Editor’s Note
This article highlights Courbet’s commitment to sustainable luxury, focusing on their use of 18k recycled gold sourced from electronic waste. It underscores how modern “urban mining” transforms everyday devices into ethically crafted fine jewelry.
Courbet
“At Courbet, the ecological added value of engagement rings, and all jewelry for that matter, lies in the raw materials. On one hand, we have settings made from 18k recycled gold, which largely comes from urban mines, meaning electronic waste. We may not realize it, but we are surrounded by grams of gold in our mobile phones, our computers… We work with a supplier who recycles the gold contained in all these devices so as not to rely on gold mines, which, in many respects, are disastrous for people and the environment. Then, we set our jewelry with…”
“We recently launched a project called ‘Second Life’ which allows our clients to rethink their old, dormant jewelry to bring it up to date. This is to recycle materials while preserving the emotional sensitivity one might have towards a precious piece of jewelry.”
Loyal.e Paris
“To preserve the riches of our planet, we combine responsible and transparent practices with the ancestral know-how of French artisanal jewelry. As a B Corp, Loyal.e Paris is part of a global movement actively fighting for a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Whether it’s recycled gold, lab-grown diamonds, or even our packaging, all our materials are eco-responsible, certified, and completely traceable. The 18K recycled and RJC-CoC (Responsible Jewelry Council – Chain of Custody) certified gold we use is extracted from old jewelry or chips found in electronic waste. The advantage of gold is that it’s a precious metal that can be recycled infinitely without compromising its quality. Knowing that extracting gold from mines generates 2 tons of waste for every gram of gold extracted, the decision to recycle it was obvious. Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, require 7 times less water and produce 20 times less CO2 than mined diamonds. At LOYAL.E PARIS, we specifically work with a partner laboratory that uses green energy and is climate-neutral certified. Furthermore, in opposition to mass production, all our creations are handmade in France, thus preserving an excellent artisanal know-how. Then, each creation is delivered with its unique blockchain certificate, for total traceability. We have a duty of transparency and traceability towards our customers.”
“Because everything is in the detail, the Maison has questioned the traditional jewelry box, to eliminate all superfluous elements: after developing different models for over 6 months, we designed packaging that consists of only a single box. The shell is made from recyclable FSC-certified cardboard, without plastic. And to close the loop, since the mining industry is one of the main causes of deforestation, we support the association…”
The Ecological Advantages of Courbet Engagement Rings
Marie Ann Wachtmeister, Co-founder and Artistic Director of Courbet, explains the brand’s approach to sustainability.
“…diamonds created in a laboratory, which are also more ethical and sustainable than mined diamonds, since there’s no need to dig the earth to extract them. Producing lab-grown diamonds is indeed very energy-intensive, but when sourcing from countries where energy is highly decarbonized, like the USA or France, the environmental impact decreases considerably and soundly beats that of mined diamonds. Furthermore, Courbet engagement rings are largely produced on demand, meaning the Maison only produces what it sells. We avoid any overproduction of diamonds, unlike the mining logic which is to dig as long as diamonds are found, and think about sales afterwards. The engagement ring is kept in a recycled leather box, which itself has been dyed with natural dyes. If our client lives in the Paris region, they can be delivered the same day via a bicycle courier service. Ultimately, it’s the entire value chain surrounding this ring that is ecological, not just the jewelry.”
