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What Is Sustainable And Ethical Jewelry?

Jewellery is sentimental. It is something that is bought to last, given with love, and often passed down through generation to generation From wedding bands and friendship bracelets to promise rings and lockets, jewellery often holds significant emotional attachment. But what about the emotions and sentiment that are attached to our jewellery before it comes out of the box? Who made it? Whose hands has it passed? What is its story? There is a history behind everything we purchase. Just as with diamond jewellery, it’s important to start asking questions about the story behind your Jewellery. Because once you wear it, it becomes your story too. Sustainable and ethical jewelry means transparent and responsible sourcing practices and use of sustainable materials. It has a minimal impact on the environment, isn’t involved with conflict, and gives back to workers by way of fair wages and safe working environments.Looking at sustainable jewelry is kind of like looking at sustainable fashion…overwhelmingly complicated and more than a little convoluted. They share lots of elements, like supply chain considerations and over consumption. However, the diamond jewelry industry adds yet another ethical and eco complexity to consider—diamond mining.  The images of open mining pits and people working in those mines does not require any technical or scientific knowledge to understand the social and environmental impact. It is up to us what we want and at what cost.  Ethical Jewellery is not just about “decreasing the negatives” but also about increasing the positive impact of our jewellery. What feels better than buying a piece of gorgeous jewellery and knowing that someone else will benefit from your purchase? Knowing that your jewellery is helping a marginalised, at-risk people gain financial independence and it doesn't harm our planet is definitely a story we would be proud to wear.