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A few months ago, my good friends Chris and Lisa became one of the 1.8 million American couples who get engaged each year. Before the big proposal, Chris asked me to help him pick the perfect place to buy the ring.
That's because as an eco-conscious consumer, Lisa knows as well as I do how much damage the jewelry and diamond industry can do. Both to the environment and to humanity (more on this later).
That's why we personally searched high and low online for companies making genuinely ethical engagement rings.
We needed to find the perfect ring that is affordable, sustainable, conflict-free, and looks stunning.
The good news? We were successful (Lisa said yes!) The even better news is that I can now share our shortlist with you today.
✔ First Class Service
✔ Responsible Sourcing
✔ Lifetime Warranty
If you're looking to buy ethical engagement rings online then I would recommend Brilliant Earth as the ideal place to start.
From an ethical sourcing standpoint, I was impressed with their "Beyond Conflict Free" stones. These go much further than the Kimberly Process in terms of ensuring that the diamonds have absolutely no history of involvement in war, no negative environmental impact, or any type of human rights abuses.
In our experience, the customer service here was second to none. We received free online consultations and full, personal guidance. I think you'll find this really helpful in choosing the perfect pre-designed or custom rings for you and your partner.
All orders are shipped free (both ways) in FSC Certified Packaging.
Chris and I felt that Brilliant Earth had the most impressive sustainability credentials of all the jewelers we looked at. They simply tick all the boxes we would want when shopping for ethical jewelry.
✔ 100% Lab Grown Diamonds
✔ Free Shipping & Resizing
✔ 100 Day Returns
At Clean Origin, we were able to choose from a wide variety of existing designs, or make a custom ring to our exact tastes and specifications.
This expert ethical jeweler uses only fair trade gold and 100% lab-created diamonds, but you'd need to be an expert yourself to tell the difference. I felt that these rings looked simply stunning, easily among the most beautiful we looked at.
Clean Origin offers expert advice on choosing your ring every step of the way. I found their staff knowledgable, but also friendly and helpful. You also get a 100-Day return window and free resizing if needed.
Since lab diamonds are generally up to 30% cheaper, I also felt we would be getting a great deal on some of the best ethical engagement rings on the market.
✔ Ethically Sourced Materials
✔ Full Transparency
✔ Beautiful Range of Rings
If you choose to buy your wedding and/or engagement rings from Bario Neal, you can rest assured you've chosen a truly ethical and sustainable company that genuinely cares about people and their impact on the environment.
I was happy to note that their jewelry pieces use as many recycled precious metals and stones as possible, along with ethically sourced diamonds that tread as lightly on the environment as possible.
Any new gemstone used comes from either Australia or Canada, where strict environmental and labor codes of conduct are in place.
A full sustainability report is available on the Bario Neal website, which I read as part of my research. It shows exactly how each ring was made, and tracks the progress the company has made towards its aim of having a zero carbon footprint.
✔ Fairmined Certified Gold
✔ Full Transparency
✔ No Toxic Chemicals
Futura is a great choice if you want jewelry pieces made from the highest quality, most ethically sourced gold available.
They don't make diamond rings, so we didn't end up buying our ethical engagement ring from here. But if a solid gold ring was what we were looking for then I certainly would have done so.
All their rings are made in the USA out of what they claim is the world's most eco-friendly gold. It's Fairmined, and free from toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide (both of which are, unfortunately, commonly used elsewhere in the jewelry industry).
The range includes engagement and wedding rings, with an optional laser or hand-engraving service available.
The beautiful Emily and Aria Square Stacking Rings both caught our eye (as did the stunning selection of wedding bands).
All gold used is fully traceable through the entire supply chain and creation journey, so you can be confident that no child labor was used, and that workers enjoy safe conditions and fair pay.
✔ Lifetime Warranty
✔ Kimberly Process
✔ Custom Design
Noémie prides itself on selling fine jewelry at affordable prices. Their direct-to-consumer model means they don't have the extortionate markups that other jewelers do.
Each design is available in a choice of gold colors and carats, which allows it to be customized to your taste and budget.
I was attracted to the Solitaire Ring which is absolutely stunning if your budget will stretch to it. If not, we found plenty of cheaper options at Noémie that still look incredible.
Noémie uses only conflict-free natural diamonds in their products, but they also give you the option to use lab-grown diamonds in their designs if you prefer.
All Noémie engagement rings come with a lifetime warranty, and a repair service is available to ensure that your purchase really does stay looking beautiful forever.
✔ Certified Carbon Neutral
✔ High Quality
✔ Lifetime Warranty
We loved the VRAI three-stone engagement ring - a beautiful and unique take on the classic solitaire. The two side stones are stunning and make the center diamond pop.
All VRAI diamonds are grown in a Los Angeles lab, using 100% renewable energy and zero emissions. The company uses cutting-edge technology and sustainably sourced materials to grow its diamonds so that you can feel good about your purchase.
You can learn more about the VRAI diamond creation journey on their website.
VRAI offers a lifetime warranty and free shipping, so you can be sure their ethical engagement rings will last. If anything happens to the ring, they’ll repair or replace it for free.
✔ Ethical Practices
✔ Natural Diamond Rings
✔ Carbon Offset Shipping
Etsy has a great selection of sellers offering vintage diamond jewelry and antique engagement rings that are both environmentally friendly and reasonably priced. Many of these rings are made with recycled metals and conflict-free diamonds.
Even vintage rings with a less-than-clean history can be classed as eco-friendly. This is because buying a secondhand ring means a new one doesn’t need to be made. It's always better to reuse what you have rather than make new.
If you are looking for beautiful and sustainable engagement rings with zero-waste credentials, then Etsy could just be the answer.
There's a lot more cool stuff at this marketplace that could be of use at any stage of your wedding planning.
Ethical engagement rings differ from conventional rings in the way they are sourced and produced.
The precious metals used in the bands are often recycled. They are set with fair mined diamonds and gemstones that are conflict-free and have been obtained through responsible mining practices.
But why is this important, and what's wrong with buying from traditional engagement ring companies? It's all to do with where and how these rings are made...
The De Beers Corporation is one of the largest diamond mining companies in the world, and probably the one that makes the biggest impact.
To extract diamonds from the earth, De Beers uses a process known as open-pit mining. This involves vast machines excavating the land and displacing a large amount of soil and rocks.
On average, 250 tonnes are displaced to mine just one carat of diamond.
The mining of precious metals and diamonds pollutes local water sources.
The vast machines used to excavate the land release harmful chemicals and toxins into local waterways.
These chemicals can then contaminate the water supply, which has a devastating effect on local wildlife and communities.
Air pollution is also an issue around diamond mines.
This is because moving vast amounts of earth releases dust and other particles into the air.
These particles can then be breathed in by local communities, which can cause various health problems.
The process of diamond mining also emits a large amount of carbon dioxide.
For each polished carat of mined diamonds that are produced, 160kg of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.
Another issue with the diamond trade is the poor working conditions of those employed.
Many workers are paid very little and must work long hours in dangerous conditions. They also often come in contact with toxic gasses and chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.
It’s estimated that around one million children are employed in the diamond trade worldwide.
Blood diamonds (also known as conflict diamonds) are diamonds that are mined in areas controlled by rebel groups.
These groups use the money they make from selling the diamonds to fund their war efforts. The blood diamond industry is indirectly responsible for a lot of death and destruction.
The term "blood diamond" was popularized by the 2006 movie of the same name, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio. The film tells the story of a diamond miner in Sierra Leone who is forced to work for a rebel group. It’s a powerful film that brings home the true human impact of blood diamonds.
Lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory using cutting-edge technology. The process involves taking a small sample of carbon and subjecting it to high temperatures and pressures.
This replicates the conditions found deep within the earth, where natural diamonds are formed.
The main difference is that lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled environment, so there is no need to mine them from the earth. As a result, they have a much smaller carbon footprint than traditional diamonds.
Lab diamonds are also ethically produced, as they don’t rely on forced labor or poor working conditions.
In terms of quality, there is little difference. Lab diamonds undergo the same grading process as mined diamonds (cut, clarity, color, and carat). These are often referred to as the 4Cs).
Hopefully, you're now convinced that responsible rings are the best option for you and your partner. But how can you tell the difference between an ethical engagement ring and one that isn't?
These are the criteria that Chris and I used to create our shortlist.
You should avoid any rings made with environmentally harmful materials like gold mined in rainforest regions or diamonds sourced from war-torn countries.
The following materials are preferred for engagement rings or wedding rings.
Not all engagement rings need to contain a stone. But if yours does, you need to make sure of where it came from.
One great way to do that is to check for independent certifications.
Buying a gold or diamond engagement ring certificated by well-known and respected bodies can give you extra peace of mind that you’re getting a sustainable product.
Some to look out for include:
Not all jewelry companies have ethical standards and business practices, so it’s essential to do your research before making a purchase.
Ensure the company you’re buying from pays their workers a fair wage, doesn’t use child labor, and is transparent about where they source their materials.
In addition to ethical business practices, you’ll also want to ensure the company you’re buying from has eco-friendly business practices across its entire supply chain.
This includes things like using recycled materials, investing in renewable energy, and offsetting their carbon footprint.
Many eco-friendly jewelry companies also give back to the environment or social causes.
Buying from a company that donates to charitable organizations is a great way to support sustainable initiatives.
You might also want to consider the design of the ring.
A lot of sustainable wedding bands are made with simple, minimalist designs. This is because it uses fewer materials and doesn’t require as much energy to produce.
Sustainable engagement rings can sometimes be more expensive than traditional ones due to the cost of materials.
However, depending on your choice, they can also be a lot cheaper (especially if you go for lab-grown diamond or vintage rings).
Having invested in your eco-friendly ring, you want to make sure it lasts a lifetime. Following these simple care tips will help make sure it does.
There is nothing to say that you need a diamond ring for your engagement. There are many other beautiful colored stones you can use, or some people prefer none at all.
Plain rings made from recycled metals work just as well (and usually come in a lot cheaper too).
A lab-grown diamond from a reputable company using sustainable materials and renewable energy is the most ethical option.
Conflict free engagement rings contain diamonds that have been mined and sourced ethically.
Unfortunately, some diamonds on the market today still come from conflict zones where human rights abuses and environmental destruction are rampant, and the proceeds are used to fund wars.
Look for Kimberley Process compliance to ensure your engagement ring does not contain blood diamonds.
Moissanite is ethical, but it’s not as widely accepted as a diamond substitute.
It is a lab-grown stone that is physically and chemically similar to a diamond, but it does not hold the same value.
No, you cannot distinguish between a lab-grown diamond and a mined one with the naked eye. They are physically and chemically identical.
The only way to tell them apart is with specialized equipment that can detect the small impurities in natural diamonds.
To ensure you are buying ethical diamonds, check for recognized certifications.
Responsible Jewellery Council, Faimined, and Kimberley Process are three well-respected labels that the jewelry industry uses to identify conflict-free rough diamonds.
Many experts would advise against using pearl, opal, emerald, and moonstone in engagement rings. This is because they are soft gems that are easily damaged.
I would expand on this and say that any stone other than ethically sourced gemstones should also be avoided, for reasons already stated above.
Choosing an engagement ring is (hopefully) a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so it's something you need to get right.
When you decide to buy an eco-friendly wedding or engagement ring from a sustainable jewelry brand, you are demonstrating that you love both your partner and the planet.
The expert jewelers we've recommended here will guide you through the entire process, with no obligation online consultations.
We had a great experience and I'm confident that any of these brands will help you find the perfect ring for that special someone in your life.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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