ETHICAL & ARTISANAL JEWELRY:
The booming trend.

We all know that receiving a piece of jewelry as a gift makes us feel special, but what most of us don't know is that a big part of precious jewelry is not always good for the environment and for those who produce it. Discover the dark side and secrets of the jewelry world.

THE TWO SIDES OF YOUR JEWELRY: GLAMOUROUS AND OFTEN UNETHICAL.

Emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds... are “a girl's best friend”, but wait a minute! Are you sure about this? Although gemstones are admired and loved by many, there are some adverse effects such as poor working conditions, child labor, and environmental damage. Most of these negative issues occur during the mining process, the most controversial stage. The mining process harms our planet because the supply, processing, and transportation of raw materials require a lot of water, create wastelands, and pollute the environment. In addition, miners often work in undignified conditions.

Yet diamonds continue to be "our best friends" as they are worth $81 billion worldwide. 65% of mined diamonds come from Africa which is known to have the worst working conditions with wages as low as $1 a day for miners. Children are also often forced to work, and sometimes physically abused. Many diseases are also contracted by workers due to poor hygiene and living conditions. Diamond mining also has many negative effects on the environment, including soil erosion, deforestation, and the destruction of ecosystems.

While progress has been made to clean up the diamond mining industry, there are many examples where greed continues to lead to the exploitation of men, women, and children. Human Rights Watch recently examined the diamond sourcing practices of 13 of the largest jewelry and watch manufacturers. The report found that many companies do not know where their diamonds are sourced and do not make sufficient efforts to ensure that human rights abuses have not occurred during the mining process.

Combined with this problem, the issue of "conflict diamonds" that fund guerrilla groups against governments also plays a significant role. Established in 2003, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) attempts to address this problem, but it only aims to prevent diamond revenues from going to rebel groups. Despite the "KPCS", a person could still be enslaved and tortured to extract diamonds and they could simply be marketed as diamonds not involved in funding conflicts. This may explain why some of us prefer to buy lab-grown diamonds rather than natural ones. Furthermore, the differences between the two are not visible to the naked eye.

SSome of us have made a more radical decision and simply found a new "best friend": Sustainable and ethical jewelry. Goodbye, precious stones, and welcome natural materials. The new trend is for meaningful designs with minimal impact on the environment.

MEANINGFUL JEWELRY: THE BOOMING TREND

Nowadays, jewelry designers focus on ethical and environmentally friendly designs; they prioritize eco-responsibility and sustainability. When you support a sustainable and ethical jewelry brand, it means you share the same values and concerns, making the jewelry you buy unique and more meaningful. Many choose handcrafted jewelry that combines natural materials with modern design. This jewelry extends your personality and reflects your interest in preserving nature and local traditions.

A NATURAL AND VIBRANT LOOK: THE LATEST ECO-FRIENDLY JEWELRY TRENDS.

Ethical bracelets: The trend is for voluminous and colorful bracelets with bright tones or pretty pastels. They are affordable and cheerful. They will brighten up your day.


Ethical earrings: Made from natural materials, such as Tagua nuts, also known as vegetable ivory, these earrings are perfect for a natural style adding a touch of simplicity and originality to any woman who wears them.


Ethical rings: The key to a sustainable look is to opt for statement rings that feature recycled or recovered wood. Bamboo, pine, eucalyptus, or other fast-growing woods work well; teak, rosewood and other endangered species are a no-go for the sustainable fashionista!


Ethical necklaces: Whether they are gold-plated or made of gold, whether they feature other materials or not, the trend points at meaningful designs. You don't have to give up wearing gold - just make sure your accessories are made of ethical gold. The charm of this jewelry lies in its strong personality.

Author: Sophy Miller, Fashion editor.
Date: April, 2025
Contact: @artesany.international

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