Ethical and Eco Jewelry

Valentine's Day has got me thinking about jewelry- gold, in particular. As a child, I thought gold was the most disgusting and ugly metal out there and preferred silver. Now that I am old(er), it's my absolute favorite with rose gold coming in a close second. I love how we humans are constantly evolving and changing- one of the joys of being alive.

With the price of gold per ounce rising astronomically these past six months, I finally decided to indulge myself and purchase a few pieces I've had my eye on for years before jewelry prices skyrocketed. But, like any mining, there is a lot of pollution, destruction and potential human misery with extracting gold and precious stones from the earth. Here is a roundup of my favorite places to find pieces made from recycled gold with ethically sourced diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones:

1) Jane Pope- Women owned and run, ethically sourced everything and 100% recycled gold. They even have a program where you can send in your old jewelry and you will get credit at market value for Jane Pope jewelry- read more about it here Their prices are high but you get what you pay for - I have a few Jane Pope pieces and I can attest to their quality. I wear this stuff basically every day no matter what I'm doing and it holds up. I also love how each item is a true piece of art.

2) Baby Gold- Family owned and run in Los Angeles with 100% recycled gold, ethically sourced stones and production practices all in compliance with the Responsible Jeweler’s Council. Their pieces are well-made and honestly, you can't beat the prices! They often have discount codes on their website and/or if you join their mailing list (Thank you, Camila, for the recommendation!)

3) The Real Real- huge inventory of just about everything. These pieces are now being sold secondhand (or third or fourth, etc hand) so that is something to feel good about. Each piece is appraised and inspected by "Jewelry Specialists" and I have found their prices to be reasonable and usually run middle of the road but sometimes you can snag a fantastic deal.

4) Etsy - a large selection of vintage and estate finds. Similar to The Real Real but without the assurance of appraisal and one must rely heavily on reviews. I was surprised, though, by the amount of jewelry sellers on Etsy and many with outstanding reviews.

5) Your Community- local jewelry repair shops often have consignment sections, as well as pawn shops, estate sales, and antique stores. Buying secondhand uses the gold and precious stones that have already been mined and reduces the demand for mining for more.

As always, thanks for reading and Happy Valentine's Day!