Diamond stud earrings can still be a girl’s best friend, so long as they’re sustainable diamond earrings.
You see, beautiful bling is often linked with not-so-beautiful armed conflicts, unsafe working conditions, child labor, and the end of ecosystems. This is why buying your bling from sustainable and ethical jewelry brands is all the more important.
So, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. If you don’t, we’re showing off our favorite sustainable jewelry paving the way towards a fairer and hands-down more beautiful industry. These are true diamonds in the rough.
As we refresh our articles in the coming months, we’ll be employing our new Brand Rating System to extend what we look for to 22 criteria including material sourcing, ethical supply chains and product quality. To learn more about this new system, take a look at our explainer here.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
The Most Eco-Friendly Jewelry Brands For Sustainable Sparkles
ABLE bridges the gap between attainABLE and sustainABLE with their affordable sustainable jewelry—without the trade-off between consumer affordability and fair wages for artisans. Most pieces can be customized, making them personalizABLE too.
For unique materials and semi-precious stones set in one of the most sustainable metals around (recycled and fully recycable brass), flock to Raven + Lily.
Meanwhile, Catbird has us pawing over their exceptional-quality jewelry made from recycled materials. Their beautiful engagement rings are suitable for all eco-friendly weddings.
Index: Ethical & Sustainable Jewelry Manufacturers
- ABLE Jump to brand
- Brilliant Earth Jump to brand
- Mejuri Jump to brand
- Soko Jump to brand
- Catbird Jump to brand
- Rays&Riches Jump to brand
- Raven + Lily Jump to brand
- Aurate Jump to brand
- Praxis Jump to brand
ABLE
About ABLE
Price Range: $15–$180
ABLE is filled with dangle and hoop earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and personalized pieces made from high-quality materials.
If you’re looking for an intimate gift idea that screams “I got this just for you”, their 14k Gold Personalized Cuff is a golden choice. The best part is, their affordable jewelry will leave you with plenty left in your holiday gifting budget.
ABLE’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
ABLE’s affordable jewelry collection features 14K gold fill, vermeil (a type of high-quality silver plated with gold), brass, nickel-free sterling silver (from recycled silver), and 18K gold plating.
To achieve that sustainable shine, the conscious jewelry brand uses natural solutions rather than the harsh chemicals that are commonly used in jewelry manufacturing. We’re reaching out to confirm further details on where these materials are sourced, though they come from US-based vendors.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Each ethically made jewelry piece is handcrafted in Nashville, Tennessee with fair labor practices. Transparent with their lowest wages, they released their Nashville wages (which increased the number of those receiving a living wage here from 1/3 to almost 100%).
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The eco-friendly jewelry brand is actively reducing their reliance on individual paper jewelry boxes—along with repurposing shipping boxes and utilizing recycled mailers. All metal scraps from the production process are sent to a refinery to be melted down into a new sheet of conflict-free gold or silver.
Brilliant Earth
About Brilliant Earth
Price Range: $75–$79,950
From wedding rings to tennis bracelets, Brilliant Earth’s sustainable fine jewelry shines bright like a (conflict-free) diamond. They make earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, but their stunning diamond and gemstone rings are where they really ring in as one of the best ethical jewelry brands.
Take a look at their top wedding rings to see what we mean. The Olivetta Diamond Ring, with its round and pear-shaped diamonds scattered along the band, is our personal favorite.
If you don’t carat-all for their designs, you can custom create your own ring, necklace, or earrings with the sustainable jewelry materials of your choice (like repurposed carbon.)
Brilliant Earth’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Considering their fine jewelry lines are made from 98% recycled gold and 97% recycled silver, Brilliant Earth thinks recycled metal is the most ethical metal. Recycled platinum is also used, though less frequently due to limited availability.
The rest of their precious metals, like their tungsten, meteorite, and tantalum, are responsibly sourced, many from RMI-certified mines. A small collection of fair-mined gold is also used.
Meanwhile, their selection of non-mined diamonds and conflict-free stones is unmatched, most of them being lab-grown or recycled.
Twinkling with transparency, their “Beyond conflict-free” diamond jewelry uses blockchains to seamlessly track their journey down the supply chain.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Responsible Jewelry Council-certified and Fair-mined licensed, Brilliant Earth utilizes only mercury-free mining methods that do not finance rebel groups.
A sourcing map discloses the country of origin for both their natural diamonds and colored gemstones. If there are countries you wish to avoid for ethical concerns, their shopping filters make this easy.
They try to ensure safe and responsible sourcing by prioritizing small, cost-sharing, and impact-conscious cooperatives rather than mass-production mines.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The Certified Carbonfree® brand uses FSC-certified wooden boxes as eco-friendly packaging for jewelry. You can read more about their eco efforts—which are organized around six of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals—in their sustainability report.
Community & charitable giving:
The Brilliant Earth Foundation supports a brilliant range of environmental and social justice organizations, awarding 518k in 2022 to further efforts on responsible sourcing, climate action, and social impact
Mejuri
About Mejuri
Price Range: $28–$5,900
If you want “fine jewelry for my damn self”, no occasion required, Mejuri can assist.
Their curated collection of sustainable men’s jewelry and women’s jewelry includes elegant, everyday-wear pieces: classic pearl strands, studs, diamond eternity rings, hoop earrings, wedding bands, engagement rings, and fair trade gold chains for men and women alike.
Not that jewelry should be gendered anyway! This unisex zodiac pendant necklace is a glistening example of jewelry fit for everyone (even those picky Virgos.)
Mejuri’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
You’ll find 14k solid gold (both recycled gold and new), 18k gold vermeil, ethically sourced AAA-grade gemstones and pearls, rhodium-plated sterling silver, and conflict-free diamonds sourced from Kimberley Process-compliant suppliers.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Mejuri believes “traceability is everything”, hence their commitment to 100% traceable fair trade gold. 70% of their gold is made from certified recycled materials. The other 30% comes from small-scale artisanal mines. Suppliers certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council are prioritized.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Mejuri is a co-founder of Regeneration, an initiative dedicated to rehabilitating legacy mine sites and mining-affected environments.
Community & charitable giving:
The brand is actively partnered with Don’t Ban Equality, a coalition to protect access to reproductive healthcare and advocate for equal rights.
They also have an Empowerment Fund that supports women’s and non-binary people’s access to education. They have donated over $324,000 in post-secondary scholarships so far.
Soko
About SOKO
Price Range: $40–$278
SOKO is a women-led ethical jewelry brand that does things differently by bringing global market access directly to local artisans in Kenya. And boy is their artisan jewelry stunning, not to mention wearable for just about any occasion.
Pair some Capped Quill Dangle statement earrings with your formal dress or with some basic jeans. Either way, you’ll look just as flawless!
SOKO’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Many of SOKO’s responsibly sourced materials have been creatively recycled and repurposed using traditional techniques.
Recycled brass is used to create their silver jewelry while their gold jewelry is crafted from 24k gold-plated brass (sourced from vendors meeting Prop 65 regulations). All colored pieces are crafted from locally-sourced recycled glass.
Some of the jewelry utilizes horns and bones from the East African food industry, and homemade beads from Kazuri, a Fair Trade women’s collective in Kenya. Sudanese teak off-cuts are also used.
Supply chain & labor practices:
SOKO is a Certified B Corp that ranks for economic development, promoting diversity and inclusion, and contributing to supply chain poverty alleviation. Their Kenyan artisans earn five times more than the average wage.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
While they’re currently in the process of obtaining their ISO 14001:2015 certification, SOKO already has systems in place to reduce the use of hazardous materials, energy, water, and other natural materials.
Community & charitable giving:
The SOKO Partnership range features pieces that support social organizations—like the United Nations Trust Fund, a program that combats violence against women.
Catbird
About Catbird
Price Range: $14–$15,500
Catbird has us meowing for their artisan jewelry. With some of the finest eco-friendly jewelry NYC has to offer, do not pop the question before visiting their Brooklyn studio, because…eco-friendly wedding rings, of course!
No one could possibly say no to your planet-friendly proposal with an engagement ring like The Swan Solitaire. If your relationship status is more “I love you” than “I do”, the fine jewelry brand also has anklets, bracelets, sustainable gold hoop earrings, necklaces, and rings for other, non-knee bending poses.
Catbird’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Some Catbird favorite materials include recycled gold jewelry (and some other recycled metals), lab-grown diamonds, conflict-free precious gems, sustainably harvested freshwater pearls, and fair-trade gold.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Their ethical pearls are sustainably sourced from a third-generation Chinese pearl industry farm and the conflict-free gold is supported by Catbird’s membership of No Dirty Gold.
While in NYC, stop by and chat with the Catbird employees about their fair wages, healthcare, retirement plans, and unlimited cold brew coffee.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The larger-than-life jewelry pieces are made in a small studio with a small supply chain and small carbon footprint.
Community & charitable giving:
The Catbird Giving Fund has contributed more than $1,000,000 to a range of organizations, including Citizens Climate Lobby, Planned Parenthood, and The Adventure Project.
Rays&Riches
About Rays & Riches
Price Range: $9–$186
Rays & Riches shines a ray of light with jewelry inspired by the planet. The minimalist jewelry brand stocks affordable nature-inspired rings, earrings, and ear cuffs that can be perfectly integrated into any minimalist wardrobe.
From golden Single Ear Cuffs to Beaded Spiral Earrings that mix things up a bit, they have environmentally friendly jewelry pieces to mix and match every occasion.
Rays & Riches Sustainable & Ethical Practices
Materials:
Their minimalist jewelry is made mostly from recycled materials. The vast majority of the hypoallergenic gold used by the small business is recycled, while pearl jewelry and gemstone jewelry are created from repurposed pre-loved jewelry.
A small amount of ethically sourced metals are utilized from a supplier that has been accredited with standards of ethical, social, human rights, & environmental practices via the Responsible Jewellery Council
Supply chain & labor practices:
All pieces are handmade in Italy by the owner herself.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Since recycled metals are prioritized, the recycled jewelry brand’s carbon footprint is low. Any emissions they generate through the unavoidable shipping part are 100% offset.
They’re also combating the plastic problem by opting for eco-friendly jewelry boxes made from Tall oil—a byproduct of paper production. Mailers are 100% compostable and cardboard boxes are courtesy of 60% FSC recycled materials.
Raven + Lily
About Raven + Lily
Price Range: $28–$240
Raven + Lily is dedicated to positive social and environmental impact, and brings these values to life in their beautiful fair trade products, which include delicate jewels to adorn your fingers, ears, and wrists.
Crafted from upcycled brass in Kenya, their versatile Diaz Small Hoops are practically the only sustainable earrings you need to line your jewelry box.
Raven + Lily’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their nature-inspired creations incorporate precious and semi-precious stones, often in a raw form to preserve the rocks, minerals, and even plants. These are set in 100% upcycled, hand-polished brass.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The Certified B Corporation is a member of the Fair Trade Federation. They support 520 artisans and 10 artisan partners around the world, specifically empowering women from underrepresented social groups.
Everyone receives living wages, flexible working hours, paid maternity leave, and respectful workplaces.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Raven + Lily was named by Remake as one of the 10 brands ‘leading the way’ for their sustainability efforts. Each order comes with sustainable packaging and carbon-neutral shipping.
Community & charitable giving:
1% of the brand’s sales go back to organizations they align with, like Reclaim the Block, NAACP, the SAFE Alliance, and the Women’s Fund at the Austin Community Foundation.
Aurate
About Aurate
Price Range: $10–$18,000
Let Aurate show your love with one of their ethical engagement rings. Or, if you aren’t ready for that type of conscious commitment, try one of their other fine jewelry rings instead.
If the elegant class of pearl jewelry is your jam, this Venus Organic Pearl Gold Ring made from recycled gold is giving “let’s have a romantic picnic on our beach towel, first” kind of vibes. They also have eco-friendly sustainable jewelry for other occasions, including wedding rings, engagement rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets.
Aurate’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their sustainable gold jewelry puts the AU in Aurate (AU being the chemical symbol for gold.) The responsibly-sourced pieces are made from 100% recycled gold, and gold-plated vermeil, along with other ethically-sourced precious metals like sterling silver and platinum.
Many designs are finished with sustainably harvested pearls, and conflict-free diamonds and precious gems (per the Kimberley Process).
Supply chain & labor practices:
The brand’s partner mines adhere to strict conditions around fair wages, health and safety, and respect and support for local communities.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Excess materials are recycled and pieces are designed to last, backed by a lifetime guarantee.
Community & charitable giving:
The women-owned brand regularly supports local and global organizations alike—like One Tree Planted, Feeding America, and Trevor Project.
Praxis
About Praxis Jewelry
Price Range: $30–$1,594
Praxis Jewelry put a lot of time and praxis into perfecting their designs. The Etsy shop sells personalizable rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings that can be inscribed with hearts and special messages.
Because nothing says I love you quite like a Personalized Cuff Bracelet that says ‘I love you’—maybe literally, if you so choose!
Praxis Jewlery’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The affordable eco-friendly jewelry is made from SCS-certified recycled silver, gold, and platinum as well as conflict-free diamonds.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Allison creates all pieces by hand in her San Diego studio.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Etsy offsets carbon emissions from the shipping and packaging of the purchase. Since items are made-to-order, there is minimal waste involved in the process.
