed conflict know as 'blood diamonds'
No need for massive excavartion and habitat destruction
What about precious metals?
The absolute best practice is to use recycled silver, gold and platinum. Your jewellery designer should insist on this. They should also be able to remodel your inherited or unworn jewellery re-using the metal and gemstones to create beautiful new pieces for you. If you have unworn gold or platinum and don't plan to remodel it you might be surprised at how much it is worth. Rather than just have it sit in a drawer why not get it back into circulation so someone else can use it without the need to mine for more. Just ask a reputable jeweller to arrange the recycling and then plan what you are going to do with the money you will receive!
So with a little thought and by asking the right questions you can be sure that you can have beautiful jewellery while also minimising the effect on our environment and providing safe and healthy work environments for those who provide these beautiful materials.
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