Why Investing in Sustainable, Ethical Jewelry Makes Such a Difference

If you’ve been shopping for fine jewelry online, you might have noticed the wealth of sustainable fine jewelry companies out there, like näas Jewelry. However, unless you’ve done a lot of research on your own, you might not know why buying jewelry with lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold is such an important alternative to traditional jewelry with organic gemstones.

That’s why the team from näas Jewelry is here to explain why it’s so important to invest in ethical and sustainable jewelry, especially these days.

What Does “Sustainable” & “Ethical” Mean in Terms of the Jewelry Industry?

When it comes to the jewelry industry, sustainability means that the gemstones and metals used in the creation of jewelry produce as little harm to the environment and Earth’s natural resources as possible. By using recycled metals and gemstones, sustainable jewelers can drastically reduce harm to the Earth’s natural resources.

The term ethical has more to do with the communities in which gemstones and metals are mined. It’s no secret that many countries around the world employ unethical practices, like forced labor and other things that negatively impact native communities to extract gemstones. Ethical gemstone and metal mining mean that no one in the supply chain is harmed and everyone has safe working conditions and is paid fairly.

What Happens When Unethical & Unsustainable Practices are Employed?

Several years ago, an article in the New Yorker highlighted the poor conditions and unethical practices taking place in Brazil, chiefly among its Kayapo tribe. Not only was the environment being destroyed through the razing of the Amazon rainforest, but the refining process polluted the area’s rivers and many communities in the surrounding area were adversely affected.

To combat these negative effects on native communities, such as poor wages and unsafe working conditions on top of the environmental factors mentioned above, the Kimberley Process was implemented in the early 2000s. The process was implemented to ensure that all diamonds, metals, and gemstones mined had clear origins and were ethically sourced. However, this process failed to meet the standards and in some cases, it was later found that many of the same unsafe and unethical practices were being continued.

So What’s the Solution?

As mentioned above, lab-grown diamonds, and gemstones, as well as recycled metals have become a much more attractive solution when it comes to the socio-economic, environmental, and ethical concerns surrounding traditional gem mining. The most important thing to note about lab-grown diamonds is that when compared to traditionally mined diamonds, they’re identical in appearance, chemical makeup, and density. They’re simply grown in a lab in a much shorter amount of time rather than deep inside the Earth.

How Are Lab-Grown Diamonds Made?

There are two distinct methods to making lab-grown diamonds, the first being the High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) method, which mimics the way organic diamonds are formed in a much shorter period of time. The HPHT method involves placing a diamond seed inside a highly-pressurized system, where it is then exposed to Carbon and other elements to form a larger diamond.

The other preferred method for creating lab-grown diamonds is the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method, in which a seed is placed in a high-pressure chamber along with carbon-rich gasses that collect upon the seed and create a diamond.

How Has Technology Improved Over the Years?

In recent years, the technology to create lab-grown diamonds has drastically improved, enabling companies to grow higher-quality diamonds in a much shorter period of time. This has led to lab-grown diamonds being more highly-sought in the industry both for their efficiency, as well as their price point when compared to traditionally mined gemstones. The reason that lab-grown diamonds have become so popular, in addition to all of the sustainability and ethical concerns, is because that there is much more transparency when it comes to lab-grown diamonds.

How Can I Be Sure the Diamond I Get Was Truly Grown in a Lab?

Some might have concerns over the authenticity of lab-grown diamonds. Thankfully, this can be easily addressed. Although lab-grown diamonds and organic ones appear identical to the naked eye, every lab-grown diamond boasts an inscription and report from one of today’s two leading authentication and appraisal agencies, either the International Gemological Institute or the Gemological Institute of America, providing further transparency.

Where Can I Buy Lab-Grown Diamonds Online?

Another important thing to note about our collections is that not only do all of our pieces contain lab-grown diamonds and gemstones but also recycled gold that can be easily traced back to its source. This means any piece of fine jewelry purchased from us will be ethical, sustainable, and have a minimal environmental impact.

Contact us for more info about lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold!

If you want to learn more about our specific collections or the inspiration behind starting näas Jewelry, contact us online today or call 6199883993. We’re committed to creating beautiful pieces of jewelry that are functional and meant to be worn every day, instead of simply being saved for special occasions. So, contact us now to learn more!