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Jewelry With a Conscience

Buying jewelry today is not as simple as floating from shop window to shop window until you find the right bauble for your style. Today's jewelry shopper needs to take into account the environmental and social impact that jewelry can have.  Diamonds and gold, two of the most sought read on!

Conflict Diamonds

The term "conflict diamonds" has started appearing in mainstream publications. Conflict diamonds are diamonds sold to finance millitary action; also known as "blood diamonds" they are considered an ethically reprehensible form of trade. More jewelers are getting their diamonds certified and fortunately the number of conflict diamonds in the general diamond supply is dropping. However, diamonds can be hard to trace, and some conflict diamonds still enter the United States every year. You have a few options if you want to avoid conflict diamonds.  Some jewelers certify that their diamonds are not conflict diamonds and have been purchased through reputable sources; for example, NoDirtyGold.com. Another alternative to choosing a jeweler based on the company policy on gold is to look into recycled gold jewelry. Like any other metal, gold can be melted down and reformed. Most jewelry in a store, however, is made from newly-mined gold.  There are a few online retailers that specialize in ecologically sensitive jewelry; consider shopping with one of these companies when you need a luxe present but want to keep your conscience clear.

What Can I Do?

At first it might seem like the only thing you'll be able to wear in good conscience is an organic hemp bracelet with sustainably-harvested wood beads, but there is a lot more to responsible jewelry than that. A good place to start is to read the websites of any jewelers you plan to shop from and find out if the company has a policy about ethically dubious jewelry. You can also consult the lists of companies on web pages like NoDirtyGold.com to find out which jewelers have signed agreements to use responsibly mined gold or gemstones. If this doesn't seem like you're doing enough, you still have a few options. Some smaller companies are devoted to responsible jewelry and use only recycled metals and responsibly mined (or laboratory-created) gemstones. There are only a few companies in this field at the moment, but the movement is growing. The ring to the left is from Green Karat, an online store that sells recycled gold and platinum jewelry. Another path is to buy estate or antique jewelry, or make a gift of a family heirloom. If you don't like the gold jewelry your family has, find out if you can have it melted down to make something new. The external links listed below will take you to a number of valuable sources of information.