sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
By its very nature, our jewelry is the most eco-friendly fine jewelry in the world. That is not an exaggeration. With only very few exceptions, our fine jewelry is, on average, created from 80 percent post-consumer recycled materials. In some instances, that number rises to more than 95 percent. The fact that no one, including yourself, would know that these jewels were created from old dominoes, jukebox panels, lamp parts or anything else we can cannibalize, is a testament to the quality of our design, workmanship and finishing.
MY EARRINGS ARE MADE OF WHAT?!
The vintage bakelite used in our products is an example of recycling in its purest form. The woods we use are from sustainably managed sources, architectural salvage, naturally fallen trees or sunken logs. We use only ethically sourced gemstones and diamonds. The gold in our products is 100 percent reclaimed.
WE DO NOT RECYCLE. WE UPCYCLE.
Our products are manufactured in a newly constructed, purpose-built facility in Beaufort, South Carolina. Our new home is highly energy efficient and a wonderful place for the production of our products. Built on fallow agricultural land, our building is a prime example of New American Manufacturing. We bring revenue and income opportunities to an underserved community. Additionally, through the employment of local residents, we provide opportunities for the learning of new and marketable skills. All of our products are handmade, in Beaufort, by American workers.
We have corporate policies in place that ensure an aggressive reduction in the amount of disposable consumables used in both our administrative and production operations every year. We also financially support environmental organizations that are working to remediate and prevent environmental damage to the world we all live in.
The precious metals used in our products, as in almost all jewelry produced today, are recycled. We purchase our gold, platinum and silver from suppliers who have received independent, third-party certification confirming that the metals are indeed recycled. Additionally, our suppliers have received independent, third-party certification of their refining processes and systems. If not properly and responsibly executed, the reclamation and refining of precious metals can be almost as harmful to the environment as the production of newly mined ore. By working with suppliers who are regularly subjected to rigorous auditing and testing, of both their products and processes, we can confidently assure our customers that the precious metals in our products are eco-friendly. More detailed information about the materials used in our products is available in the materials area of our website.
An Important Note About Precious Metals and Gemstones
The keystone to "green" and ethically sourced precious metals is transparency of the supply chain. The same holds true for gemstones and diamonds deemed to be "devastation free" or "ethical". No manufacturer of finished jewelry is able to fully audit the supply chain of its raw materials. By working only with reputable suppliers, who in turn pledge to do the same, we can assure consumers that the materials used are from sources deemed "safe." Unfortunately, it is practically impossible to guarantee without question the source of elemental materials and gemstones. While the geographic provenance of many gemstones can be conclusively determined in a laboratory, facts about the mining conditions and chain of custody are much more elusive. Antique and vintage diamonds and gemstones may have been mined with forced or slave labor. The conditions in which these older stones were mined will be impossible to ever know with certainty. The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme itself is fallible, and there have been documented violations and breaches of the system by Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.