The Conscience Behind the Carats: Finding an Ethically-Sourced Engagement Ring

With the big push these days into finding ethically sourced goods/resources, it is but natural to use the same mindset, even when you are on the hunt for an engagement ring for your loved one! When it comes to engagement rings, you may want to ask for external advice. Perhaps going to your local jewelry shop and asking more detailed questions can help you to find out where the stone was made. It is so important for the jeweler to be able to trace the stone to its origins to make sure it hasn’t been mined from any conflict areas. It’s also important to find out where the ring was manufactured if the metal is recycled or fairtrade, as well as if the stone is fair-trade or not. Here are some pointers to help you along the way:

Finding the Right Providers

The most important thing when it comes to finding an ethically sourced engagement ring is the right provider. When you are looking for the ideal provider of engagement rings you’ve got to consider if they mean what they say and if they are able to sell you an engagement ring within your budget. A company like Brilliant Earth specializes in ethically sourced materials and you can consult the PriceScope Brilliant Earth reviews to get some insight. 

Asking Your Jeweler the Right Questions

Many jewelers will tell you that they are conflict-free, but you should ask, is the stone conflict-free? This is something that was introduced in 2003 to eliminate conflict diamonds being traded. While this problem is not so widespread, it hasn’t been completely removed. You can find blood diamonds on the market and if your jewelry provider can’t trace the stone back to its source, there’s no way of telling if it is a conflict-free diamond. 

Understanding Your Personal Ethics

Working with a jeweler can make a big difference in sourcing sustainable or ethically sourced materials, but it is so important for you to understand what your attitudes are. For example, you might be buying an engagement ring for someone who is incredibly clued up, in which case it is not the easiest thing to get right. If you are planning on proposing to someone that is or was working in the jewelry trade, you have a big mountain to climb. Therefore, ensuring you and your loved one have a similar attitude to ethically sourced materials can take a lot of headaches out of the equation. 

Engagement rings come in different styles and it can be a minefield when it comes to finding an ethically sourced engagement ring. But use some of these approaches as a starting point and you will see how it will make a big difference in finding the right type of engagement ring that doesn’t just look great but comes from an ethical source that can give you some additional peace of mind.