The Best Eco-Friendly Jewelry Brands That’ll Leave You Dazzled
By Jharna Pariani
Explore these sustainable jewelry brands creating baubles that are easy on the planet and even easier on the eyes.
Formed deep within the earth’s surface, comprising entirely of carbon atoms that bond together to grow crystals under high pressure, resulting in a precious stone that has dazzled societies for centuries. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but they're no friend of the environment or the people that mine it.
Just take the indigenous Bushmen of Botswana, who have been living as hunter-gatherers in their ancestral homeland for over 10,000 years but have faced multiple evictions by their government which has been relentless at making it harder for the Bushmen to return to their land, especially since the discovery of diamonds in their region. (Botswana is the world’s second-largest producer of diamonds, where mining alone contributes to a third of its gross domestic product.)
Mined gold and other precious metals have a similar, troublesome reputation. Rising gold prices have a tendency to attract miners who end up causing permanent damage to indigenous reserves. From an environmental standpoint, mining has harmful repercussions that are completely irreversible. A study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that the forest-rich nations of Brazil, Indonesia, Ghana, and Suriname have cumulatively accounted for 80% of tropical deforestation caused by large-scale mining operations that ran from 2000 to 2019.
Gold mining also has disastrous effects on nearby water resources leeching toxic chemicals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cyanide that contaminate groundwater and poison drinking water resources.
The sustainable jewelry market though is coming up with creative ways to hold the gaze of jewelry connoisseurs. With advanced solutions like diamonds created through carbon capturing technology to gold that's "mined" from landfill-bound iPhones, or simpler ideas like redesigning hand-me-down heirloom jewelry to recycling precious metals, these pieces look just as dazzling as their virgin mined counterparts to the point where the naked eye can’t even tell the difference.
Take a look as we’ve rounded up a selection of eco-friendly fine jewelry brands that’ll add a finishing touch of glamour to your look, without harming the environment.
Note: Remember to make the most of everything you already own first, swap or borrow clothes from friends, browse through some of our favorite secondhand or consignment shops or thrift stores near you, then prioritize quality and durability over quantity with everything new you purchase!
This guide contains affiliate links, which means we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you choose to purchase through some of these links. This helps us continue to create these free resources for you! As always, we only feature brands we love (and that we think you'll love too!) and that meet CFC's strict sustainability criteria.
Where to Find Sustainable Jewelry by Budget
Ranging from $$-$$$:
1. Monica Vinader
Monica Vinader is an eponymous recycled jewelry brand creating stylish pieces that appeal to both the minimalist and statement-making customer. Based in the UK, the brand creates its covetable pieces using 100% recycled silver and gold, along with conflict-free diamonds.
Each Monica Vinader piece comes with a five-year warranty to cover repairs, replating, and even resizing — all free of charge.
What’s more? The brand also offers a range of Product Passport pieces as a part of their traceability program which allows customers to trace the origin of each item digitally.
In an additional effort to recycle and keep materials in circulation, they also encourage customers to send in their worn-out gold or silver jewelry pieces from any brand for a $25 voucher towards their next purchase.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets
2. Mejuri
Mejuri is a woman-owned brand creating everyday fine jewelry that is a cut above the rest. Their pieces balance clean opulence with just the right amount of fun and edge.
In creating investment-worthy baubles, the brand has maintained a conscious stance on its ethical practices and environmental responsibility. They use a large percentage of recycled gold and sterling silver in their pieces, along with conflict-free and lab-grown diamonds made from 100% renewable energy, while also investing in philanthropic efforts to uplift women and non-binary people in their community.
The brand offers a wide range of pieces that can be personalized and engraved to your liking, along with a dedicated range of timeless jewelry for men.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets, Rings
3. Odette New York
Odette New York is a woman-owned brand creating sculptural pieces inspired by organic and industrial shapes, natural specimens, artifacts, and primitive forms.
Whether it’s in the form of a crocodile, rabbit, seashell, or a beautifully abstract shape, these pieces are perfect for everyday wear and are created using 100% SCS-certified recycled metals — a third-party certifier that verifies the percentage of products that are made from recycled content or recycled materials.
In an effort to minimize their carbon footprint, the brand works with local artisans and family-run businesses for the casting and manufacturing of their recycled jewelry.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets, Charms
4. BAR Jewellery
Based out of London, BAR Jewellery is a woman-owned handcrafted recycled metal jewelry brand with a timeless approach to designing its pieces. Whether it’s a personalized necklace or a sculptural ring, these understated pieces will work with a variety of looks and occasions for years to come.
All of their pieces are crafted from either recycled silver or recycled brass that are derived from industrial scrap, electronics, medical equipment, old jewelry, or household scraps like locks and hinges.
The brand works with skilled artisans who are paid a fair wage and have a transparent supply chain.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets
5. AuTerra
AuTerra is a South African brand "mining" gold and silver from landfill-bound electronic waste to create gorgeous minimalist pieces that were made to be worn on a daily basis.
Known for being great conductors of electricity, and a resistance to corrosion, gold and silver are often found in defunct electronic devices and have become a great resource for precious metals. The brand claims that it can take about 16 recycled cell phones to make a fairly delicate 9K ring like this Flat Top Ring.
Intrigued couples can even opt for fully customizable wedding bands made entirely of e-waste that shares an indistinguishable resemblance to conventionally mined gold.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bangles
6. Iron Oxide
With elegant pieces that are a subtle game changer for any look, Iron Oxide is a woman-owned brand creating beautiful handcrafted jewelry made using either lab-grown or ethically sourced gemstones. (These gemstones come from suppliers who pay their miners living wages and provide proper safety gear for cutting and grinding gemstones.)
With pieces that are the epitome of timeless minimalism, each piece is hand carved on a wax model which is then cast into a mold locally in Portland, Oregon using recycled metals.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings
Ranging from $$$-$$$$:
7. Kimaï
Co-founded by two women, Kimaï is a London-based recycled gold jewelry brand creating beautiful handmade-to-order pieces possessing a dainty and elegant quality that won’t go unnoticed.
Using recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds, the brand also creates a range of stylish men’s bracelets and engagement rings for him and her. We love the fact you can find a range of earrings to compliment every ear piercing, along with ear cuffs and climbers to create an ear stack that’ll turn heads.
P.S. If you’re based out of London, you can bring in your unworn heirloom pieces for a complete redesign to a style of your liking, so you can cherish them forever.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets, Men’s Bracelets
8. Aether
Aptly named after the ancient Greek personification of the clear upper air of the sky, Aether creates eco-friendly diamond jewelry using carbon capture technology that converts atmospheric carbon into dazzling diamonds.
Their revolutionary carbon-to-carat technology has not only earned them several laurels but has also enabled them to become the first and only B Corp-certified diamond company in the world.
Discover a range of exquisite fine jewelry that make for worthy investment pieces and a collection of beautiful engagement rings for when you want to say “I do”.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets,
9. LYLIE
LYLIE is a London-based woman-owned brand that got its start creating recycled gold jewelry retrieved from "mining" e-waste. Today, the brand’s salvaged gold is mainly sourced from its Gold Exchange program, which has grown in popularity and handed them a surplus of metal being sent into their recycling initiative.
Apart from its salvaged gold, LYLIE also uses lab-grown diamonds and recycled vintage diamonds to create modern heirlooms that’ll be a cherished addition to your treasure trove.
They also offer a range of bespoke services like custom engagement rings, heirloom jewelry remodeling, engraving, and even the ability to commission a completely unique piece of jewelry.
Men can also find a range of stylish cufflinks, wristlets, and necklaces to adorn themselves.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets, Bangles, Men’s Jewelry
10. myGEMMA
Just like the family heirloom that has been passed on for generations, there’s nothing more sustainable than a piece of jewelry that’s in constant circulation. And that’s why we’ve included the secondhand fine jewelry marketplace myGEMMA in this guide.
If you’ve always wanted a Tiffany & Co. ring or a Cartier Love Bracelet, myGEMMA is the place to find authentic pre-loved designer jewelry for a slashed price tag.
All of the secondhand jewelry pieces listed on their site are certified and authenticated by their team of luxury experts and are marked by their condition (good, very good, excellent, or pristine) to help you make an informed investment.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets, Brooches
11. Melissa Joy Manning
Melissa Joy Manning's eponymous sustainable jewelry brand creates elegantly enduring pieces using recycled metals and conflict-free stones.
Known for their popular hugs or huggie earrings that are known to hug the ear, as they wrap around the earlobe, the brand also creates a range of one-of-a-kind pieces that will be exclusive to its buyer and not recreated.
You can also consider commissioning a custom piece using stones from your own collection that have been sitting in your jewelry box and waiting for a chance to be revived.
The founder, Melissa has also co-founded the CFDA Sustainability Committee and is an active mentor to the designers participating in their sustainable initiative.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets, Anklets
12. Lilian von Trapp
Based out of Berlin, Lilian von Trapp is an eponymous woman-owned minimalist jewelry brand creating delicate pieces that are bound to add a polished finish to any outfit.
The brand uses recycled gold and vintage diamonds from old jewelry to design its dainty pieces while also offering an upcycling service to customers who would like to modernize or modify pieces from their existing jewelry.
They also have a special range of wedding bands for men and women who are ready to take the big step.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets, Charms
13. Alighieri
Designing modern heirlooms rooted in literature and art, Alighieri is a BIPOC woman-owned brand based out of the UK that creates artisanal jewelry using recycled precious metals.
Inspired by and named after the late Italian poet, Dante Alighieri, every piece has a unique story to tell and arrives at your doorstep in their signature recycled gift box along with a hand-written message.
The brand offers complimentary repairs on all its pieces and makes it a point to reuse excess metal waste from its production process.
Alighieri also creates uniquely crafted diamond rings and wedding bands for brides and bridegrooms who enjoy all things untraditional.
What you’ll find: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets
About the Author:
Jharna Pariani is a fashion writer and creative strategist whose work is rooted in honesty and deep observation of the world around her. When she isn’t busy penning down her thoughts, she moonlights as a video editor creating fashion and food reels on Instagram for several brands and influencers.
