Respecting the Earth through Jewelry

Keep this holiday season special and sustainable with Precious Earth’s Fine Jewelry. At Precious Earth, they believe in inside as well as outside beauty. Their pieces are made from recycled and renewed metals to limit the environmentally hazardous processes such as metal mining as well as preserve the limited natural resources. The diamonds that Precious Earth incorporates into their beautiful pieces are natural, social responsible, and high quality. Commitments In addition to the environmentally sustainable materials with which the jewelry is made, Precious Earth is devoted to empowering the people with whom they work. They work with the socially responsible Namibia Diamonds company, which supports workers in Namibia through education and fair wages. The Namibian workers are further empowered with more complex skills because the diamonds are cut and polished at the Namibian Diamond factory, thus keeping the labor local. Precious Earth is committed to both environmental and social sustainability. Engagement Rings The jewelry available from Precious Earth is incredibly beautiful. They offer an array of different types of jewelry, including many engagement rings. The holidays are a big time for proposals, so if this is on the horizon, be sure to check out Precious Earth’s incredible collection of engagement rings. This 18-karat white gold engagement ring is a wonderful example of the sophisticated and beautiful rings they have to offer. Silver Jewelry Precious Earth also creates incredibly complex and beautiful silver jewelry pieces. Check out their sterling silver zebra bangle inlayed with a single gem of environmentally friendly and conflict-free imperial dioside and featuring a “zebra stripe” design of raised silver. This bracelet is made of 100% recycled silver and contains the “little green gemstones” that are the signature of Precious Earth’s designs. In addition to the bangle, Precious Earth offers lovely matching zebra cuff links as well as matching rings. Other Great Ideas At Precious Earth, beautiful, sustainable jewelry is not just for woman. They have a “for men” section of their website, as well as a couture section which houses more elaborate designs. Check out this 18-karat World of Africa bracelet. It is beautifully hand carved with out of yellow gold and features 1.60 total carats of diamonds as well as their signature single diopside gem. So, for this holiday season or the next, think about giving the gift of sustainability and support with a beautiful piece from Precious Earth, whose tag line is, “sustainable luxury, transparent beauty.” Image Credit: Precious Earth

Brilliant Earth Diamonds are the Planet's Best Friend

As a leader in supplying conflict free diamond jewelry, Brilliant Earth Diamonds is a company also committed to spreading the word regarding socially conscious concerns of the world. With fascinating designs and master craftsmanship, wedding and anniversary rings sparkle on eco-friendly gold or platinum bands with breathtaking Canadian diamonds and fair trade sapphires. Donating 5% of profits to communities plagued by the diamond industry, the company also educates consumers by using the beauty and meanings behind their Brilliant Earth Reflections Collection, thus giving a voice to a handful of inspiring causes in the world. When purchasing an exquisite piece from this collection, you'll support the greater good…and do so in style. Silver Brilliant Earth Diggers Pendant If you've seen the movie, Blood Diamond (with the very own eco-conscious, Leonardo DiCaprio), then you're already familiar with the plight of diamond diggers residing in diamond-rich regions in Africa. Death, famine, child abuse and brutal violence are just some of the hardships that fall upon the shoulders of unwilling participants in a vicious cycle of power and greed. The Digger’s Pendant serves as a reminder of the struggle by encouraging the purchase of fine jewelry through safe and fair trade practices. Black oxidized silver is used to highlight the teardrop imprint of the palm belonging to a diamond digger – thus the name, Digger’s Pendant. A small conflict free diamond completes the design. Sea of Cortez Pearl Pendant This cultured organic pearl pendant with milgrained diamond accent is absolutely enchanting as it hangs from an 18K white gold cable twist chain. Originating from the Sea of Cortez (the Gulf of Mexico), the pearls are a product of a pearl farm established by a group of marine biologists focused on preservation and environmental safety. Chocó Fair Trade Pendant For an eco-conscious 18K yellow gold pendent, the Chocó Fair Trade Pendant offers two decorative sides hailing from what is known as the first true sources of fair-trade gold from Oro Verde. Upholding environmentally responsible harvesting practices, cooperatives in the Chocó region in Colombia, South America produce limited quantities of this exclusive pendant – a treasured find in a world where fair trade gold is limited. With a hand-hammered finish and eye-catching, pre-Colombian petroglyph pattern, the Chocó Fair Trade Pendant allows you to easily make a fashion statement for a good cause. Grape Garnet Dangles To dress the ears in elegant classic style, consider the Silver Grape Garnet Dangles featured in the Brilliant Earth Reflections Collection. Comprised of recycled sterling silver with small Canadian diamond accents, complete your look with the more contemporary Grape Garnet pendant. Image Credits: Brilliant Earth

Connoisseur Spotlight: Alberto Parada, Eco-Friendly Jewelry Designer

One of the most satisfying aspects of working for The Green Connoisseur is having the chance to get to know individuals who are wildly talented - and who use their talents to increase awareness and eco-consciousness. I recently got a chance to learn a little more about one of those individuals. Please allow me to introduce Alberto Parada... How Alberto Got Started Alberto spent many years in the jewelry industry as a buyer and appraiser. He often worked with customers to create something new and unique from jewelry that they no longer wore, and this inspired Alberto to create custom jewelry. In May of 1999, Alberto opened his own boutique doing just that; creating one of a kind designs for his customers. Alberto began researching and creating eco-friendly jewelry after an eco-conscious customer asked him about making 'green' engagement rings. This customer wanted a conflict-free diamond, but also wanted to know how their ring could be created to be totally eco-friendly. Alberto was soon researching gold mining and eco-friendly practices in jewelry making. He realized that the only way to create a truly eco-friendly piece of jewelry was to use gold from reclaimed pieces. So, he began working locally with individuals who could guarantee that the gold used in his pieces was reclaimed and that no further harm was being done to the earth in order to procure it. One thing led to another and soon, Alberto was creating sensational and beautiful jewelry that was not taking a toll on the earth! How Alberto Gets Inspired Alberto was born in New York City, but has spent a lot of time in his parents' native South America. Alberto travels frequently to Paraguay and Uruguay, and the cultural background has provided him with the opportunity to bring together the best of both worlds. Alberto infuses boldness and delicacy into his jewelry with a harmony that is almost musical. His rich designs are American with hints of exotic culture, mainstream with a rare edge, and polished but with a raw element of unhindered and wild beauty. Alberto says, "My designs are inspired by my travels and influenced by European and South American designers. The bold colors of the gems that come from South America inspire me to create pieces that stand out...bold yet elegant." Favorites... Alberto told me that his favorite collection is his new 'Rose Gold Collection,' which features open spaces and architectural design. He specifically loves the square Rose Gold pendant featuring diamonds on both sides. I'd have to say that my absolute favorite is the Tulipan ring (above) - clean and elegant but so dazzling. No matter what your favorite is, there is no denying that each and every Alberto Parada piece is gorgeous, bold, fashionable and breathtaking. Of course, you know what we love best - the fact that Alberto creates so much beauty without taking any of it away from the earth. Amazing work, Alberto!

Eco-Friendly Jewelry: Tips to Add More 'Green' to Your Jewelry Box

Accessories truly are the icing on the cake. Jewelry has the power to bring an entire outfit together and create an attractive, polished look. Whether you’re the kind of individual who enjoys making a simple statement with just one or two pieces, or you prefer a more flashy finish to your daily attire – eco-friendly jewelry can make you feel great about your accessory choices. You’d be surprised to learn that being ‘green’ doesn’t mean you have to compromise one bit when it comes to your bling. Diamonds, Gold and Silver If you’re a fan of diamonds, gold and/or silver - you’ll be delighted to know that you can make choices in jewelry that really make a difference. For instance, Brilliant Earth features stunning diamond, gold, and silver jewelry that not only helps you look amazing – it helps our planet and the animals, plant life, and other people we share the planet with. These diamonds are harvested from Canadian mines which monitor local wildlife and aquatics to ensure that neither is disturbed. Brilliant Earth’s partner companies provide them with recycled gold and silver for their exquisite pieces to reduce ‘dirty’ mining – and all of their diamonds are conflict-free. A portion of profits also goes to help African communities which have suffered due to conflict diamonds. Unique and Vintage Jewelry For those of you who appreciate jewelry that is artistic, unique, and features hints of days gone by – there are many possibilities. KYYOTE is one company bringing eco-friendly choices to individuals who love staying in style as much as they love the planet. KYYOTE uses rescued exotic woods, found objects and items that others would consider ‘trash.’ Once these materials are in the designer’s hands, they are transformed into wearable art for sophisticated tastes. Some of the materials found in KYYOTE pieces include rescued ebony wood, organic and humane feathers, and Bakelite plastic. Natural Jewelry If you enjoy a more natural, untamed look for your accessories – why not choose jewelry that Mother Nature has provided? Eco Artistic Products is a company offering a wide array of accessories created from natural products; exotic wood that has fallen to rain forest floors, coconuts, seeds, and other natural items. From beautiful hair clips and necklaces to beaded bracelets and belts – Eco Artistic Products creates eco-friendly jewelry for the nature-loving spirit. One of the greatest things about Eco Artistic Products is that each and every piece is unique – no two pieces are identical. So, when you wear it, you’re wearing a functional and unique piece of art that no one else will own. Each of these choices is a great one for your jewelry and accessories – and there are thousands of other companies that create eco-friendly and beautiful products which will complete your look and reflect your own personal style and taste. Photos Courtesy of www.brilliantearth.com, www.kyyote.com and www.ecoartisticproducts.com