Ethics in Jewelry Making // Part 2

Environmental Impact of Precious Metals and Gemstones

The impact that mining of these materials has on the environment should not go overlooked. 

I mentioned in a previous post that in regards to the newer collections of pieces, you wont see much, or any at all, materials that are made of sterling silver or gold. A while back, I was prompted through a book I was reading to question where some of the materials that I was using or was planning on using were coming from. This inquiry led me to read more about the impact of mining gold and silver, along with precious gemstones, can have on the environment. One article that I read that I found particularly helpful in my understanding was one written by Doug Guthrie entitled "The Environmental Impact of Mining Precious Metals and Gemstones: The Case for Putting Jewelry Back into Circulation". The full article can be found here (it isn't too long and is worth the read for anyone interested in more details).

Of the many things discussed, here are some of the things that stood out to me:

• On average, it takes 20 tons of mine waste to produce one ounce of gold.
• In addition to that, the amount of gold that can be found within ore (the rock that bears the gold) is decreasing, meaning that it now takes more mining and waste to produce the amount of gold it did in the past.
• Chemicals are required to process and refine the precious metals, and these chemicals, including mercury and cyanide to name a few, can then leech into the environment, causing contamination.
• Many of these mines exist in sensitive ecosystems. Although some mining companies have the intent of restoring the land after they are done mining in that area, it usually is ineffective and the land is forever marred. 

These are just a few of the many reasons that I do not use precious metals or gemstones in the pieces I create. The good news is that there are those in the jewelry industry that are recognizing this problem as well, and are using recycled gold, silver, and gemstones to make their work. I will in fact soon be designing a small collection that incorporates 100% sterling silver wire. I am really looking forward to sharing it with you.

Fun Little Photoshoot

We got to have a photoshoot with a lovely lady and friend, Sarah. Isn't she a gem?! Check out the Etsy shop for more detailed photos and descriptions of each necklace. 

Ethics in Jewelry Making // Part 1

Some of you may have noticed that the new jewelry designs on the website do not have any precious metal or gemstone materials.  And the previous collection included a few elements of them here or there, but it was very limited.

 

In designing, I want to create pieces that are beautiful to look at and an enjoyment to wear. I think that the beauty of a piece is more that what we see, it also includes how a it was created and what materials were used. A jewelry piece may be beautifully designed, but if it is made of materials that were collected in a way that is harmful to the environment and was further processed in by individuals who are being treated in an unethical or harmful work environment, then that’s not very beautiful in my mind.

Over the past months I have been leaning more about the issue of ethical sourcing in regards to jewelry designing. The further on I go, the more I have been striving to be thoughtful about the supplies that I am incorporating into the designs.

Earth day is April 22^nd, and in honor of that, I hope to share more details with you in regards to this subject. Check back soon or follow this blog to make sure you don’t miss any of these important posts in the near future.