When most people see a beautiful, sparkly ring or necklace, all they think about is what it symbolizes; which may be love, commitment, or just a flair for fashion, but what they may not be aware of is the significant harm that the mining and extraction of these jewels can cause to the earth. By choosing to purchase only sustainable jewelry NYC consumers will be doing their part to not compromise the environment just for the sake of owning some fancy baubles.
Most jewelry is made from gold, silver, or platinum. Contained within rocks and ore in very minute amounts, they can only be extracted through mining methods which by nature are quite destructive to the earth, and implement the use of mercury and cyanide which are toxic elements that remain in the form of waste product contamination.
A reasonable solution to this problem is deciding to buy either previously owned pieces or to get old jewelry melted down and reformed into a new creation by a jeweler. In the case of platinum, it will likely be necessary to locate someone who specializes in its refinement. There are also a select few jewelers who only deal with metals which have been mined in an environmentally friendly manner.
Although diamonds do not require the use of potentially toxic materials to extract them they do ruin the landscape substantially. One variety of diamond in Canada is found beneath the bottom of some lakes, but these too need mining, once the lake is drained for excavation. In some countries, these gems are a resource which helps fund wars and other forms of violence, however recent treaties have made some important changes to this.
The good thing about opting to buy diamonds that are mined from either Canada or Australia is that they are not tied into any conflict, and some mining organizations even restore the land when the site is no longer going to be used. Man-made diamonds are another option and they look almost exactly the same as the real thing but do not tax the environment.
Gemstones such as rubies, emeralds, sapphires, are mined in a similar manner which is destructive to the earth, and some of them are also associated with political conflict. These colored stones are also normally treated using heat, radiation, or resin fillers to improve their appearance, all of which can pose a potential risk to those working in the plants where they are processed.
The amount of ecological damage necessary to extract colored gems is comparably less than diamond mining because they are typically found closer to the surface of the rock they are contained within. Some mining companies have also conducted research into how to reduce pollution related to their extraction which they have put into practice. As with other types of jewelry, these stones can also be reset into new pieces.
If buyers continue to inquire about the source and method of metal and gemstone mining used in the manufacture of the jewelry, it will eventually force all sellers to obtain and provide these details for disclosure to their customers. This will help to build awareness of this issue and its importance, both within the retail jewelry market and in general.
Most jewelry is made from gold, silver, or platinum. Contained within rocks and ore in very minute amounts, they can only be extracted through mining methods which by nature are quite destructive to the earth, and implement the use of mercury and cyanide which are toxic elements that remain in the form of waste product contamination.
A reasonable solution to this problem is deciding to buy either previously owned pieces or to get old jewelry melted down and reformed into a new creation by a jeweler. In the case of platinum, it will likely be necessary to locate someone who specializes in its refinement. There are also a select few jewelers who only deal with metals which have been mined in an environmentally friendly manner.
Although diamonds do not require the use of potentially toxic materials to extract them they do ruin the landscape substantially. One variety of diamond in Canada is found beneath the bottom of some lakes, but these too need mining, once the lake is drained for excavation. In some countries, these gems are a resource which helps fund wars and other forms of violence, however recent treaties have made some important changes to this.
The good thing about opting to buy diamonds that are mined from either Canada or Australia is that they are not tied into any conflict, and some mining organizations even restore the land when the site is no longer going to be used. Man-made diamonds are another option and they look almost exactly the same as the real thing but do not tax the environment.
Gemstones such as rubies, emeralds, sapphires, are mined in a similar manner which is destructive to the earth, and some of them are also associated with political conflict. These colored stones are also normally treated using heat, radiation, or resin fillers to improve their appearance, all of which can pose a potential risk to those working in the plants where they are processed.
The amount of ecological damage necessary to extract colored gems is comparably less than diamond mining because they are typically found closer to the surface of the rock they are contained within. Some mining companies have also conducted research into how to reduce pollution related to their extraction which they have put into practice. As with other types of jewelry, these stones can also be reset into new pieces.
If buyers continue to inquire about the source and method of metal and gemstone mining used in the manufacture of the jewelry, it will eventually force all sellers to obtain and provide these details for disclosure to their customers. This will help to build awareness of this issue and its importance, both within the retail jewelry market and in general.
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