Eco-Wedding Ring Options
May 8, 2008 by Jennifer
Many wedding rings are not very eco-friendly. There are eco-issues with diamond trade, no matter if it’s “conflict free” or not (see below). There are also major problems that occur with gold mining.
If you’re looking for a greener wedding ring or commitment ring, you’ve got some different options.
Hit the streets: Used is your best bet and many higher end antique stores carry beautiful vintage rings. The negatives are that the rings you find still may be made with questionable materials, and the search can take longer. Plus mens rings in a style you like may be harder to come by.
Use what you have: If you have jewelry that is significant to you, i.e your grandmothers bracelet or necklace, it can be melted down into a ring in most cases. Of course it depends on the material and size. Talk to a local jeweler to learn more. Along the same lines, a ring passed down through generations is a good green choice.
Wooden rings: Wooden bands made with sustainable, reclaimed, or recycled wood is a great choice so far as beauty goes. Some are made with silver, some not, but I really like the look of many I’ve seen. Negatives are learning to care for them specially (not that tough) and also, I’ve heard that if a wooden ring breaks, it can be impossible to fix. Not sure if it’s true, but something to ask the designer about.
Touch Wood Rings – very beautiful custom work
[Koa and Spruce wood rings from Touch Wood Rings]
Coconut rings (sort of wood, actually more a nut) from Coco Loco
Rob & Lean – beautiful wooden rings and more
Recycled and / or ethically made jewelry: You’ll need a recycled and or ethical-minded shop for this sort of purchase. Following are some good ones.
GreenKarat – the current big name in ethical jewelry – the do have beautiful rings and are probably the number one most ethical place to shop for a more traditional looking wedding ring. They note, “We do not handle freshly mined diamonds at all, preferring instead to use synthetic stones. We will, however, use recycled diamonds upon request.”
The rings above are Canary, Uncaged, Precious Stone, and Gatsby Redux from GreenKarat.
Sumiche – Certified Fair Trade/Eco-Gold and Platinum and 100% recycled Gold and Platinum rings
Earthwise Jewelry Collection from Leber Jeweler Inc – uses gold and platinum processed from reclaimed sources in an environmentally sensitive manner.
A little more about diamonds:
A couple ethical jewelry stores (even some of the ones above) do use diamonds, “conflict free diamonds” but still use them. However, if your heart is dead set on a diamond, even a conflict free diamond, you should read the following:
- There Are No Clean Diamonds: What You Need to Know About Canadian Diamonds
- There are no conflict free diamonds
- Diamonds: No One’s Best Friend?
It’s actually impossible to own a conflict free diamond. Diamonds involve human suffering issues (as we’ve all by now heard). Most diamonds that are “conflict free” have zero proof of their non-conflicts, and there are always eco-issues that come up due to mining. Your diamond will conflict with something.
Try to realign your thinking. A sparkling diamond does not equal love, or a happiness guarantee of some sort. Honestly, only random tradition, and an early monopoly of the diamond industry dictates that diamonds are the wedding jewel of choice. They aren’t even rare, they’re everywhere; you might go with something more unique. Do you really need one? Really? If so, just be sure you know the cost to the environment, even conflict free are not so conflict free.
Coming up more green wedding know-how including jewelry you don’t wear on your finger.
Good post, but the forces for diamonds — the little diamond rings on Barbies and all the endless diamonds = love commercials are really such a strong force to overcome. We don’t realized how we’ve been programmed to want this.
What really helped me realize the horrors that go on is the movie Blood Diamond.
I never saw blood diamond – although I hear everyone else and their dog did. I never liked diamonds. I’m glad the movie helped to change some peoples minds though. I think people have to be strong and just ignore diamonds. Fact is, most stones are priced by their uniqueness, but not diamonds – it’s an odd phenomenon. Diamonds are purely priced by consumer want and that monopoly on the market I mentioned.
Marc worked in jewelry for 25 years until January. When he finally got out he was so sick of the business that he won’t consider another job in that arena.
Marye, did he make your ring?
He has designed a couple for me. He is a brilliant designer, and he was the kind of salesman that would tell couples it was not about spending alot of money, but about the commitment and the ring only represented that..people were always amazed at my small diamond…(1/2 ct). I did not have an engagement ring and only a simple band for the first 5 years of our marriage. Apparently it worked fine…28 years and 8 kids. So far.
Well see, you’re the perfect example – no huge rock, but a solid marriage. Hey, maybe that can be out new no diamond anymore slogan – “Look at Marye, no huge rock but a solid marriage!” I like it.
LOL!
A culture shift away from bling is probably a long way off. In the meantime, there is C5 company, which provides gorgeous alternatives to traditionally mined gems and metals.
You dont’ have to sacrifce beauty for jewelry you can feel good about. Check us out at http://www.C5company.com.
So what would people recommend doing with wedding and engagement rings they already have? My husband and I didin’t realize the ethical issues with gold and diamonds when we got married and are unsure what to do next. Keep it because the damage is already done or sell it and make a more ethical ring choice?
Rachel – I posted some ideas here: http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/reader-question-toss-or-keep-non-green-wedding-rings/ – great question BTW!
I’m in Houston, Texas and were looking for green conflict free ring for my fiancee and found two local companies in Texas. Green Karat and Green ORO, i went to their respective websites i.e http://www.greenkarat.com and http://www.greenoro.com. I found the prices on Green ORO much more reasonable then Green Karat. I save over $ 500 by buying from Green ORO as they are the direct manufacturers of Green Jewelry.
Few things i found and personally visited:
Pros and Cons:
Green Karat
1) Pros:
Green Karat: been in business and internet for long years
Cons:
1) Higher Prices
2) No In house retail showroom or store
3) Green Karat ETA time is much more then Green ORO
4) Don’t offer high end created diamond settings or jewelry repairs
5) No Physical Location to visit , everything is Online
Green ORO:
Pros:
1) Reasonable and Cheaper Prices then Green Karat
2) Direct Manufacturer and willing to work with you on Custom Jewelry
3) Repairs are much faster on all green jewelry
4) no outsourcing to any middle man , everything is done within their showroom and have work labs
5) ORO Certificate of Authenticity to Back 100% recycled gold and process.
6) One Tree & One Ring at a Time – i really love this concept as they will put one tree towards the purchase i made. Highly impressed with their unique concept.
7) ETA is much less then Green Karat
You can visit their physical Location and Showroom and can see the Green Process