GreenKarat Recycled Jewelry
by TreeHugger 
on 12. 1.04
You may not have thought much about the ecological impact of a wedding band or a pair of gold hoop earrings, but GreenKarat sure has. Unfortunately, industrial and manual methods of extracting precious metals and gems can damage land and ecosystems. Small scale miners often use excavation and extraction techniques which are harmful both to themselves and to the environment. For example, by using cyanide and mercury to separate gold from rock, miner frequently disperse poisons into the environment and their own bodies. Sadly, this is only one of many examples of the trauma mining can cause...
But by teaching miners other marketable skills and providing ecologically responsible alternatives, such as jewelry made from recycled precious metals and high-end synthetic gems, these dudes are doing their part.
Guys: We are not suggesting that you substitute fake gems in your efforts to win your gf’s hand (c'mon, you know she’d be pissed), but a nice band of recycled gold ($100-1,600), will do. And a pretty yellow “diamond” ring ($975) is great guise for traveling or cocktail parties. Plus, GreenKarat also offers a voluntary carbon offset tax, which allows you to buy credits toward neutralizing carbon emissions associated with the energy usage of mining and making jewelry. Thanks for the tip, Brian B! ::GreenKarat [by MO]
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Has anyone purchased rings from GreenKarat.com?
If so, how did you find the service? Quality of product vs. price? Shipping reliabilities, etc.?
If you're happy having something a little less traditional, there's also Touchwood Rings.
We just ordered ours!
Check out the site - they're doing some really neat things to leave a smaller footprint.
I am very impressed with the variety of articles. I live in central Sweden. Lots of gold, platinum and diamonds here. I much read and write about jewelry but could learn a lot from you.
With best regards, Jonas Bergman
Buy a Canadian diamond (from NWT)!
Or better still, buy a ring at an estate jeweler. Then you aren't supporting de Beers at all and lower your impact on the earth.
You don't get it!! Greenkarat's diamonds are REAL - they have EXACTLY the same characteristics of mined diamonds, without the environmentally and socially destructive consequences. Lab created diamonds are grown the same way that natural diamonds are - with heat and pressure, and thus exhibit the same character - hardness, clarity, melting point, etc. If we are truly concerned about the enviroment and our impact on it - then we need to start considering options that may not immediately appeal to us - if we can get past the "if it's not mined it's not real" reaction, and see that what is in front of our face is so much like the "real" option that even gemologists have a hard time telling them apart... maybe we can bring about some significant change.
I keep wondering why nobody has brought up what my fiance and I did. We bought our rings at a local pawnshop. Not only did we get a nice "recycled" ring, but the price was unbeatable, so much so we sprung for a nice "travel" ring so I don't have to take my fancy one on trips :) Granted, we live in las vegas, one of the pawn shop capitals of the world, but it really is a great idea, just make sure your diamond is certified by the pawn shop as real (in L.V. I recommend superpawn, they employee real jewelers).
How eco friendly are the labs that create these manufactured diamonds? By purchasing a manu diamond, we ensure that we're not purchasing conflict jewelry - which is great. However, a lab must use a lot of chemicals and energy to create manu diamonds. Anyone have info on this?
While the pawn shop is a better idea, it brings up social consequences. Pawn shops are a very less than ideal way to second-hand shop. They most-often exploit those most vulnerable, often those with substance abuse issues (or gamling issues, particularly in Vegas). Have you ever considered why there are so many pawn shops in Vegas, Glapher? Where I live there is a substantial crack problem. A few pawn shops here work with dealers (or are the dealers themselves), get their customers-to-be addicted to crack, then buy their goods off of them for cheap, in exchange for more drugs.
A more socially-conscious means of second-hand shopping for wedding rings would be through the classifieds. I think there is a slightly greater likelihood that the rings there are a product of divorce, as opposed to exploitation of our poor people. (note I said greater likelihood, not absolute certainty)
This is just example of how complicated ethical/eco-friendly shopping can be! It seems like the best option is no ring at all.
Well, I'm really into this new eco-push in jewelry. I found this amazing jewelry designer, Todd Reed..and he uses all recycled old and conflict-free raw diamonds. His work is non-traditional, but so captivating and beautiful. I love his rose cut series the best. The rose cut diamonds he uses are recycled from vintage and antique pieces. I really think he is worth checking out. www.alteredspacegallery. i hope more artists continue with this trend. You can have beautiful jewelry..everything you would want it to be..without having to hurt anyone in the process.
Directed to Mike:
I fully agree with you. Lab-grown is the ONLY way to go!
All- Canadian or not, mined diamonds are RUINING the environment. I am not some eco-hippy-chick but I care about our Earth, and even though Canada has strict laws in place, it's not enough. The companies still abandon mines, displace people and animals, etc. and for what? A pretty gem that people will look at and think you don't care about the environment??
My question is- where in Canada can one find these lab-made diamonds, either pre-made into rings, or to be ordered from so a jeweller can set them into recycled bands?
Anyone?
I have a Moissanite ring instead of a diamond or cubic zirconia. It is lab created, nearly as hard as a diamond, but twice as brilliant and reflective- it literally creates rainbows throughout the car when I am driving.
I don't consider it a diamond "substitute". I think that it is better than a diamond - it's conflict-free, un-mined, and more beautiful - I get compliments on it constantly. In fact, I can't recall having met anyone since I got it that didn't comment on it.
They are becoming more popular, hence being sold at the jewelry counter at JC Penny, online at target.com, etc. JC Penny even has a jewelry expo 1-2X a year where they fill up nearly all of their cases with Moissanite jewelry.
They don't cost much less than diamonds at jewelry counters, but you can get a bigger stone & better clarity, etc., as I mentioned, for the same price as a diamond. You can, however, find them for less on the internet, just as you can with diamond jewelry.
Another reason I don't call it a substitute, is that it is a different stone and different chemical composition than a diamond. The 1st moissanite natural stone was found in a meteorite so I tell people that my ring is from the stars.
Directed to Al,
I had a moissanite ring and was fairly happy with it, until I placed it next to a high quality diamond alternative. It looked yellowish and fuzzy in appearance.
I rushed home and did some reading. I wasn't aware that moissanite created in the lab has a natural muddy hue, usually faint yellow or grey.
I also read that it is double refractive and thus the fuzzy look and most gemologists agreed that the fire is too excessive (too much sparkle, in comparison to a natural diamond).
At that point I was a bit disturbed and looked around for something that was still ethical, environmentally friendly, and closer in appearance to a diamond.
After looking around a bit, I found Sitaragem. There quality and pricing was quite reasonable for what you got, and they have 30-day returns with Free shipping.
I now wear my ring proud!!
Hey, I heard about a new jewelry company that is going to be launching in another month or so. They will specialize in earrings and the company is as green, environmentally and socially conscious, as a jeweler can be. The head of the company is Rebekah Green and you can see how extensive her background is in all things green at her current website. http://www.rebekahgreen.com She was previously a green builder and featured on the Discovery channel. Now she's taking on fashion and jewelry. The aim is to make the pieces extremely affordable AND eco-friendly. Should be a really innovative website too. I'll post again when they have the website up and running. Stay tuned!
Hey, I heard about a new jewelry company that is launched and have a lot less expespensive prices then Green Karat. You can check their website http://www.GreenORO.com and find lot of green jewelry pieces that are alike green karat but at very competitive rates. They specialize in green wedding bands and non-conflict diamond rings. The company is as green, environmentally and socially conscious, as a jeweler can be and unique thing is that they are offering three very exciting features which no one is offering right now.
1- Green Box Program
2- One Tree & One Ring a Time
3- Make Your Own ORO Ring
4- ORO Certificate of Authenticity [ Each ring you buy from http://www.GreenOro.com carries a Unique Tag Number ]
The head of the company is Shimon Farkas and you can see how extensive her background is in all things green at her current website. http://www.GreenOro.com, He & his family is in jewelry business for three generations and featured on the ABC Morning News and New York Fashion Show. Shimon Farkas is the prime manufacturer of green jewelry all in house and nothing is outsourced to any third party that gives him leverage to cut down his cost and share it with the customers and also with assurance he is offering ORO Certificate of Authenticity with each ring.