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These jewelry brands are committed to ethical and responsible materials, from recycled gold to lab-grown diamonds.
Gold jewelry has always been more than just a fashion statement; it’s a long-term investment and often carries sentimental value, whether it’s an heirloom piece, a wedding gift, or a favorite everyday accessory like gold quartz earrings.
The global jewelry market is booming. It’s expected to reach nearly $267 billion by 2027. Each year, approximately 90 million carats of diamonds and 1,600 tons of gold are mined for jewelry around the world, according to the human rights non-profit Human Rights Watch.
But when it comes to jewelry, all that glitters is not gold. Industrial jewelry mining for the likes of diamonds and precious metals causes a number of environmental issues, including land erosion, pollution, and waste. The industry is also rife with human rights violations, routinely exploiting children and Indigenous people for labor.
Spurred by a growing awareness of the impacts of their shopping choices, consumers are increasingly prioritizing ethical, social, and environmental standards when it comes to their purchasing habits.
A 2021 survey by First Insight and Warton’s Baker Retailing Center found that 68 percent of U.S. shoppers are willing to spend more on sustainable products, up from 58 percent in 2019. In an effort to meet the growing demand for ethical jewelry, brands are increasingly opting to use conflict-free stones, recycled metals, and other repurposed jewelry components.
Ethical jewelry brands
Want to incorporate more ethical jewelry pieces into your collection? Here are some of the best eco and luxury brands to shop for recycled jewelry.
Savannah Friedkin
Savannah Friedkin’s fine jewelry brand only launched in spring 2024, but it’s already becoming a leader in the conversation about sustainable materials. Friedkin’s stunning collections feature 100 percent certified recycled precious metals and climate-neutral lab-grown diamonds. The label distinguishes itself as one of the earliest adopters of the SCS-007 Sustainability Rated Diamonds certification, a comprehensive standard developed by SCS Global Services. Friedkin personally audits suppliers to ensure ethical practices, including renewable energy use and fair labor standards. Her commitment to transparency addresses the lack of traceability in the jewelry industry.
The brand currently offers three collections: Broken, Emergence, and SAV. Broken symbolizes resilience through designs featuring intentional cracks. Emergence draws inspiration from plants growing in unexpected places, representing growth from adversity. SAV focuses on simplicity and wearability. Friedkin’s mission is to spark conversations about sustainable jewelry production and to celebrate women’s unique journeys.
Jean Dousset
From the great-great-grandson of Cartier comes modern jewelry designs featuring lab-grown diamonds and upcycled gold. Jean Dousset is invested in an ethical supply chain and brings that front and center with manufactured diamonds, something Cartier and other legacy brands have yet to embrace.
According to Dousset, it’s not just the human rights violations that make lab diamonds a great choice — they’re more affordable, too. And with the designer’s incredible eye for detail, each piece is a story in the making that you’ll want to hand down for generations to come.
Vrai
Vrai has built its brand around lab-grown diamonds produced using renewable energy, positioning itself as one of the more transparent players in the fine jewelry space. Its diamonds are grown by the Leonardo DiCaprio-backed Diamond Foundry, a San Francisco–based company that uses plasma reactors powered by certified renewable energy, avoiding the environmental and human rights concerns tied to traditional diamond mining.
Vrai emphasizes supply chain traceability and made-to-order production, which helps limit excess inventory and waste. Its settings are crafted using recycled gold and platinum, and the brand publishes clear information about its sourcing and production standards.
Plum Diamonds
With a focus on lab-grown diamonds, Plum highlights them as a direct alternative to mined stones, highlighting both environmental and ethical advantages. By using lab-grown stones, Plum Diamonds reduces the need for large-scale land excavation and significantly lowers water and energy demands compared to conventional mining.
Plum Diamonds’ messaging centers on accessibility and transparency, making clear distinctions between mined and lab-grown stones while maintaining a fine-jewelry aesthetic. For consumers who want traditional designs with a clearer ethical profile, Plum Diamonds offers a more responsible entry point into diamond jewelry.
Pandora
Pandora has made a notable shift toward more responsible materials, most visibly through its decision to move exclusively to lab-grown diamonds for its diamond jewelry collections. The move positions Pandora as one of the largest global jewelry brands to fully commit to lab-grown diamonds at scale, signaling a broader industry shift rather than a niche offering.
Beyond diamonds, Pandora has committed to using 100 percent recycled silver and gold across its jewelry, significantly reducing the environmental impact tied to metal extraction. The brand has also set science-based climate targets aligned with the Paris Agreement and publicly reports on progress related to emissions, sourcing, and labor standards. For shoppers seeking more accessible fine jewelry with clearer ethical and environmental guardrails, Pandora represents a mainstream brand taking measurable, verifiable steps toward lower-impact production.
Oscar Massin
Revived 19th-century luxury jewelry label Oscar Massin is bridging the old and the new. It’s taking inspiration from the legacy French jewelry maker who brought elegance to Europe before lying dormant for more than a century following the founder’s death. Now, Luximpact is bringing the name back to life but with a commitment to sustainability. The brand’s jewelry is made entirely from recycled and reclaimed gold and lab-grown diamonds.
“We’re confident there’s a new clientele for rediscovering brands from the past who are acting at the highest level in terms of responsibility,” Luximpact co-founder Frédéric de Narp said of the launch. Its earned support from Kate Hudson and Rachel Zoe Ventures and is sure to be a staple in your wardrobe, too.
The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint has been making coins for the U.K. for more than a thousand years. It’s now released its first-ever luxury jewelry line, made from gold that’s sourced from upcycled electronic waste. It’s the first jewelry collection made entirely from e-waste-sourced gold, according to the company. The 886 Collection is named after the Royal Mint’s establishment date and is designed by jewelry designer Dominic Jones.
“Each piece is crafted from solid gold or silver, using ancient techniques more commonly used in coin and medal-making,” the Royal Mint said in a statement. “Precious metals are struck, forged and pulled rather than cast, increasing the density of the metal and making it 30 percent stronger.”
Prada
Italian luxury label Prada has ventured into the world of fine jewelry, launching Eternal Gold, a collection of pieces all made from upcycled gold.
“Our aim is to create an emotional journey — particularly through the made-to-order pieces — one that can continue throughout the lives [of our clients] and be passed on to their children,” Timothy Iwata, Prada’s new jewelry director, told Harper’s Bazaar.
Like its commitment to recycled materials throughout its clothing, the brand is committed to making its jewelry the most sustainable option, too.
Otiumberg
Founded in 2016, the siblings-led U.K.-based jewelry label Otiumberg prioritizes ethical sourcing, including lab-grown diamonds and upcycled gold. The label recently earned its B Corp status, too, for its priority on environmental, social, and governance responsibility. With a focus on timeless classics, Otiumberg’s jewelry is eternally in fashion, and its deep-rooted ethics will make any piece an instant favorite.
BaYou With Love
Founded in 2017 by actor, musician, and designer Nikki Reed, Bayou With Love carries ethical fashion, home, and beauty products, as well as accessories and jewelry made with sustainably created diamonds and recycled gold.
In 2018, Reed partnered with technology giant Dell to turn e-waste into luxurious pieces using gold recovered from computer motherboards. “Bayou With Love was created to bring greater awareness to the human impact on our planet and show that beautiful items can come from sustainably sourced and recycled materials,” explained Reed in a press release. “By recycling gold that was once considered ‘waste,’ Dell and I are working to create an environment where we continuously reuse resources and strive for zero waste.”
Mejuri
In the words of Founder, Noura Sakkijha, Mejuri is all about “women celebrating themselves”. All of its pieces are timeless, yet with a contemporary flair, and a price range that runs from affordable to luxury. One of Mejuri’s top priorities is traceability, which is why it prioritizes working with suppliers certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council. And as of 2021, 100 percent of its gold is completely traceable. A large portion of its gold materials is also recycled.
Catbird
Established in Brooklyn in 2004, Catbird is a veteran of the ethical jewelry game. Its team of 40 artisan jewelers all work on-site crafting accessories meant for everyday wear and more special occasions. Catbird is verified by The Good Trade as only using conflict-free stones, providing fair wages to staff, and including recycled materials in its collections.
Hello Adorn
Founded by husband-and-wife team Jess and Adam Gardner, Hello Adorn is filled with adorable earrings like its best-selling tiny twists, as well as rings, necklaces, and more, made from pure gold and silver, and precious gems. The company says it has supported “hundreds” of organizations with in-kind donations as well as a portion of sales and in-person events. On the first Friday of each month, ten percent of purchases made at its brick-and-mortar location in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, support the organization of the month. Specific collections are designed for causes, too; the Dolly Necklace, for example, symbolizes body positivity and 50 percent of proceeds donated to families battling breast cancer.
Dana Rebecca Designs
You’ll feel incredible wearing the stunning jewelry from Dana Rebecca Designs. Not only is every piece absolutely gorgeous, but the label has prioritized philanthropic efforts since its launch in 2007. The Chicago-based jewelry serves on the board of the city’s Boys and Girls Club and has supported numerous other organizations over the years.
Bagatiba
Another Los Angeles-based jewelry brand, Bagatiba specializes in timeless and handcrafted sustainable pieces. The brand spearheads closed-loop upcycling and sustainability initiatives, which include managing energy consumption, using recycled metals, eliminating single-use plastics, and using recyclable and biodegradable packaging.
“We care about transparency, authenticity, sustainability, and ethics,” Jessie Andrews, the company’s founder and CEO, explained. “In order for the world to change, we need to work together. Sustainability is imperative.”
Ecksand Jewelry
Ecksand considers itself a pioneer in sustainable jewelry. “Every year, mining companies dump 180 million tons of waste into our oceans,” the company says on its website. “Let’s change the tides.”
Everything the Montreal-based jeweler makes uses recycled gold. In addition to lab-grown diamonds, it also uses recycled diamonds “of the highest quality” as an eco-conscious option. “Since recycled diamonds are reclaimed and not mined or produced, they leave virtually zero environmental and social impact,” the company says. Whether buying what’s on offer or building a custom piece, Ecksand helps you wear your values in the most sustainable and luxurious way possible.
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