We use only certified conflict-free Canadian diamonds. The exceptions to this are custom work that uses client-supplied diamonds, often passed down through the family, and small diamonds - the accent stones around the center diamond. Small diamonds cannot be certified as Canadian because, while there are small Canadian diamonds, they are not tracked by the mines in the same way as the larger diamonds. The cost of the diamonds is too low to justify certification. If and when this situation changes and we can find serialized, small, Canadian diamonds, we will happily use them.

Technically, diamonds that have been through the Kimberley Process are supposed to ensure a conflict-free status, but this process is not without its shortcomings. Currently, Canadian diamonds are the only trackable, independently verified, diamonds from the mine forward.

What about Fair Trade Diamonds?

There are no fair trade certified diamonds. People may call them ‘Fair Trade’ but until they are certified by the Fair Trade Labelling Organization, we’ll have to wait. This is not to say some of the countries mining and cutting locally are not moving in the right direction, but we will not offer you unverifiable guarantees.

METALS

FAIRMINED METALS

FairMined is a new certification from the FLO. The Oro Verde gold we use is presently going through the certification process. At present, there are several artisnal mining groups going through the process and nobody has been certified yet. The Oro Verde gold we use is traceable and all of our jewellery made from this metal includes a tracking number that traces it to the community where it was mined. Because these metals are in limited supply, take more time in processing and costs a premium over the market rate, the jewellery made from them costs a little more. We have a real connection to the small-scale, artisanal, families that mine these metals. We've visited them and recorded their stories in our documentary, The Last Gold Rush, and we were there when they underwent their last certification review from the Fair Trade Labeling organization (FLO) which certifies Fair Trade products around the globe.

CLEAR® is our brand of recycled precious metals. Using recycled metals is a more affordable option for some people. We understand and embrace recycling and this is why we recycle the metals, diamonds and gems from our custom-work clients. We offer our CLEAR® metals as an ethical choice for those who want to use gold that has not been processed using harmful chemicals such as mercury.

Why do some CLEAR® metals say they are certified and others do not?

When we buy precious metals to make into our CLEAR® branded jewellery, we buy it from a refinery that has had their recycling process independently certified by Scientific Certification Systems in the U.S. Jewellery made from gold from this refiner is marked as certified. Some of our products are made by suppliers who also buy certified metals but because we cannot verify the chain of custody ourselves, we do not say these metals are certified.