14 Days of Green Valentines

 

Gift Idea #3
Ethically Sourced Jewelry  

Before you purchase your valentine a nifty new bauble, you might want to check from where it was sourced.  The movie Blood Diamond documented how diamonds are mined in African war zones and sold to finance conflicts and thereby profit warlords and diamond companies across the world (hence the name).  But that is not the only issue.  According to Green America, gemstone mining can be hazardous to the health of workers and communities alike. Diamond miners often work in cramped and unsafe conditions in tunnels, and dust from the mines can cause respiratory diseases in workers and residents of nearby communities. Because mining involves moving large amounts of earth, it can also alter local ecosystems and damage watersheds. And, although many of the countries where gems are mined have laws setting a minimum age for workers in hazardous occupations, the International Labour Organization has also documented child labor in mines. 

So how can you be sure you won't feel guilty about your purchase?  Choose a jeweler that cares.  Bario-Neal is a woman-owned company in Philadelphia that handcrafts its jewelry from reclaimed precious metals, ethically-sourced stones, and low-impact, environmentally conscious practices.  They use 100% reclaimed precious metals whenever possible, derived from recycled jewelry or industrial materials.  In addition, they offer conflict-free diamonds as well as recycled diamonds that had initially been introduced into the jewelry supply chain for sale to the consumer and were then re-sold to a jeweler, refiner or other agent.  In addition, you can select from ethically sourced gemstones that are closely tracked from mine to market. This ensures that every gem has been handled according to strict environmental, labor, health, and safety protocols, and has been handled in a tight chain of custody which eliminates the possibility for treated or synthetic gems to be introduced into the supply chain.  

Even though they are in Philadelphia, they work with clients all over the world.  In addition, boutiques in Canada, Japan, California and Illinois and Oregon stock their jewelry.