Diamonds are historically one of the most unethical and controversial aspects of jewelry and many people express concerns about the ethics and impacts surrounding them today. Historically, diamond extraction and mining are incredibly dangerous and can destroy the land around a mining site. On average, between 88,000 and 176,000 pounds of dirt must be sifted through to find a single one-carat diamond. The mining stage is also where exploitation can occur, and the working conditions are historically dangerous and unethical. Frequently, forests need to be burned or cut down in order to even access the mining sites, adding to the long list of environmental implications.

Historically, there was the circulation of “blood diamonds”, which are diamonds produced in war zones to finance civil wars and in some cases genocide. The jewelry industry has made massive strides in recent decades to ensure that these practices are never allowed or funded, and have by and large been successful.

The jewelry industry is at the forefront of becoming a leading example of how old-age practices can be discarded and rewritten without any effects on quality or dishonesty. In 2003 the Kimberly Process was created in order to track each diamond and understand its origin.

All of the diamonds that we source are 100% conflict-free by the Kimberly accord. We acknowledge that the Kimberly certification has a limited definition of conflict. We do not advertise “conflict free” diamonds to further educate our clients that the Kimberly Certification is not specific enough in regards to evolving conflicts to allow us to make that claim.

In 2021 we began efforts to start using reclaimed diamonds. These genuine diamonds are terrestrial in origin but require zero new mining or energy to produce. As a company, integrity and honesty within our work is imperative, and one that will not be compromised. We pride ourselves on our work and we look forward to evolving along with the jewelry industry and making continuous efforts towards lowering environmental degradation and impact.

Mining in gold is by and large one of the most destructive industries in the entire world. Not only does it cause immense environmental degradation but it also frequently impacts and displaces families and communities, contaminates drinking water, and endangers unique ecosystems. Just like with most modern-day solutions, there are still issues with recycled gold. Without knowing the origin of the gold we purchase we are unable to affect positive change. Our newest material, Fairmined Gold gold is certifiably sourced from small-scale mining organizations that are actively embracing responsible business, social, and environmental practices. It is newly-mined gold that directly supports local mining communities. By leveraging the purchasing power of the jewelry industry to improve the mining industry, we will have a greater positive impact on mining communities and our planet.

We are pioneers in championing the use of American Mined inlay stones. Since 2017 we have been exclusively using material mined in the USA and miner direct whenever possible..  The majority of inlay artists source beautiful but often conflicting stones from countries like Afghanistan and the Congo. Lapis Lazuli and Malachite, the two most popular inlay stones in jewelry,  are stunning in color but have dark and deadly history. We strive to educate our audience to ask not only about the origin of valuable center stones but every material involved in the jewelry-making process. By sourcing from American miners exclusively we can rely on the strict standards of workplace safety, child labor, and environmental protection laws that the United States Of America ensures. 

Lots of attention is put on the origin of gemstones but many forget that the stone does not emerge fully finished and ready for jewelry setting. Cutting and faceting of the rough gemstone can be a very dangerous environment. We have a direct connection to the cutting center that facets the majority of our Montana Sapphires. We look to source cut in USA Montana sapphires whenever possible so that the gemstone never leaves the country.