When my husband and I got engaged, we decided that we’d like our wedding to be as ethical as possible. The most important part of it was our rings. So we started looking for ethical wedding rings and came across a few places where we could buy jewelry that we would enjoy wearing. Here are 8 of my favorite pieces of jewelry from those times of my engagement. Over time, I will probably discover more and publish them, but for now this is a good start, right?
What is Ethical Jewelry?
Ethical jewelry is jewelry made in compliance with all ethical standards at all stages of production: material extraction, packaging, and manufacturing.
In the jewelry industry, the concept of “ethical” usually includes:
1.Fair and responsible mining of materials:
- Gold, silver, platinum, and stones are mined without the use of child or forced labor.
- Raw materials come from mines that respect workers’ rights and provide safe working conditions.
2.Conflict-free stones:
- Diamonds and other precious stones do not finance wars and armed groups (so-called blood diamonds are excluded).
3.Environmental friendliness:
- The use of recycled gold and silver is allowed.
- Minimization of environmental damage during extraction.
4.Transparent supply chain:
- The company can track the path of each material from the very beginning to finished product
5.Fair payments
- Workers are paid decently according to the local and international standards.
For instance,a brand might make rings from recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds, indicating where each material came from and who was involved in processing and producing it.
1. Brilliant Earth
https://www.brilliantearth.com/
The Brilliant Earth website has perhaps one of the widest selections of ethical jewelry and wedding rings I have ever seen online. You can literally find everything on the site. The company’s founders profoundly care about their community and strive to ensure that each of their jewelry pieces is free from injustice. I’d better just send you to the about us page where you can learn more about it by yourself than writing it all here. However, when you buy at Brilliant Earth, you can be sure that 5% of all profits go back to helping communities that fell victim to the jewelry industry.
Best for: special occasions and weddings.
Price: I would say that this store is quite pricey. The wide selection, attention to details, and community all come at a high price. However, if you have a little extra money to spend on your next big gift to yourself or (wedding) rings, I recommend checking out this site before seeking traditional stores.
2. Tulajewelry
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Tulajewelry
There are only two reasons why I included Tulajewelry on Etsy. They accept your old jewelry and turn it into new pieces. They have simple yet gorgeous rings that you can combine as you like. Although this store offers limited selection, it features truly stylish everyday jewelry, as well as a collection of rings suitable for engagements or weddings. The pieces are made from recycled metals and gemstones, as well as lab-grown stones. They can also personalize some items by adding your initials or any other inscription.
Great for: daily wearing, but there are also items for special occasions and weddings.
Prices: The range is quite wide, it all depends on your preferences!
3. Amanda Lee Hope
Amanda is another London jeweler who impressed me with her transparency and attentiveness in answering my questions. This store offers unusual yet minimalistic jewelry. On her website, she clearly indicates which items are certified fair trade, but if you have additional questions, as I did, she will respond quickly and personally. We ended up emailing each other about the pros and cons of buying wedding rings online and the frustration of finding fair trade products.
Best for: Weddings and special occasions.
Prices: A little pricey, but definitely worth it if you want high-quality products that will last long.
4. La More Design
Annie runs this Etsy shop in New York and creates truly beautiful pieces. Her cast rings are made from recycled gold, and she gets the diamonds straight from Botswana, a country known for its careful approach to diamond mining and its desire to use mining revenues to fuel the local economy (you can learn more about this here). In her store, you will find truly interesting and unique items, as well as more classic pieces.
Best for: weddings and special occasions.
Prices: Engagement ring prices are more than reasonable (they are the same or even lower than at most retail stores). Wedding ring prices are slightly higher than retailers such as Michael Hill, but frankly it’s worth its price for the personalized approach and the fact that they are made from ethical materials.
5. Glasswing Jewellery
https://www.glasswingjewellery.com/
This company was the most honest and responsive in communication, and it has some stunning, simple designs. It is based in the UK and uses mostly recycled raw materials. On its website you will find lots of jewelry items made from recycled materials or fair trade products. Some of the pieces on their website are made with the use of sea glass that they have collected themselves. In my personal experience, if you write to them with a question about the ethics of their materials or the origin of the material for a specific item, they will respond very quickly and answer honestly and directly.
Best for: everyday wearing, weddings, and special occasions.
Prices: I found that these pieces are in the lower price range for handmade jewelry, fair trade items, or recycled materials.
6.Mejuri
A company based in Toronto, Canada, whose products are made by small artisans from around the world.
The products are sold according to fair trade principles, and most of the profits go back to local communities and social programs. The designs are so charming and stunning that every time I browse the website, I have to restrain myself from buying practically everything I see. Most of their products are perfect for everyday occasions like “coffee with friends” but some of them can be a great addition to an evening outing.
Best for: everyday wearing.
Prices: Mid-range Segment.
7. Ten Thousand Villages
https://www.tenthousandvillages.com
I highly recommend checking out Ten Thousand Villages. The company was founded in 1946 and was named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by Forbes magazine. All of their products are made according to fair trade principles, and the co-operation they make with artisans help the latter become self-sufficient , thriving and avoid going bankrupt.
On their website, you will find a wide range of products, including some really cute jewelry! Most of them are perfect for everyday wearing, although some can also be worn for more formal occasions or celebrations. If you decide to visit the Canadian website, take a look at these charming decorative pillows and cushions… because I gave you a hint to do so.
Best for: everyday wearing and special occasions.
Prices: Similar to those found in boutiques and gift shops.
8. The Fair Trade Jewellery Co
A Canadian company that uses only diamonds from Canada and its own production in their rings. They have some truly impressive pieces. All metal used is either fair trade, fair mined or recycled. Although the collections are primarily designed for weddings and special occasions, the manufacturers also claim to create some really cool custom pieces.
Best for: weddings and special occasions.
Prices: Prices are quite reasonable but sometimes slightly higher than at most popular stores.
