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Sustainable Jewelry

We recognize the importance of sustainability in the jewelry world and are dedicated to contributing to a more environmentally responsible industry. Explore our efforts to make each piece of diamond jewelry not only beautiful but also eco-friendly. Delve into our sustainable practices in jewelry design and our commitment to using ethically sourced materials.

Clarity & Eco-Conscious Luxury

At Diamond Lab, we hold transparency as a core value, ensuring that our customers understand the foundation of our actions: we aim to create a positive influence on all whom we connect with while also relishing our appreciation for life’s finer aspects. As humans, we may not be flawless, but we consciously endeavor to source, produce, and fabricate in a manner that aligns with our ultimate objective of making a meaningful difference in the world. As we evolve and expand, our commitment to this goal only grows stronger.

When you choose Diamond Lab, you:

  • Empower the aspirations of a European small business, locally owned and operated.
  • Back a brand dedicated to promoting transparency within the jewelry sector, consistently prioritizing sustainability in our operations while selecting only the finest materials available, despite not yet reaching 100 percent perfection.
  • Champion fair labor conditions across Europe, as well as within our global network of suppliers and manufacturers.
  • Stand up for social responsibility by advocating for traceability in the diamond trade, combating unethical mining practices that negatively affect both people and our environment.

Sustainable Precious Metals

In line with our dedication to environmental stewardship, our gold jewelry is primarily made from recycled precious materials. Since these recycled metals are purified back into their original elements, they maintain the same high quality as freshly mined metals. Present disruptions in the supply chain might impact the availability of recycled precious metals. Nonetheless, our brand remains steadfast in our commitment to sourcing recycled materials whenever feasible.

Make A Positive Impact Without Compromising Quality

We believe in the harmonious coexistence of sustainability and quality. The era of outdated fast fashion is over; we’ve entered a new age, and we aim to pave the way for a luxurious, conscious lifestyle. As a result, we prioritize quality in every decision we make, such as crafting all of our products in our family-owned workshop. By emphasizing quality over quantity, we’ve chosen not to maintain a large inventory. Each of our pieces is made-to-order, ensuring minimal waste in terms of space, energy, and resources. Although this approach may lead to longer wait times for orders, we never cut corners, make compromises, or lower our standards. As such, every customer of our brand can expect the finest sustainable jewelry without forgoing the luxury they deserve.

As such, every customer of our brand can expect the finest sustainable jewelry without forgoing the luxury they deserve.

Ethical Engagement Rings: Sourcing Ethical Diamonds

Discover the crucial role of the UN’s Kimberley Process in establishing a global network for ethical diamond trade, advancements in tracing a diamond’s ethical origins, and how selecting a lab-grown diamond can guarantee a completely ethical ring.

What is the meaning of an ethical diamond?

Until relatively recent initiatives, the diamond mining industry had been largely unregulated. Diamond mining itself is not inherently unethical – in many cases, it promotes local development, job creation, infrastructure, education, and a sustainable economy. Areas with deposits of diamonds, gemstones, and other natural resources are considered ‘resource-rich,’ offering significant potential for a thriving economy.
 
However, when control over these resources falls into the wrong hands, the situation can deteriorate, hindering local socio-economic development instead of promoting it – this phenomenon is known as the ‘paradox of plenty’ or ‘the resource curse.’ Conflicts can arise over resource ownership and control, and if insurgent groups seize control of diamond mines, they may use the profits to finance illegitimate wars and violence, centralizing profits without fairly distributing them within the community. It wasn’t until the 2000s that global initiatives began to adequately address and prevent this terrifying reality. Thankfully, the world is becoming more aware of these atrocities and actively working to reduce the trade of unethical diamonds, although there is still progress to be made.
 
Diamonds mined and traded under conditions of war and violence are referred to as ‘blood diamonds,’ ‘conflict diamonds,’ or ‘unethical diamonds.’ The UN defines blood diamonds as “diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.”

How the Kimberley Process combats the unethical diamond trade?

The Kimberley Process, established by the UN in 2003, aimed to eliminate the blood diamond trade by enforcing regulations for the production and commerce of rough diamonds through an international certification scheme. Participating countries, including Greece, USA, Canada, India, UAE, and Australia, among others, must adhere to stringent rules to prevent the importation of unethical diamonds.
 
Currently, the 81 countries participating in the Kimberley Process effectively thwart 99.8% of the global trade in conflict diamonds. This means that a certified diamond purchased in Greece is almost certainly conflict-free.

 

While the Kimberley Process has significantly contributed to reducing the conflict diamond trade, it is not a comprehensive solution. The UN and other governing bodies must intensify their efforts and uphold their commitments to eradicate the unethical diamond trade entirely. In the meantime, ethical jewelers like Diamond Lab must exercise caution when sourcing diamonds. At Diamond Lab, we avoid purchasing diamonds from unverified sources and have fostered relationships with reputable and trustworthy suppliers. Jewelers like us occasionally receive offers to buy secondhand jewelry; however, we refuse to buy secondhand jewelry or diamonds because we cannot verify their ethical origins. Ensuring the provenance of the diamonds we sell and crafting all our pieces in-house is crucial to guarantee peace of mind for both you and us.

Ethical Lab-Grown Diamonds

A lab-grown diamond is a guaranteed ethical option for your engagement ring or any piece of jewelry. Lab diamonds are created in a controlled laboratory environment that replicates the natural process of diamond formation, which usually occurs within the Earth’s mantle over billions of years. Considered 100% real diamonds and identical to natural diamonds in every way, some jewelry buyers see the option of a lab diamond as an obvious choice – not to mention, they are typically 60% to 80% less expensive due to the efficiency of their production.

Increasingly, lab diamonds are being created using solar energy, which is an exciting advancement in the jewelry industry.

RESPONSIBLE SOURCING
SOCIAL IMPACT
CLIMATE ACTION