In recent years, the fine jewellery industry has witnessed a notable shift towards prioritizing ethical considerations. If you are looking for impeccable craftsmanship paired with a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, then read on. We believe in giving as much information as we can, so that you can make informed decisions on your jewellery purchases.
How We Make
All our designs are hand made from our studio at The Goldsmiths Centre in London. Our workshop is assisted by a few suppliers within the building for setting, casting, goldsmithing and polishing. This enables us to maintain the highest quality standards, to have oversight on the practices within these workshops and to reduce our carbon footprint.
Ethical Gold
As standard, our designs use certified recycled metals which have been reclaimed from a variety of sources. Recycled gold doesn't involve new mining and has a lower carbon footprint to freshly mined gold. However, if you'd like to use fully traceable gold, we also offer the ethical options of Fairmined Gold and SMO Gold for bespoke designs.
Fairmined
Gold is a precious metal synonymous with luxury and elegance, yet its extraction can come at a high human and environmental cost. Fairmined gold seeks to change this by promoting responsible mining practices and empowering artisanal miners. Fairmined is a not-for-profit organization globally recognized as a leader and pioneer of responsible artisanal and small-scale mining. Certified by the Fairmined Initiative, this gold is sourced from small-scale mines that meet rigorous social, environmental, and ethical criteria. By opting for Fairmined gold, jewellers and consumers alike can make a positive impact on mining communities while enjoying the beauty of ethically sourced gold jewellery.
Single Mine Origin Gold
SMO Gold remains segregated and traceable through both the refining and manufacturing process. SMO certification and stamping provides an auditable chain of custody for every gram of gold and peace of mind that this metal has been produced within strict parameters of corporate, social and environmental responsibility. This denotes gold that has been produced by a legitimate mining operation which holds no ties to conflict, where miners are being paid a just wage under secure employment. SMO strives to ensure that the communities living locally to the gold source are benefitting from sustainability initiatives carried out by the mining operation. Using SMO gold supports local communities, funds environmental projects, and is helps to transform the gold industry. All SMO gold is guaranteed to be 100% mercury free.
Where we use Fairmined or SMO gold, we stamp the piece alongside the hallmark as a mark of certification.
Ethical Diamonds
The newly mined diamonds that we use are conflict free and sourced from gem dealers who are part of the Kimberly Process, follow UN Guidelines and are certified members of the Responsible Jewellery Council. Where we have sourced re-purposed diamonds we indicate this in the product materials text. If you’d like a fully traceable option, we offer Canadamark, Ocean Diamonds or Laboratory Grown Diamonds.
Canadamark and Ocean Diamonds
Canadamark diamonds are renowned for their exceptional quality and ethical origins. Mined in Canada's pristine Northwest Territories, these diamonds adhere to stringent environmental and labor standards. By choosing Canadamark diamonds, consumers can be confident that their purchase supports responsible mining practices and contributes to the well-being of local communities. Ocean diamonds are alluvial diamonds that involve no mining as they are sourced by diving along the cost of Namibia and South Africa.
Laboratory Grown
Lab-grown diamonds, have emerged as a sustainable alternative to traditional mined diamonds. These diamonds are created in controlled laboratory environments using advanced technological processes that mimic the natural diamond formation process. By replicating the conditions found deep within the earth's mantle, scientists can produce diamonds that are chemically, physically, and optically identical to their mined counterparts. Lab grown diamonds do not involve destructive mining practices, but they do involve high energy usage. With the same brilliance, hardness, and beauty as natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds offer one alternative for those looking to make a positive impact with their purchases.
Traceable Coloured Gemstones
We source coloured stones of the highest quality and standard from reputable suppliers. The sourcing of coloured gems has historically been fraught with ethical challenges – and we are attempting to address this by increasingly using traceable gemstones in our designs. Where we have sourced a traceable gemstone, we will detail this in the materials section on the product listing.
Our traceable gemstones are sourced from trusted dealers with transparent supply chains. By tracing the journey of each gemstone from mine to market, we trust the dealer to verify its ethical provenance and support sustainable practices.
Transparent Practice
By explaining our approach and the positive changes that we’ve made, we strive for transparency but we continually try to improve the ways that we work.
If you have any questions – or you'd like to talk to us about how we can create your jewellery sustainably – just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
