Ethical Gemstones: What They are and why to Choose Them
Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires: we all know how to list precious stones, at least the most well-known ones. Not everyone, however, knows what ethical precious stones are and why they are increasingly important in the world of jewelry.
In this article, we want to help you learn about this type of gems and make a responsible choice when purchasing your jewelry.
Ethical Gemstones: What They are and why to Choose Them
What are ethical gemstones
Ethical Gemstones: What They Are and Why to Choose Them – Gemstones are minerals with various characteristics such as hardness, color, transparency, and especially rarity: this is what gives them high economic value. Like all minerals, these gems must be extracted and processed before they can be used to create jewelry, and it is precisely in the processing that the main ethical aspect lies.
Often, mineral extraction occurs under very harsh conditions for workers and with a heavy impact on the environment; furthermore, the large profits from this activity have frequently supported wars and criminal organizations.
Therefore, “ethical gemstones” are defined as gems that are extracted while respecting three conditions: protection of workers’ rights, environmental protection, and the absence of illicit financing to criminal or violent activities.
The Reasons for a Responsible Choice
There are therefore three excellent reasons to choose ethical gemstones.
For Workers’ Rights, against Child Labor
Child-labor free stones are those that are not extracted using child labor and whose producers generally guarantee safety and fair conditions for mine workers. In many parts of the world, mineral extraction is still an unregulated activity. Workers are often not protected and operate in unsafe conditions, without receiving adequate wages and without healthcare assistance.
The situation worsens with child labor. In many cases, children are employed not only in extraction but also in cleaning and processing minerals, exposing them to serious health risks. Among the most frequent diseases are silicosis, which scars the lungs due to inhalation of silica dust, bone deformities, and skin conditions.
Protecting the Environment and Local Populations
Producers of ethical gemstones commit to minimizing environmental impact and supporting local communities with economic and social projects.
Mining can indeed have a heavy impact on the surrounding environment. Often entire forests are destroyed and rivers are diverted or blocked, leading to soil erosion and impoverishment. Another equally important effect is air and water pollution from emissions caused by extractive activities. All of this can have serious consequences for the territory and the population living there.
Fighting Wars and Crime
The definition “stones conflict-free” guarantees that profits from gem extraction and processing are not used to finance wars, acts of terrorism, criminal organizations, or corruption activities. This has often been discussed regarding diamond trade, as depicted in the film Blood Diamond with Leonardo DiCaprio, but the problem concerns all gemstones.
One of the most well-known cases is that of Myanmar rubies, which, according to accusations by humanitarian organizations, are used to finance the military regime that took power through a coup in 2021.
How to Choose Ethical Gemstones
Since 2002, an international agreement guarantees the trade of conflict-free diamonds. This is the Kimberley Process, signed by 37 countries, including Italy, which certifies the origin of diamonds and ensures they are not intended to finance wars and revolts against UN-recognized governments.
For other gems, however, there are no similar agreements yet, making it more difficult to establish their origin and characteristics. Assogemme, the Italian association of sector companies, is working on this with a dedicated Ethical Committee for Colored Gems.
While awaiting new shared regulations for colored gems as well, the safest way to choose diamonds and other ethical gemstones is to rely on competent and experienced professionals, capable of meeting the specific needs of each client.