Your purchases have a great deal of influence. Because of this, more and more individuals are being careful to think about how their decisions affect other people and the environment. Conscious consumption might seem scary due to certain extreme instances of minimalism, waste-free living, and other practises. But there are numerous things you may do to buy jewellery with more awareness. Here are some tips to assist you in creating a jewellery collection that you genuinely adore. and be pleased with.
Why buying jewellery responsibly should matter to you.
It’s no secret that the jewellery business has traditionally encouraged some appalling behaviours. from hazardous working conditions, child labour, the depletion of natural resources, unneeded waste, and water pollution. The list continues. It is hardly surprising that change has been demanded or that demand for ethical jewellery is growing. As an alternative, several jewellery producers and designers have worked to promote ethical and ecological jewellery. And more and more individuals are adopting ethical jewellery purchasing practises.
Let’s get some terminology.
There are several ways to define socially or environmentally responsible businesses and their endeavours. When you are unfamiliar with the terminology, it might be difficult to tell what is what. Here are some expressions that sustainable jewellery designers frequently use when discussing the good deeds they carry out.
Authentic jewellery
What exactly is moral jewellery? Jewellery itself is not right or bad. Instead, it’s jewellery that is created with the goal of “doing no harm.” Ethical jewellery has no adverse effects on the environment or the artists and workers that assist in its production.
Many legal organisations and technical definitions exist with the goal of defining and regulating “ethical jewellery.” But honesty is the most crucial consideration. You may determine if a jewellery company’s values are in line with your own by looking at how transparent and honest they are regarding sourcing, labour, and production. And if you think of their items as “ethical jewellery.”
However, the majority of ethical jewellery companies follow specific guidelines, such as:
Describe the material tracability.
- Utilise eco-friendly materials
- use artificial gemstones
- maintain harsh labour laws
- Achieve equitable pay
- minimise your carbon footprint
- are created locally
- Sustainable components
The materials are what make jewellery sustainable, if you’ve ever wondered! Two factors are particularly important when acquiring materials for sustainable jewellery:
- Sustainability materials have the least potential negative effects on the environment. As a result, environmentally friendly, ethically mined materials are used by brands of sustainable jewellery. perhaps never at all.
You’re in fortunate since a number of important organisations work to maintain the integrity of these businesses. For instance, the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) seeks to make mining ethical, sustainable, and kind to the environment.
- Recycling: Using recycled gemstones reduces the demand for new diamonds and rubies. Additionally, utilising recycled gold or silver lowers the carbon impact of your jewellery even further. To have an effect, several sustainable jewellery businesses recycle materials.
Repurposed gold
Recycled gold—is it truly gold? Yes! Gold has really been reused, recycled, and used for aeons. Because precious metals can be recycled again, they are a great material for eco-friendly jewellery creations. They decrease the demand for recently mined materials and, frequently, they might lower the price of a piece of jewellery.
Jewellery made ethically
Fairtrade chocolate and coffee are probably familiar to you from your most recent trip to the grocery shop. But fair trade jewellery is also an option. Fairtrade jewellery is created by craftsmen who are paid fairly and uses materials that were sourced by workers. Additionally, they operate in secure locations and frequently get more resources to help their communities.
A certification procedure is undergone by a lot of fair trade jewellery businesses so they may advertise their items as “Fair Trade Certified.” Some jewellery businesses opt to use fair trade principles without certification since it might be expensive. If you’re uncertain about how “fair trade” a piece of jewellery is, ask the maker or supplier for clarification.
Do your homework and buy jewellery with more awareness.
As was mentioned, there are now more businesses than ever making the claim that they care. Because of this, it may be difficult to tell the difference between individuals who are doing well and those who are just saying they are. Research is the greatest approach to make sure you know which jewellery designers you want to support.
Transparency is important.
Information is essential if you want to buy jewellery sets responsibly. And a jewellery firm ought to provide you with all the information you want. The following questions are some to ask:
What is the source of the materials? Geography matters whether you’re seeking for minerals that were created in a lab or that were mined responsibly. There are several brands of eco-friendly jewellery that list the actual origins of each component. In this manner, you may decide whether or not you wish to buy jewellery manufactured with components from that region.
Where are the materials coming from? Both the source of the materials and their origin are crucial. You must decide if you agree with a jewellery designer’s approach to sustainable sourcing because it may take many different shapes.
What country makes the jewellery? Another thing you should be aware of is fabrication! You must be aware of the jewellery studio’s location if you solely support Made in the USA goods.
How are artisans and workers treated? This query is crucial! As was mentioned, a business cannot produce ethical jewellery without having compassion for the individuals who work to create each item of jewellery.
Superior quality to quantity.
Although it may be tempting, think about making more thoughtful choices when making your jewellery purchases. Verify the quality of the building and the materials by looking at them. Make fewer, more significant investments. And take into account classic looks that will endure forever. The following advice will assist you in choosing quality over quantity.
Recognise the stones.
Have you have a preferred stone? Perhaps you adore diamonds or it’s your birthstone. They are a girl’s best friend, after all. Whatever your tastes, there are a few considerations to considered when choosing a stone in addition to colour.
- Durability: A few gemstones can withstand normal wear and tear. Ruby and sapphire can withstand life’s challenges without becoming damaged. But other gems, like pearls or opals, need a little more tender loving care. They are not appropriate for jewellery that will be worn often. When choosing or creating jewellery that will last, it’s crucial to take the stone’s strength and durability into account.
- Semi-precious versus precious: Compared to semi-precious stones, are precious stones truly more unique? No, not always. Having said that, precious stones can be the most sought-after and may represent a wise investment in a piece of kundan jewellery you’ll adore forever. Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are examples of precious stones. The majority of other stones are semi-precious stones.
