Jewelry
Alex and Ani Eco Friendly Jewelry
I recently received a package from Alex and Ani, an eco friendly jewelry designer with a showroom in Tribeca, New York, that is extremely hot right now. Chances are if you have opened a celebrity magazine, seen an awards show or watched a movie lately, you have seen some of their jewelry and accessories.
I was lucky to get a bracelet from one of her patented Signature Expandable Wire Bangle collections that adjust to fit just how you like. Alone or grouped with several different designs, these eco-fashion accessories are sure to spice up your wardrobe.
Handcrafted in the United States (Rhode Island to be exact) from recycled metals, and avoiding destructively mined gold, Alex and Ani have courted Hollywood and Europe alike with their beautiful and green designs.
Verre New York Glass Jewelry
This seems to be the month of Eco-Jewelry here on The Chic Ecologist, probably because there is so much great stuff out there.
I recently received a note from Jessica over at Verre New York, a glass jewelry design team that attaches liquid glass to metal pieces for a beautiful effect.
Their abstract collections evoke all things natural, I personally see rain drops, molecules, dew and amber. The quintessential modern material, glass can be modeled into so many forms, colors and textures – and can be easily recycled. Each piece is handmade by the designers, reflecting both their style, creativity and mastery of this art form. Even the packaging is creatively inspired: bottles, petri dishes, and test tubes, as if each was brought into the world by biologists.
Eco Gold – The Impact of Gold Jewelry
With all the attention given to sustainable diamonds and blood diamonds, it kind of makes you wonder about other mined precious gems and metals. Gold is everywhere in our society, and has been a measure of wealth throughout time. Wars have been fought over it, lands discovered for it, cities founded on it, and people slaughtered because of it.
Does the value placed upon gold is due to its rarity and beauty justify its place in our society? Only as recently as 1971, when the gold standard was finally eliminated as the basis of US currency, have we let go- or have we? Gold surrounds us, knowing no cultural boundary, and is still the most recognized outward display of wealth, however, it is also the cause of much suffering in the world.
Gold is very similar to diamonds in worldwide exploitation of workers and damage to the environment. A study done by the environmental nonprofit WorldWatch Institute found that 80 percent of destructively mined gold is used in gold jewelry.
Julia Failey Unique Eco Jewelry
There is something about artisan jewelry that captures me, but only when it is beautiful and unique. Julia Failey embodies that spirit with her wonderfully designed nature inspired eco jewelry. I am especially drawn to the pieces displayed below, and it was the rose vine bangles that really captured me.
Designed and crafted in her Chicago studio, Julia uses sustainable practices in creating jewelry and uses reclaimed, deoxidized sterling silver to reduce the need for destructive mining (more about eco diamonds and destructive mining practices).
Eco Friendly Reader Suggestions – Green Jewelry and Sustainable Furniture Design
When it comes to green design, there are some really cool eco-friendly artists out there doing some amazing work. Here at The Chic Ecologist, we like to bring to light some of these beautiful sustainable designs. I have had a lot of great ‘reader finds’ and small design shops and artists send me some of their works and designs, so it is time to share!
Nikki Montoya is a jewelry designer that comes to us from Southern California with an eclectic collection of jewelry inspired by the past. Sustainable materials, salvaged rarities and vintage charms are brilliantly combined with a contemporary vision and technique. Each one of these unique and inspired handmade creations are one of a kind. I am a particular fan of the bangles (pictured) and “Sparrows”. Check out her website and find her jewelry sprinkled in a handful of Los Angeles area boutiques.
.jpg "Poj Facundo bamboo furniture")
Miami based Argentinian furniture designer Facundo Poj has a scattering educational and experience background ranging from a master builder and Architecture school to a degree in Urban Affairs and Environmental Problems. His works consist of handcrafted junkyard objects with historic value. He is interested in subjects which contain a soul and have a lasting quality to them. Researching new ways of using materials outside the large scale mainstream manufacturing; he employes materials like salvaged cardboard or engineered bamboo. I particularly enjoy his repurposed bathtub line of furniture including the bathtub chaise lounge.
Related Items:
Simply Wooden Rings – Sustainable Wood Jewelry
Junkyard Tables – Vintage Automobile Hood Tables
Metaform Studio Lighting – Green Lighting Design
Beach Trash Sculptures – Necklaces from Discarded Rubbish
Eco Conscious Diamonds, Synthetics and Simulants
The holidays are upon us and many of us want to celebrate the special women in our lives with jewelry. Based on the commercials and marketing, a diamond is a girls best friend and diamonds are forever. Thats nice and all, but how do you (or she) feel about them? The subject of Blood Diamonds (or conflict diamonds as they are also known) has been raised to a much higher mainstream level of consciousness, so there are social responsibilities to consider, but what about ecological? Mining isn’t exactly eco-friendly, and its not something that many think about when purchasing jewelry. So what are we left to do to ice out or make our girls feel special?
Ok, I’m done asking questions and it’s time to start providing answers. I’m going to cover mined diamonds, reclaimed diamonds, synthetic diamonds, and diamond simulants. Each has its own benefits and varying impacts on the environment to produce, just think of how educated you will become!
Mined Natural Diamonds
First lets start with real diamonds. The process of mining isn’t pretty, not only are you creating huge holes in the earth, but there is a lot destruction of rivers, ecosystems around mines, pretty much leaving the area around them one big fat dead zone. The diamond industry has attempted to address the blood diamond issue (slave labor used by militant factions to fund wars, destroy countries, etc.) by introducing the The Kimberley Process which brags conflict-free diamonds. Its a start, but hasn’t stemmed the flow (or tracking) of the diamonds past or originating country. But all hope is not lost!
Your best option, if you must have a mined diamond, is to choose an ethical jeweler with an independent trusted source for fair trade diamonds such as Brilliant Earth, or go through ethical diamond mining sites such as Pride Diamonds which promote sustainable communities and mine with care. Additionally, one of the most important things to do when purchasing a conflict-free diamond is to require a written warranty verifying the diamonds source and chain of custody. This will hold the jeweler responsible for their claim of labeling and selling a conflict-free diamond.
Alternatively, there are plenty of diamonds out in circulation already, case in point, i plan on remounting the vintage diamonds my grandmothers wedding ring in a more modern setting for my own wedding. If you don’t have your own heirloom diamonds, GreenKarat features recycled and reclaimed jewelry including engagement rings and diamonds. If you are feeling adventurous, check your local pawn shops- be sure to get an appraisal so you know what you are getting though.
Synthetic Manufactured Diamonds or Cultured Diamonds
This may sound a little strange, but we actually have the technology and processes to create a real diamond. These are created using intense pressure and heat and a small real diamond ’seed’. The seed is to provide the molecular structure building block for the sheets of carbon placed over the seed to duplicate. This takes care of the mining and social responsibility issues of a natural mined diamond, but is it eco-friendly? It is an energy intensive process duplicating the natural heat and pressure that forms natural diamonds, only its in a laboratory using 58,000 atmospheres of pressure at 2,300-degrees Fahrenheit until the material crystallizes.
I would imagine that uses more energy than a 100watt light bulb, but probably nothing near the scale of the energy used for a mined diamond. Three major companies involved in manufacturing these gem quality true diamonds are Apollo, Gemesis and Chatham Created Gems. Due to current manufacturing restrictions, only colored diamonds are available in sizes larger than one carat. Because the diamond is created in a controlled environment, they are able to create a near perfect diamond every time. The cost for these cultured diamonds is approximately 15% less than a natural mined diamond, but the quality is usually superior.
Moissanite (Silicon Carbide)
Moissanite Engagement Ring
While classified as a diamond simulant, the moissanite jewel also occurs naturally, and is in fact much more rare than a diamond. First discovered within a meteor crater in 1893, it was mistaken for a diamond. Today they are created much like a cultured synthetic diamond. Having a higher refractive index than diamond, moissanite is the most brilliant of colorless jewels. Optically, moissanite has more light return (brilliance and luster) and 150% more white light refraction (known as fire) than diamonds. The carat size for a moissanite is a bit larger due to its density and optical properties. Clarity and color is comparable to a high quality diamond with VS clairty and I, J, or K in color. It is also much harder than all gems (natural and synthetic) second only to a diamond (9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness). The only manufacturer of moissanite is Charles and Colvard, but you can find them at many jewelers.
Cubic Zirconia Diamond Simulant (Zirconium Dioxide)
The ever popular and economical choice known as a cubic zirconiam is a synthetic gemstone with varying qualities. You can find these in costume jewelry stores, your local mall, clothing stores, really just about anywhere. There are varying grades of cubic zirconia, some resemble diamonds so much that it may be undetectable without using specialized equipment.
Creating a Cubic Zirconia
Physical and optical properties of cubic zirconia vary due to the recipe of stabilizer used by the individual manufacturers and can take on properties all ranges of clairty & color. High quality CZs actually are somewhat superior to diamonds in their color (they can reach a perfect ‘D’ colorless), dispersion (reflection off the surface of the gem), clarity (they can be internally flawless, and have a lower refractive index (more ‘fire’). The downside is the hardness of CZs is about an 8, which makes it more vulnerable to scratching and dulling from everyday wear and tear. Available in just about every color, this is a low cost alternative to diamonds and other mined gems. The creation process is similar to that of moissanite as it is grown in a labratory.
Whatever your fancy, there is a greener option out there for jewelry, diamonds and gems- whether you prefer a traditional diamond or a cultured alternative. I know what I’m giving my lady, but I’m not telling!
Beach Trash to Ocean Animals – Plastic Bag Sculptures and Jewelry
Floral Necklace, 2008 - made from discarded plastic bags
These really captured my marine biologist heart when i saw them- sea creatures
Helle Jorgensen is the artist behind these wonderful designs. Taking hints from nature and the underwater world, its almost as if she crochets the memory of the plastic, weary from their travels across the ocean. Im amazed at the variety of colors and types of plastics she finds on the beaches- although i shouldn’t be. Anyone who has participated in any kind of coastal cleanup would know the copious amount of trash that wash up on our beaches everyday.
For those not of the recycled/repurposed plastic bag persuasion, she also creates unique jewelry and fashionable items out of reclaimed wool (blankets, scraps, etc.). These fabulous works of art are available for sale, although most pictured on this feature have already been sold.
Barnacles Garden and Gorgonia - Made from discarded plastic bags
Simply Wood Rings – Eco-Concious Jewelry
Simply Wood Rings are some of the most unique and beautifully designed jewelry I have ever come across. With the help of a two apprentices and one office worker, Gustav Reyes employs a relatively cutting-edge method of wood-working to create durable, one-of-a-kind rings. Using bent lamination, a technique used in furniture construction, Gustav cuts thin strips of wood that are then soaked and wrapped rather than carved against the grain. This creates a very durable ring that maintains the structural integrity of the wood and its grain. The ring is then molded, carved, and embellished and finally covered with a lacquered finish. Created from a single piece of wood, these rings are not constructed by a lathe, nor do they have metal inserted to create stability. They can only be made by hand. The wood in the ring is manipulated only to the extent that it is capable of being manipulated; its integrity is never compromised.
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Each piece is crafted from repurposed materials. Salvaged lumber from other artists, wooden objects of personal significance from customers (such as baseball bats or musical instruments) are transformed into unique engagement rings, wedding bands or special gifts.
“I strive to create art with love and an understanding that this love is not a possession but a gift that must be shared. I try to give back to that love by making art not depleting the universe but reshaping one of its greatest gifts-trees. Through the use of wood all the energy, spirit and history of the tree is worked to bring out that beauty.
Art is a pure expression of a life lived without constraints.”
- Gustav Reyes
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Gustav handcrafts every ring to bring out the warmth and honesty of the wood, striving to maintain its original spirit. When you order one of their rings, you know you are getting something that comes only from environmentally and socially conscious sources, something that has been uniquely crafted by hand to bring out the true beauty of each piece of wood.
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