Recycled gold. Fair Trade. Ethically-sourced stones. These jewels have a sustainable glow you’ll love.
| Items in this article are hand-selected and vetted for their commitment to minimizing their impact on the environment. If you purchase one of these items we may or may not earn a commission. |
In the age of the conscious shopper, why not invest in sustainable jewelry brands to go with all the sustainable fashion brands that we’ll slip on this season? The jewelry industry creates just as big an environmental impact as fashion does. With claims of slave and child labor in the gold and diamond mining industries, sometimes those symbols of love aren’t as beautiful and loving as we think they are. Yet, just as the fashion industry is rethinking its practices and production model to become more sustainable and ethical, so is the jewelry industry.
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With investments in recycled materials and sustainably sourced stones, these brands are seeking out new solutions to create the baubles of our dreams. Whether they are made in-house by small teams or artisans that are part of The Fair Trade Organization, each of these sustainable jewelry brands is dedicated to minimizing their impact, doing better, and creating beautiful pieces that really are something to celebrate.
Soko
This women-led ethical jewelry brand connects with marginalized Kenyan artisans to create a brand that is ‘profit with a purpose’. This B-Corp company’s minimalist gold jewelry has been worn by celebrities like Megan Markle for their bold designs that are meant to empower women.
Environmental Impact: Soko works on a unique supply chain structure, one where they communicate directly with individual artisans through cell phones. This allows for independence and chance for artisans to work around their own schedules. Materials like recycled brass and used in pieces coated in silver and gold. Also, water recycling ensures that fewer resources are used and wasted.
Price Range: $58 for a ring to $200 for a necklace
Bario Neal
The Philadelphia-based jewelry brand is the brainchild of Anna Bario and Page Neal. In 2008, the duo crafted their fine jewelry brand with sustainable initiatives such as responsible sourcing and fair wages and creative designs fusing the classic with abstract.
Environmental Impact: Bario Neal releases their sustainability report annually detailing the company’s sustainable initiatives, responsible sourcing, supplier performance, charitable giving, goals, and challenges. Between 2021 and 2022 the company increased its use of fairmined gold by 93%, introduced SCS Certified Sustainability-rated lab-grown diamonds, and donated 13% of profits. For 2023 the brand included a circularity and resale program.
Price Range: Rings range from $1300 to $22,000
Loft & Daughter
Loft & Daughter, an ethical and sustainable jewelry and lifestyle brand, came to life in 2017. This brand exists to create maximum social and economic uplift for disadvantaged artisan communities, with minimal environmental footprint. Their unique designs are inspired by the beauty of distant places, and each piece has its own story behind it, which you will be able to find in its description.
Environmental Impact: Loft & Daughter is a transparent brand that is honest about its practices. It doesn’t claim to be perfect, and there is still a long way to go on its sustainability journey. For its homewares, the use of cotton has been eliminated in favor of organic cotton and other vintage textiles which will be explored. It will also develop fully recycled plastic PET cushions (front & back) for its next collection. In regards to jewelry, they are made with silver and gold vermeil. The jewelry pouches are GOTS certified cotton and dyed with natural plant-based dyes
Price Range: $49 – $147
Yam
Founded by designer Morgan Thomas, Yam is a blend of vintage beads and pearls tied into gold and silver chains. Bold and dainty, the brand makes a nod to the past cast into the future to create pieces with just the right amount of spalsh to upgrade your daily look.
Environmental Impact: Upcycled metals and vintage stones are used throughout Yam’s collections alongside shiny new gold and ethically sourced stones. All items are made in in-house at the Astoria, NY studio to minimize gas emissions and to ensure fair labor practices. And, each piece is shipped in biodegradable and recycled packaging.
Price Range: $30 for a ring to $260 for pearl earrings
KBH Jewels
KBH Jewels founder Kimberly Berry Haisch, began her jewelry line when she realized that there were few ethical and sustainable options for fine jewelry. So, she put her entrepreneurial spirit to good use and began her own line of heritage pieces made from recycled gold, sustainable lab-grown diamonds and ethically cultured South Sea pearls.
Environmental Impact: Using materials like 100% recycled gold, and sustainably grown diamonds and cultured pearls KBH is conscious jewelry brand that focuses on reclaimed methods. They also partner with third party organizations like Mercury Free Mining Challenge, Ethical Metalsmiths and Earthworks to further promote ethical and sustainable practices in the jewelry industry.
Price Range: $500 for a classic bracelet to $3500 for a long pearl necklace
Moonstoned
Elizabeth Potts combined her love of history with heirloom jewelry when she founded Moonstoned. It’s an online shop where she features the world’s coolest vintage baubles and each comes with their own unique story. From a 1920s turquoise ring to a Gothic style necklace, each piece is a unique dash of luxury for you to wear and keep forever.
Environmental Impact: Each cameo ring or sapphire brooch is a one-of-a-kind vintage find. That means all metals and gems are pre-loved, sourced from around the globe and come with their own story. The luxury pieces are shipped in recyclable mailers to further reuse what was once loved.
Price Range: $300 for a ring to $5000+
Catbird
Brooklyn’s cool girl spot for fine jewelry is also ethically and responsibly made. From their pearl rings strung on silk strings to unisex gold necklaces, each piece is handmade in the Catbird studio. With prices that are mostly under $200, Catbird is a sparkling first choice for building a jewelry collection.
Environmental Impact: Catbird sources from vendors that use a mix of recycled and ethically sourced gold, pearls and other stones to ensure that human rights are met and that the least harm is caused to the environment. Along with other sustainable jewelry brands, they are part of the No Dirty Gold campaign pledging to help reform the unethical side of the jewelry industry.
Price Range: $25 flower necklace to $750 diamond necklace
Automic Gold
This New York-based shop specializes in dainty gold pieces that are made to be worn every day and by every gender and sexual orientation. With their slogan, ‘queer owned and proud’ slogan this is one of those sustainable jewelry brands that also puts a heavy focus on representation. That means that their lookbook showcases models with diverse aesthetics and images are never photoshopped to allow their true beauty to shine through.
Environmental Impact: Automic Gold is SCS certified for their 100% recycled gold. They also use reclaimed natural diamonds and ethically mined white opals. When it comes to who makes this jewelry brand, each piece is handcrafted to the highest labor standards in Chelsea, NYC.
Price Range: $126 Bar Earrings to $255 for a Gold Necklace
Omi Woods
Founder of Omi, Ashley Alexis McFarlane combines her Jamaican heritage with her love for everyday jewelry. From her coin necklaces to charm bracelet, each piece is handmade by artisans from metals sourced from small suppliers to ensure that all aspects of the supply chain are ethical. ‘Omi’, the term for water in Yoruba combines the intricate artwork from the past with modern elegance for pieces that you’ll want to be your next heirlooms.
Environmental Impact: Only refined and fair-trade African gold is used. All other metals are conflict-free to ensure fair wages and the safety of the miners involved. Produced in small batches, each piece is handmade working with artisans to ensure fair practices.
Price Range: $79 for a ring to $3500 for a necklace
