11 Conscious Jewelry Brands You Can Covet With A Clearer Conscience
Conscious jewelry, does it really exist?
If you swooned over Leo in Blood Diamond it may have left you feeling pretty discouraged about your favorite accessories of adornment.
There are undoubtedly a lot of blemishes in the jewelry industry, but some conscious jewelry brands are refining more than metals and diamonds.
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Socially Conscious Jewelry Brands That Dazzle
Eco conscious jewelry maker Oscar Massin uses climate-neutral, lab-grown diamonds.
As one of the most socially conscious jewelry brands, Valley Rose Studio pays liveable wages and looks for better-than-Kimberley-Process diamonds.
While SOKO puts the F in Fairtrade conscious jewelry from Kenya.
Let’s take a look at other brands that are channeling their inner-Rihanna by shining bright like a diamond.
Head to the end for what makes conscious jewelry, conscious.
The Full List Of Conscious Jewelry Brands
1. SOKO
About SOKO
Women-led SOKO connects consumers around the globe with artisan-made jewelry from Kenya.
With socially conscious jewelry for every occasion, they have earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces to dress down with jeans or make the gown from your online dress rental truly pop.
SOKO’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
SOKO mostly uses 24k gold-plated brass or chrome, which is made in their Nairobi HQ.
Since almost 90% of brass in the world is recycled, it’s a safe bet that a high percentage of theirs is too.
SOKO also uses Fair Trade beads, horn and bone reclaimed from the food industry, and sustainable teak off-cuts.
Supply chain & labor practices:
SOKO exists to empower artisan entrepreneurship. They’re paving the way for better standards for their artisan partners and their communities.
The certified B-Corp uses a “virtual factory” to provide livelihood opportunities for Kenyans.
As a result, SOKO artisans earn roughly 5X more than average artisans.
Green business practices:
SOKO is working on their ISO 14001:2015 certification and takes steps to minimize their use of water, energy, hazardous materials, and natural resources.
Community & charitable giving:
Through their SOKO x UNTF collection, purchases of the hand-beaded jewelry supports the United Nations Trust Fund and their efforts to end violence against women.
Available: SOKO
2. Astor & Orion
About Astor & Orion
Seattle-based Astor & Orion is one of the best conscious jewelry brands if you’re on a budget.
Their demi-fine jewelry range includes earrings and necklaces in a variety of statement-making styles, such as charm necklaces and oversized hoop earrings.
A unique 3D sculpting system transforms the metals into creative curves and interlocking geometries, mimicking those found in the natural world.
Astor & Orion’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Each piece contains a 70% recycled stainless steel cast, plated in either silver or 18k yellow or rose gold.
These platings are at least partially recycled—using gold and silver particles filtered out of the air of their refinery—but we’re not certain of the percentage.
Supply chain & labor practices:
As A&O custom designs and casts the majority of the jewelry and components (closures, ear hooks, etc.) themselves, their supply chain is short and transparent.
Following the ETI Base Code, their SEDEX/SMETA-approved Thailand factory does not use child/forced labor and its ISO 45001 certification ensures the workplace is safe.
90% make above minimum wage and no one works more than 48 hours/week.
Green business practices:
In addition to labor standard certifications, their manufacturing partner holds several environmental certifications: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001, Eco Industrial Town Certificate, and Carbon Offset Certificate.
Because Astor & Orion is committed to circularity, they use recycled metals with the intention of them being recycled again, leaving out stones altogether that could prevent this.
Production materials are reclaimed and reused, like the air filter which not only makes air safer for workers but recaptures gold and silver dust to be reused.
Their manufacturing partner also filters out pollutants from wastewater, which is then used to water an onsite soccer field.
Through their take-back program, old pieces can be sent back for local recycling, in Seattle. You can receive store credit for doing so.
When checking out, add a shipping carbon offset for the sustainable-cherry on top.
Community & charitable giving:
Astor & Orion is a member of the Sustainable Fashion Alliance and Fashion Revolution.
Available: Astor & Orion
3. Oscar Massin
About Oscar Massin
Since the 1800s, Oscar Massin has been producing jewelry fit for royalty.
Now the legend of the Belgian-born “Diamond Reformer” lives on through revolutionary ethical fine jewelry that includes eco friendly wedding rings, engagement rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.
Oscar Massin’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Oscar Massin uses Latitude 100% Climate Neutral and fully traceable lab grown diamonds.
Their entire selection is designed in recycled platinum or 18k white, yellow, or rose gold.
Supply chain & labor practices:
SCS certification for their diamonds claims traceability, climate neutralaity, sustainable production, adherence to ESG requirements, and investment in local communities.
The jewelry pieces are finished in NYC.
Green business practices:
The jewelry is covered by a two-year warranty and they’re working to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations towards net zero.
Available: Oscar Massin
4. Catbird
About Catbird
Artisan jewelry brands and conscious jewelry brands don’t always overlap.
But Catbird is bridging both worlds.
The NYC-based brand has rings, earrings, anklets, necklaces, and bracelets for every day (and “the big day”) adornment.
Catbird’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Selling both their own pieces as well as those from other designers, a lot of materials are in use.
The more conscious choices include recycled and lab-grown diamonds, which are used in their in-house line.
They also use a mix of recycled gold and platinum, (mostly) third-party verified fair mined gold, and ethically-sourced gemstones. Not much information is provided about the latter so we’ll ask for more information.
Their pearls come from a sustainable Chinese farm that engages in clean water practices.
Be aware that while some of the other brands use recycled gold, most use virgin metals, rubies, diamonds, amethyst, garnets, and emeralds that do not provide information on sourcing.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Catbird’s staff receive generous benefits like health insurance, professional development opportunities, retirement plans, and free cold brew coffee.
They are members of No Dirty Gold and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
Green business practices:
Since their in-house line is made entirely in Brooklyn, they keep their local footprint to a minimum.
Community & charitable giving:
Through the Catbird Giving Fund, 1% of all sales are donated to equality-promoting non-profits.
So far, more than $1M has been donated.
Available: Catbird
5. Valley Rose
About Valley Rose
Valley Rose is paving the way for alternative and revolutionary jewelry.
Their jewelry for the eco conscious consumer includes necklaces, earrings, and rings (engagement, wedding, and everyday).
Valley Rose’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The brand’s most ethical options include 100% Climate Neutral SCS-007 Sustainably Rated Lab Grown diamonds.
They do not rely on the inadequacies of the Kimberley Process when sourcing diamonds and traceable Artisanal Small Scale Mine (ASM) diamonds and are exploring more ethical certification programs.
Valley Rose also uses ethically sourced Montana sapphires and other gemstones from small-scale artisanal mines.
All castings, wires, and chains are 100% Fairmined gold. When that isn’t available, they use recycled gold, though smaller things (like earring backs) may be conventional gold.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Valley Rose is a supporter of Ethical Metalsmiths and ensures everyone in their supply chain is paid fair, liveable wages.
All jewelry is made by hand in Sonoma County, California.
Green business practices:
The lab-grown diamonds are from a climate-neutral producer.
All pieces are backed by a lifetime guarantee.
Community & charitable giving:
1% of sales are donated to plant trees in North America and the brand regularly supports charities furthering women’s rights, BIPOC rights, animal rights, and environmental protection.
They also donate 1% of sales to Gem Legacy, a nonprofit whose vision is to create thriving colored gemstone mining communities.
Available: Valley Rose
6. Brilliant Earth
*Sponsored inclusion. Learn more here.
About Brilliant Earth
Before conscious jewelry was even a thing, Brilliant Earth was trying to create a fairer future with our favorite accessories.
Their fine jewelry range includes ethical engagement rings, wedding rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and men’s jewelry.
Their website filters make it easy to shop for only the most conscious jewelry containing recycled and lab grown components, like their stunning 18K White Gold Lab Diamond Tennis Bracelet.
Brilliant Earth’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The jewelry begins with 99.8% recycled silver or 93% recycled gold.
That remaining 7% makes up a smaller collection of Fairmined gold pieces.
Lab-grown diamonds are the crème de la crème of Brilliant Earth’s jewelry gemstones, some of which are Carbon Neutral.
To a smaller extent, they also use recycled diamonds.
They were also one of the first to use Everledger Blockchain diamonds, which are tracked through mining, cutting, and polishing all the way to the jeweler.
These are sourced from suppliers in approved mines (per the Gemstones and Jewellery Platform) that agree to their strict Code of Conduct.
In other words, they uphold a more thorough process than the Kimberley Process.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Brilliant Earth is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.
Green business practices:
Partnering with Carbonfund, the Carbonfree®-certified company has offset emissions from its packaging, shipping, energy use, employee travel, and commuting.
They also use FSC-certified jewelry boxes and more, which you can read in their sustainability report.
Community & charitable giving:
Through the Brilliant Earth Foundation, more than $1 million has been granted to support Pure Earth in their efforts for mercury-free mining, as well as the rehabilitation of mining sites in Sierra Leone.
Organizations and causes supported through purchases from their Purpose Driven Jewelry Collection include the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Rainforest Alliance, and crisis intervention services for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Available: Brilliant Earth
7. KBH Jewels
About KBH Jewels
We’d say “I do” to female-founded KBH Jewels and their selection of rings anyday.
To “put a ring on it” in a different kind of way, they also have other jewelry for daily wear, including earrings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, body chains, and hand chains.
KBH Jewels’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
100% recycled/reclaimed gold goes into all KBH pieces, along with cultivated (lab-grown) diamonds in most.
Some contain South Sea pearls, harvested from oysters that are organically cultivated in waters off the coast of Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
KBH works with small, sustainable pearl farmers that use clean and circular practices and are committed to pollution-free water.
Supply chain & labor practices:
KBH is a proud member of the Responsible Jewelry Council, Earthworks, and Ethical Metalsmiths.
Their suppliers are SCS-certified and products are manufactured in the USA.
Green business practices:
Their diamonds suppliers are working towards a zero-carbon footprint.
By using reclaimed gold (which doesn’t lose value or quality when recycled), they’re reducing arsenic, lead, and mercury pollution associated with mining—not to mention their support of the No Dirty Gold Campaign and Mercury Free Mining.
Their jewelry pouches are made with GOTS certified fabric and shipped in post-consumer recycled packaging.
Community & charitable giving:
The earth conscious jewelry company has regularly partnered with organizations like Together Rising, The Loveland Foundation, and Baby2Baby.
To promote a more conscious jewelry industry, they also support Pure Earth and MJSA.
Available: KBH Jewels
8. Bario Neal
About Bario Neal
Through continuous improvement, Bario Neal aims to “create a new sustainable standard within the jewelry industry”.
The woman-owned, founded, and run company has a sustainable and socially-conscious sparkle in the form of engagement and wedding rings, custom pieces, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and wedding bands.
They also offer fine jewelry pieces for an oft-overlooked customer base: babies and children!
Bario Neal’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
All metals are 100% recycled or Fairmined certified.
They also use repurposed or fully traceable colored gemstones, from mines in the US and globally that adhere to strict labor and environmental standards.
In addition to using SCS-certified lab-grown diamonds, they also source natural white and black diamonds from Australia, Canada, and Brazil.
Please note that Bario Neal’s chemical vapor deposition (CVD) lab grown diamonds still require a “seed” sliver of natural diamond.
They’ll also make pieces with heirloom diamonds—provided by you, of course.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Their Fairmined gold comes from artisanal small-scale artisanal mines (ASM) and is refined in the US.
Adhering to Australian environmental and labor laws, the Australian diamonds come from the Argyle Diamond Mine before being finished in Mumbai, Valsad, and Surat under fair and safe working conditions.
The Canadian diamonds come from mines in the Northwest Territories which adhere to strict Canadian standards.
Green business practices:
Bario Neal’s partner refineries use practices to minimize environmental impacts while recycling the metals.
They’re working on measuring the emissions footprint of their showrooms, studios, and offices so that they can make meaningful improvements.
Being SCS-007-certified means their lab grown diamonds are carbon neutral. They achieve this by supporting the Himalayan Climate and Clean Air Project.
Read more in their sustainability report.
Community & charitable giving:
Reflective of their founding belief in marriage equality, inclusivity, comprehensive sizing, and non-gendered design are considered in all pieces.
By supporting ASM mines—of which women are half of the workforce—Bario Neal supports gender equality that helps to strengthen communities.
They also regularly donate to organizations committed to LGBTQIA+ lives, women’s empowerment, and art education.
Available: Bario Neal
9. Mejuri
About Mejuri
One of the best conscious jewelry brands for those conscious about their spending, Mejuri is a glimmering-good place to turn for everyday fine jewelry.
Their range includes earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, wedding jewelry, and conscious jewelry for men.
Mejuri’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
All 14k gold pieces are made with 70% certified recycled and 30% responsibly mined gold.
Some pieces are made with sterling silver (AKA 92.5% pure silver), but there is no mention of sourcing.
Other materials include gold vermeil, titanium, enamel, and ceramic.
Their diamonds are Kimberley Process compliant and gemstones are “responsibly-sourced”. We’ll be reaching out to confirm what that entails.
Cultured pearls from freshwater mussels and oysters are also used.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Mejuri works with suppliers who are certified for international sustainability and ethical standards, like those from the Responsible Jewelry Council.
Their partner jewelers are situated around the globe and they claim to be working towards a fully traceable supply chain.
We would love to see them share more on traceability with customers.
Green business practices:
Last year they were going to share their science-based targets for reducing their water use and carbon footprints.
As we haven’t seen any updates we’ll follow up. Watch this space.
Community & charitable giving:
Their Empowerment Fund has supported BIPOC women and nonbinary individuals by providing $285,000 (so far) in higher education scholarships.
Available: Mejuri
10. Aurate
About Aurate
AU is the symbol for gold and Aurate transforms it into eco conscious jewelry.
In addition to engagement rings and wedding rings, they have bling for everybody and every occasion in the form of anklets, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces.
Aurate’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Aurate uses only 100% recycled gold.
This either stands alone or is paired with ethically-sourced diamonds (adhering to the Kimberley Process), precious gems, and sustainably harvested pearls from family-run suppliers.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Aurate’s materials are sourced globally before being manufactured in NYC by seventh-generation craftsmen.
The recycled gold is traceable and only comes from certified refiners.
Diamond suppliers are required to provide documentation of the Kimberley Process.
They must also demonstrate high levels of responsibility for the environment.
Green business practices:
Guaranteed for life, adornment from Aurate is intended to be passed from generation to generation.
Community & charitable giving:
Aurate supports organizations like Mastery Charter, She Should Run, and BUILD NYC.
The company’s leadership is 75% female and 50% diverse.
Available: Aurate
11. Stefano Navi
About Stefano Navi
Stefano Navi is a high-quality luxury jewelry brand that prioritizes classic cuts and timeless designs which you can pass down for generations.
In addition to engagement and wedding rings, they’re a glimmering go-to for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and pendants.
Stefano Navi’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Stefano Navi uses lab grown diamonds that are certified by IGI, which grades each based on cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
They source fair-mined or recycled and re-refined (melted to its purest form) metals, with each product description lumping them together as “ethically sourced materials”.
Note that “fair-mined” isn’t necessarily Fairmined, so we’ll reach out to find out more about their platinum and white, yellow, and rose gold.
Supply chain & labor practices:
All pieces are handcrafted in New York City.
Green business practices:
A lifetime warranty covers the full range of products.
Available: Stefano Navi
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How We Chose The Best Conscious Jewelry Brands
Better bling has been taking the world by the storm.
Pronouncements of “responsible,” “ethical,” and “beyond conflict-free” are as flashy as the jewels themselves.
But like cheap rings that leave green circles on fingers, greenwashing is cheapening the ethical jewelry movement.
What exactly does all of this mean—what is conscious jewelry really?
To answer that, we referred to our sustainable and ethical jewelry criteria:
Materials:
Socially and eco conscious jewelry brands are shining a flashy light on traceable, recycled metals and diamonds, or those produced in a lab.
Lab grown diamonds in particular are the best bet because they avoid the ethically cringy diamond mining industry altogether (though some do require a natural diamond “seed” to start the process).
SCS-certified lab created diamonds are best, as this also means they’re carbon neutral
We like lab grown diamonds because “conflict-free” is a difficult claim to prove—especially when doing so may pull the rug out from underneath other metal and gemstone sourcing issues, like child labor, hazardous working conditions, exploitative pay, and more.
Recycled diamonds and gemstones are another alternative to avoid mines altogether and while recycled gems are very likely not traceable, a recycled diamond is at least not leading to further damage.
Gold has its fair share of ethical and environmental concerns, too.
Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold is a step in the right direction, but even it has its shortcomings—not least the fact that there are zero Fairmined/Fairtrade certified mines on the entire continent of Africa where a lot of gold is mined.
Here, too, we think recycled is best.
As for other materials (sapphires, pearls, and the like), the more a brand can share about where/how they were sourced, the better from a conscious jewelry standpoint.
- Certifications: The Responsible Jewellery Council, No Dirty Gold, The Kimberley Process, SCS Global, Fairtrade Gold, and Fairmined Gold
Supply chain & labor practices:
Before shelling out thousands on some new bling, ask, what does conscious jewelry mean for miners, workers, manufacturers, and refiners?
“Conflict-free” only scratches the surface of conscious jewelry.
Fair pay, support for communities, and practices to limit working hours or prevent child/forced labor should be prioritized, too.
- Certifications: International Labour Organization (ILO), ISO 14001, B Corporation, ISO 9001, SMETA, Sedex, ISO 45001
Green business practices:
Some of these brands prove that it’s possible to create breathtaking pieces while using practices that filter air so it won’t harm workers.
They’re also doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint through carbon offset programs, use eco-packaging, treat wastewater, recycle manufacturing waste back into bling, and more.
Community & charitable giving:
When a new pair of diamond studs also means a new pair of spruce trees or donations to an environmental or socially-oriented organization, they’ll sparkle even more.
Closing Thoughts On Conscious Jewelry
Before you click “buy now” or sign on the dotted line, have you considered vintage and online thrift stores?
For the most conscious jewelry, you will find new-to-you options that are up there with the best of them. Because it’s kind of (diamond in the) rough to find conscious jewelry brands that are actually conscious.
Fortunately, these brands are (prong) setting the stage for a more conscious industry.
Let’s encourage them to keep doing better.
Share this article so we can spread awareness and promote conscious jewelry that truly shines (for everyone involved).
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