The jewelry industry has a poor track record of being responsible for the impact it has on environment and how its workers are treated. Nonetheless, many of today’s sustainably-minded jewelry businesses aim to change that. They seek to create quality products while considering the environmental, social, and economic implications.
In this article, we present jewelry manufacturers that put sustainability and ethical production practices at the heart of their operations.
From engagement and wedding rings to everyday jewelry, choose the best piece for any occasion and sparkle without harming the environment!
Stone and Strand, stoneandstrand.com
New York-based brand offers high-quality, 10K and 14K solid gold jewelry that won’t tarnish or fade, ethically-sourced gemstones, and conflict-free white diamonds that are perfect for piling up — all at a price you can justify. Their pieces are always made in a sustainable, eco-friendly way. They buy carbon credits to ensure all of their shipments are carbon neutral. They also use recycled gold as much as possible, and any scrap metal from product development is fully recycled.
Common Era Jewelry, commonera.com
Common Era offers jewelry inspired by ancient mythology. Each Common Era piece is handcrafted by master artisans in a Responsible Jewelry Council-certified atelier. They use only conflict-free gems and 90% recycled gold and silver. Their packaging contains no plastic and is made by hand in a small family factory in Illinois.
Monica Vinader, monicavinader.com
Monica Vinader designs jewelry that empowers, uplifts and endures using only recycled gold vermeil, sterling silver and sustainably sourced natural gemstones, diamonds and pearls. They ensure that 100% of their diamonds are responsibly sourced by adhering to the Kimberley Process, an international certification process that aims to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds, and the World Diamond Council System of Warranties. Their packaging is 100% recyclable.
Catbird, catbirdnyc.com
Catbird aims to make beautiful jewelry that lasts and has the lowest environmental impact. All of their diamonds are ethically and responsibly sourced and fall into three categories: recycled, conflict-free and cultivated. All of their diamonds adhere to the Kimberley Process. They source their gold chain, wire, findings and castings from vendors who are committed to minimizing the environmental impact of their work. Their vendors purchase a mix of recycled metal and ethically sourced materials and then make their own alloys to control the process and minimize the number of middle-men in the supply chain. Catbird pieces are created in their Brooklyn studio with a minimum carbon footprint.
Blue Nile, bluenile.com
Blue Nile offers handcrafted engagement rings and beautiful fine jewelry. Blue Nile is committed to ensuring that the highest ethical standards are observed when sourcing their diamonds and jewelry. At Blue Nile, they only purchase diamonds through the largest and most respected suppliers who adhere to and enforce the standards established by the Kimberley Process. All Blue Nile diamonds are warranted to be conflict-free.
Daisy London, daisyjewellery.com
Daisy London is a much-loved British jewelry brand known for beautiful, everyday jewelry with meaning. At the heart of Daisy lies an adventure, a love for life, a need to explore. Their jewelry is made from 100% recycled 925 sterling silver, nothing less, with 18ct gold plating for all of their gold pieces. Made with FSC certified materials, all their packaging can be reused, recycled or repurposed. Their jewelry is designed to be worn and treasured for years.
Aurate, auratenewyork.com
Aurate offers ethically sourced, sustainably made fine jewelry. Their pieces are made from 100% recycled gold. Their conflict-free diamonds are carefully selected to maintain quality and adhere to the Kimberly Process. They scour the globe to source pearls and precious gems from family-run establishments supporting local communities.
Edge of Ember, edgeofember.com
Edge of Ember is committed to creating fine jewelry that doesn’t harm people or the planet. That’s why sustainable practices and ethical production are central to everything they do at Edge of Ember. They use 100% recycled metals, ethically sourced gemstones, lab-grown diamonds, and can even help you to recycle your old jewelry, too. They only work with those suppliers who comply with ethical Supplier Code of Conduct.
Mejuri, mejuri.com
Mejuri designs fine jewelry that you can wear every single day. They work with expert jewelers who use high-quality and enduring materials, from precious metals — such as recycled and responsibly mined gold — to ethically sourced diamonds and AAA-grade gemstones. They conduct due diligence on their supply chain and prioritize suppliers who are certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council, which is the most comprehensive international framework for compliance with best practices around health and safety, human rights, fair labor, governance and environmental protection in the fine jewelry industry.
Monbouquette Jewelry, monbouquettejewelry.com
Monbouquette creates functional jewelry for daily life. They work directly with master jewelers in the USA to produce innovative and high-quality pieces with responsible materials and ethical practices. All of their earrings and spheres are made with 100% recycled sterling silver, yellow bronze, or brass with ethically mined 23.5-karat gold premium plating. All of their earrings and spheres are made with 100% recycled sterling silver, yellow bronze, or brass with ethically mined 23.5-karat gold premium plating. All of their packaging is plastic-free and jewelry is shipped in recycled cardboard boxes.
Capsul Jewelry, capsuljewelry.com
Capsul Jewelry offers premium custom jewelry. Using the latest 3D-printing technology, each piece is uniquely designed, casted, and customized with your own handwriting, the sound wave of a voice, or a special name, date, or place. Every piece of jewelry is made by artisans in Los Angeles, adhering to the highest environmental standards.
BAR Jewellery, barjewellery.com
BAR is a London-based contemporary, sustainable jewelry brand. BAR is handmade by skilled artisans who are treated with respect and paid a fair wage. Positive, ethical and sustainable practice are central to the brand ethos. Even small choices are carefully considered, ensuring that they are responsible and not harmful to the environment.
AGMES Jewelry, agmesnyc.com
Combining sculptural forms and precious materials with thoughtful design and artisan craftsmanship, AGMES creates pieces that are at once distinctive and enduring. Their jewelry, accessories, and objects balance vitality with simplicity. Almost all of the metals they use are recycled, and any scrap metal they generate is ultimately melted down for reuse.
PAVOI, pavoi.com
PAVOI creates quality, sustainable jewelry that you can wear everyday — from routine days to special occasions. Each piece of jewelry is made from recycled metals and packaged in recyclable materials.
John Hardy, johnhardy.com
John Hardy offers artisan handcrafted jewelry. As a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, and Kimberley Process compliant, John Hardy is committed to codes of practice that ensure that their stones, diamonds and metals are conflict-free and ethically produced every step of the way. The same sense of responsibility is applied to their packaging. From their jewelry boxes to shopping bags, all paper materials are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit that manages the environmental and economic benefits of trees.
QP Jewellers, qpjewellers.com
QP Jewellers offers fine gemstone and diamond jewelry. All of their diamonds are sourced ethically and legitimately as part of their strict ethical policy in an on-going effort to help eliminate conflict diamonds from the supply chain.
Beverly Diamonds, beverlydiamonds.com
Beverly Diamonds aims to offer the widest selection of fine jewelry while doing so at competitive prices. Beverly Diamonds is dedicated to responsible sourcing of products used to manufacture their rings and other kinds of jewelry. Their suppliers and distributors thoroughly and carefully follow strict labor and environmental regulations.
Ethica Diamonds, ethica.diamonds
Ethica Diamonds is a family-run and award-winning fine jewelry boutique, dedicated to creating sustainable, eco-friendly and ethical diamond jewelry. They are using only lab grown stones and diamonds within their jewelry as part of their commitment to sustainability and fair business practices.
Gemondo, gemondo.com
Gemondo is a British jewelry brand specialising in affordable and ethically-sourced gemstones and metals. They are certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council for responsible gold, platinum and diamond sourcing. Their gemstones are ethically-sourced from around the world and diamonds are from non-conflict zones.
Akola, akola.co
Akola creates striking jewelry that lifts up and champions women around the world. They provide life-changing job opportunities through vertically-integrated manufacturing, employing women in Uganda to handcraft each Akola piece with local and sustainable materials.
VRAI, vrai.com
VRAI designs sustainable fine jewelry and engagement rings for life’s true moments. Through an innovative customization experience, with unique diamond shapes and recycled gold, VRAI is on a mission to bring modern and timeless fine jewelry directly to consumers. VRAI jewelry features sustainably created diamonds from its foundry, which is the world's first certified diamond producer with zero emissions and guaranteed origin. VRAI’s vertically integrated supply chain ensures complete transparency.
Vashi, vashi.com
Vashi creates beautiful, ethically-sourced diamond engagement rings and fine jewelry. They only select diamonds from suppliers who can verify that their diamonds have been ethically mined and are certified conflict-free in line with the Kimberley Process and UN resolutions. They create their jewelry using 100% recycled metals.
Lark & Berry, larkandberry.com
Lark & Berry is a fine jewelry brand that marries the beauty of traditional craftsmanship with the cutting-edge tech of creating diamonds. The brand designs timeless, yet cool collections inspired by nature and the art of the world around us. As a sustainability-driven pioneer since its launch in 2018, Lark & Berry has never used mined diamonds. Instead, it cultures all its gemstones to ensure the earth remains untouched and unharmed. These stones are then set on meticulously crafted gold and platinum.
You may also like
The Best Guide to Ethical and Sustainable Jewellery
Sustainable Fabrics and Clothing of the Future
Buying Jewelry? Here’s How to Snag Ethical Pieces