At Jacqueline & Edward, we are committed to making a positive impact on the environment and supporting ethical practices throughout our entire production process. Extensive research has guided our choices in determining the most sustainable methods, leading us to prioritise the use of recycled gold instead of fair-mined or fairtrade gold and recycled diamonds over Canada mark diamonds. We recognise that every approach has its advantages and disadvantages, and our aim is to provide you with a balanced, informed perspective, empowering you to make your own decisions. We acknowledge that perfection in sustainability is a journey, and as a conscientious customer considering factors such as the sourcing of materials, the craftsmanship, and the effort to offset carbon footprints is important.
Recycled Precious Metals: Choosing only recycled metals over fairtrade or fairmined gold allows us to minimise our environmental footprint. By repurposing existing materials, we reduce the need for further mining, which has a significant impact on ecosystems. Preserving our natural resources through recycling scrap metals uses less energy, resulting in less greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling gold produces up to 99.8% less greenhouse gas emissions than mined gold.
Our commitment to using recycled metals ensures that our jewellery is not only beautiful but ethical and sustainable.
Recycled Diamonds: Also known as reclaimed diamonds, recycled diamonds are simply pre-owned diamonds that have been repurposed for new jewellery, minimising the need for new mining. Our choice to use recycled diamonds is a result of extensive research and consideration into which method of diamond sourcing is currently the most sustainable. We currently use recycled diamonds, sourced from old lines of jewellery, that adhere to GIA (Gemological Institute of America) standards.
Recycled diamonds can be tricky in terms of their history as we don’t know the exact origin of these diamonds, however we feel that no longer contributing to the mining process is an important reflection of our ethical practices.
Lab-Grown Gemstones: Lab-grown gemstones are physically, chemically and visually identical to mined stones, yet are cheaper and have a smaller carbon footprint. They are grown in a lab with intense heat and pressure, similar to their formation underground, yet taking much less time to create than a mined diamond.
The key difference between a lab-grown gemstone and a naturally occurring one is the lack of inclusions. Inclusions in naturally grown diamonds are slight irregularities, so due to the controlled process of growing diamonds in a lab, these stones are more uniformed.
However, it is crucial to recognise that not all lab-grown diamonds are created equal! Whilst lab-grown gemstones do offer significant environmental advantages over mined gemstones, they still have the potential to leave large carbon footprints. The energy requirements necessary to power a laboratory and maintain the precise conditions can result in high energy consumption. At Jacqueline & Edward we strive to work with lab-grown suppliers such as Bring Diamonds who prioritise sustainability and use renewable energy sources to minimise their carbon footprint.
Achieving this ideal scenario may not always be possible. To cater to all our customers’ preferences, we offer a blend of lab-grown and recycled diamonds, ensuring a range of options that align with your ethical and sustainable values.
A collection of recycled diamonds
Sustainable Packaging: Our commitment to sustainability extends to our packaging. We use handcrafted wooden boxes made from fallen tree branches found in forests. By utilising natural and renewable materials, we minimise waste and promote eco-friendly alternatives to traditional packaging. Our packaging is not only aesthetically pleasing but environmentally conscious. All packaging is made from kraft, undyed paper or card that is 100% recyclable and contains no plastic. You can learn more about our thoughtful packaging here.
Jacqueline & Edward Ring Boxes
Authentic Handcrafted Jewellery: We believe in the true essence of handmade jewellery. Unlike mass-produced pieces labelled as ‘handmade’ after simply hand-polishing, our jewellery is meticulously handcrafted using traditional methods. At Jacqueline & Edward, all our pieces of jewellery are hand-fabricated, meaning a raw piece of precious metal goes through the process of cutting, hammering, shaping and heating (annealing) into your design. Our skilled artisans create each piece with care, ensuring that every ring, necklace or bracelet is a uniqueworkof art. We prioritise craftsmanship over machinery to maintain authenticity and quality of our jewellery. Check out our workshop tourto see the journey of your ring first hand!
Waste minimisation: We take pride in our commitment to minimising waste. Unlike large scale productions where excess inventory sits on shelves, we craft each piece to order. This approach eliminates unnecessary waste and ensures our jewellery is made with intention and purpose. Additionally, we collect and refine all the scraps generated during our production process, allowing us to reuse and repurpose precious metals effectively.
Planting Trees: This is not your typical carbon capture tree planting exercise. We believe in giving back to nature, that is why we have partnered with Trees for Life. For every order we receive, we plant a tree in the Caledonian forest as part of our restoration efforts. This initiative not only helps restore ecosystems but also contributes to carbon sequestration, making a positive impact on our environment. By choosing our jewellery, you become part of our tree-planting mission and support the restoration of our natural world. You can even dedicate your tree to a person of your choice!
Lorna Slater, MSP visit to Trees for Life, Dundreggan.
Purity of Precious Metals: We are committed to using the highest quality materials in our jewellery which is why we use 14ct and 18-carat solid gold (not plated) as well as 950 platinum.
By opting for 18-carat gold we ensure our jewellery contains a higher percentage of pure gold (75% gold content) compared to 9-carat gold (37.5% gold content) translates to a richer, more vibrant colour as well as being more resistant to tarnishing, providing increased durability. To make up the difference of lower carats, other lower quality metals are used, such as silver, copper, zinc, tin or nickel.
Promoting Transparency: Whether it be through our responsible sourcing or trips to our workshop to witness the artistry firsthand, Jacqueline & Edward strive to make the process of your jewellery journey as transparent as possible. Whilst we do not possess formal sustainable or ethical certification, as a small business we take it upon ourselves to personally research the sustainability of our suppliers. This allows us to identify those who have the lowest carbon footprint and the smallest impact on the environment, ensuring that our commitment to sustainability is upheld. This is why our lab-grown diamonds are provided by a range of suppliers including Bring Diamonds, who supply our coloured gemstones. They are a unique, ethical and sustainable lab-grown diamond business based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, using renewable energy to power their facility and grow their own diamonds.
Embracing core values: At Jacqueline & Edward, we don’t just preach sustainability, we embody it in our everyday practices. We actively prioritise eco-friendly and sustainable methods to ensure our products have as little environmental impact as possible. By choosing recycled precious metals, gemstones and lab-grown diamonds, as well as sustainable packaging and handcrafting our products rather than using machines, we aim to uphold our values, and just as importantly, we are continually striving to find new and exciting ways to reduce our carbon footprint!
We try to go above and beyond to create ethical and eco-friendly pieces that celebrate both your style and commitment to the environment. From using recycled precious metals to handcrafting each piece to minimise the waste, we strive to redefine sustainability in the jewellery industry. We are continually researching different ways to make our products even more sustainable in order to bring you the highest quality pieces. Choose Jacqueline & Edward and be part of a movement towards a more conscious and sustainable future.
