Eco-friendly Jewelry Buying Guide
from Overstock.comMany people have decided to 'go green' and purchase eco-friendly products whenever possible. This creates a dilemma for jewelry lovers who admire nature's sparkling gemstones and precious metals, yet want to protect the Earth that produces these riches. You may be surprised to learn that you can stay green and wear beautiful jewelry. This eco-friendly jewelry buying guide offers some ideas for applying a green-living philosophy to your jewelry buying decisions.
An eco-conscious awakening
Mankind has loved the shine of gold, sparkle of diamonds and glow of gemstones for centuries. We've used these precious materials to adorn amulets and jewelry, to symbolize status and ceremony. We've also spent a lot of energy searching for precious metals and colorful gemstones; digging up the land and disrupting the eco-systems. Fortunately, as people become more aware of our detrimental effects on ecology, an eco-consciousness is growing in the jewelry industry.
Mining for beauty
Most precious metals, diamonds and gemstones are found through mining, a process that displaces large amounts of earth. Hard-rock mining uses chemicals to leach metals such as gold from earth and leaves these chemicals in the ground. Consumers have encouraged efforts to find a more environmentally responsible way to gather natural materials. Some producers are beginning to listen as campaigns for ethical mining take hold; the movement encourages better working standards for miners and reducing mining's impact on the environment. To learn more about these efforts and the impact of mining for precious metals and gemstones, visit www.earthworksaction.org or www.epa.gov.
As this trend continues, it will become easier to find jewelry made of materials that were mined in a more earthwise manner.
Recycling beauty
One responsible way for the jewelry consumer to affect the eco-friendly jewelry trend is to recycle materials. This recycling takes two forms: reusing and caring for vintage jewelry (more about this later), and selling metals, especially gold, as scrap to be remanufactured.
Many companies will purchase old gold jewelry to melt and resell to manufacturers. A little research on websites devoted to earthwise consumerism will help you find a good dealer. Recycling precious metals reduces the need for extracting more from the earth and keeps the metals in the marketplace instead of lost in drawers, closets and scrap heaps.
Look for recycled jewelry made of gold, recycled silver and other recycled materials when shopping. You'll find some recycled jewelry among handcrafted products.
Socially responsible jewelry
Support small producers
Artisans around the world handcraft beautiful art, jewelry, clothing and practical household items. Businesses with an interest in social responsibility are giving these skilled craftsmen and craftswomen new access to the global marketplace by paying them fair prices and wages for their goods. A few benefits of supporting these small producers:
- You'll gain beautiful handcrafted jewelry from around the world.
- Fair trading practices support livable wages in developing communities.
- Artisans often use sustainable and recycled local materials such as grasses and copper to create earth-friendly jewelry.
- The sale of this socially responsible jewelry keeps a traditional art form a vibrant part of the culture.
- Visit our Worldstock Handcrafted store to learn more about this type of business partnership.
Consider vintage jewelry
Many collectors love vintage jewelry, and some of these jewels are displayed in fine museums; but jewelry is meant to be worn. Here are a few advantages to choosing vintage jewelry:
- Buying previously owned estate jewelry reuses and recycles valuable materials.
- Many vintage jewelry items are one-of-a-kind pieces you won't find again.
- Estate jewelry often features the highest quality of craftsmanship.
- Wearing antique jewelry lets a new generation appreciate the artistry of a previous era.
Own jewelry you'll never wear? Someone else may love that vintage ring or bracelet, so find a respectable vintage dealer and sell it.
A word about conflict-free diamonds
Overstock.com actively supports the United Nation's Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to help eliminate the sale of conflict diamonds and guarantees that all diamonds offered for sale on our site have been purchased from recognized, legitimate sources in compliance with all United Nations Resolutions, and to the best of our knowledge and ability, none of our diamonds fund any terrorist activity. Overstock.com makes this assurance based on personal knowledge or written guarantees provided by our diamond suppliers.
Can I be environmentally conscious and still wear beautiful jewelry?
Yes, you can wear jewelry and still be an earthwise consumer. In addition to green materials and recycled products, there are other options for reducing the environmental impact of a jewelry purchase.
Fine jewelry: Buy just one or two great pieces of fine jewelry to wear on special occasions instead of acquiring a drawer full of jewelry you rarely wear. An important element of the green lifestyle is reducing frivolous consumption. Concentrate on finding high-quality jewelry in classic styles and your dazzling earrings or bracelet will always suit the occasion.
Cultured pearls: Make pearls your gem of choice. Cultured pearls, which include almost all the pearls available in today's market, are farmed through aquaculture. Farming in water is considered less damaging ecologically than mining for gemstones on land. Pearl producers carefully maintain the cleanliness of the water within their farms as the pearl oysters will not thrive in polluted water. The oyster shells are used for other products such of mother-of-pearl jewelry and buttons.
Contemporary style: Fashion trends continually change, and the cute new jewelry designs can be hard to resist. When looking for casual jewelry, consider items made of sustainable products like necklaces with hemp or cotton cords. Choose decorative wood and glass beads over plastic, which may not be easily recycled. Finally, avoid trendy jewelry that you'll only wear one season. You'll spend your wardrobe budget more responsibly and reduce the amount of trash sent to the landfill.
Are created gemstones a good alternative?
Yes, it is acceptable to wear created gemstones in jewelry; not only are they more affordable than natural stones, they can be as beautiful as the natural gems. These gemstones feature two distinct forms: lab-created stones, like created rubies which have the same physical properties as the natural stone; and simulants, like cubic zirconias which resemble natural gemstones but don't have the same properties.
Some people prefer to wear created gemstones as green jewelry rather than the rare gems found through extensive mining. There is some debate as to whether created gemstones are earth-friendly jewelry or not. They are made of chemicals and some are mass-produced; however, the manufacturing of created gemstones may have a less harsh impact on the environment than mining for natural stones.
As you shop for green rings, green necklaces and other accessories; use these tips to build your own eco-friendly jewelry collection.
Protect and restore jewelry
- Proper care protects your jewelry and reduces "disposable product" consumerism.
- Store jewelry in a jewelry box; even better, store it in a "green box" made of sustainable materials.
- Have old or broken pieces repaired by a professional jeweler.
- Create new jewelry with gemstones from outdated or damaged pieces.
- Preserve family jewelry as heirlooms; wear them as your own form of recycled jewelry.
- Read our jewelry care guide for more information.
Stay informed
- Read, ask questions and be aware of the latest news in the green jewelry movement.
- Environmentally responsible manufacturing practices are an evolving trend.
- Keep searching for green jewelry and accessories; more options are coming.
- Be positive. Your efforts, grand or small, help us all protect and enjoy Earth's natural treasures.