Editor’s Note
This article highlights how modern jewelry brands are building their identities around sustainable and ethical practices, from local production and recycled materials to a growing focus on lab-grown diamonds.
Many brands on this list have integrated sustainability into their core processes—through local production, ethical sourcing of stones, or the use of recycled or reclaimed materials (or a combination of all). Some are taking it a step further by focusing exclusively on lab-grown diamonds.
Pandora is the world’s largest jewellery brand. Its jewellery is sold in over 100 countries through more than 6,500 points of sale, including over 2,500 concept stores. While headquartered in Copenhagen, the brand employs 32,000 people worldwide and crafts its jewellery at two LEED-certified facilities in Thailand, using mainly recycled silver and gold. A key reason for its appeal is its commitment to sustainability leadership, having set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% across its own operations and value chain by 2030.
Free from the environmentally and socially harmful effects of the traditional jewellery industry, MATILDE is made to pass from generation to generation, promising timeless elegance and eternal values. Uncompromising on quality, each piece is constructed using only the finest recycled 14ct gold and lab-grown diamonds.
While known as a favorite of royals like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, Monica Vinader’s significance extends beyond palace walls. In 2020, the brand pivoted towards sustainability, beginning to prioritize materials like recycled sterling silver and recycled gold vermeil, as well as sustainably sourced diamonds, gemstones, and pearls. Some designs also feature a “product passport,” allowing customers to trace the origins of their piece.
– Georgia Trodd, GLAMOUR UK Senior Commerce Writer.
This brand is a great name to know for sustainable jewellery shopping. Founded in 2010 by Deniz Gurdal, it began on London’s Portobello Road and collaborates closely with an independent workshop in Istanbul. Each piece is carefully handcrafted from 21ct gold-plated recycled brass and often features semi-precious stones set using modern artisanal techniques.
