Sunday, March 21, 2010

The True Cost of a Diamond...

I absolutely love the simple sparkle of my engagement rings - 2 thin milgrain bands; one traditional gold, the other white gold, both lined in diamonds. When Matt and I started talking about engagement rings, I knew I wanted something modest and simple...classic with a hint of vintage flair...which is exactly what I got :)


Along with style, I wanted to make sure to only purchase rings that were conflict free - ethically and socially responsibly mined - knowing without a doubt that by wearing this ring, it did not come at great human or environmental cost.


And so the search began...after much online research and going into various local jewelers (Tiffany, Robbins Bro's, 23rd Street Jewelers, etc.) the only jeweler I found who could truly guarantee that their diamonds and gems are 100% ethically and socially responsible, is Brilliant Earth based in San Francisco (many jewelers will show you a print out sheet of paper that claims their diamonds are "conflict free" but anyone can create that piece of paper!).



Brilliant Earth is AMAZING...it was such a lovely experience purchasing our rings from the incredibly kind, passionate and helpful jewelers who work for the company. They do not mine in countries that have been devestated due to the diamond industry (most of their diamonds are mined in Canada under the most environmentally conscious practices). They donate 5% of their profits to help communities in Africa that have suffered from unethical practices in the jewelry industry, and they strive to create a long-term and sustainable approach to community development.


Also, they use recycled gold - "By using recycled metals, we decrease the global demand for newly mined gold and diminish the environmentally and socially destructive effects of dirty gold and other metal mining practices." - Brilliant Earth

I hope you will help spread the word and pass this info on to anyone you know who is in the market for diamonds or gold. Brilliant Earth can do almost anything custom, and they have all of the same designs that you can get from your top diamond dealers - Tiffany, etc. And they are sooo pleasant to work with...I can't wait to get my wedding band!

Happy Sunday xoxo