Who says Doing A bit Better means you can’t show some powerful bling? Well we have hand-crafted (…get it? Hand-crafted…) a few terms to ask about during your / your significant other’s next trip to the jeweler.

Now, we know our DAbB audience is more than savvy. But remember, just because the salesperson says “our jewelry is natural, made from only recycled gems”, don’t necessarily believe them!  Any jeweler who presents any piece to you as eco-friendly should be able to tell you where each piece came from and how it was assembled.

Fair Trade
Looking at your hand shouldn’t remind you of an impoverished child who makes less in a month than you just paid for your nonfat latte. Ask the company if your pending purchase was sourced and crafted using Fair Trade labor. They should have some literature from the corporate office or from the maker.  Bear in mind that you will pay more for Fair Trade jewelry (typically up to 5%) but why shouldn’t you? Fair Trade means the people involved in making your jewelry were actually paid a living wage.

Recycled Metals
If you ask about the recycled content of a piece, the jeweler should easily be able to tell you the percentage of recycled metal content.  Metal mining is a leading toxic polluter in the U.S., and many people believe it is a major reason why our drinking water is showing increased levels of mercury and other chemicals.  We’re sure you’ve seen more than one advertisement for “Cash for your old jewelry” since the start of the recession.  The result is that there’s plenty of gold, silver, and gemstones to go around.

Organic Gemstone Processing
While looking at eco-friendly jewelry, you might be surprised at how much you like the look of an untreated, natural stone! If, however, you insist upon that rock being shiny, shiny, shiny, then you should ask how the stone was treated.  It should be treated with organic materials.

Sustainable, Organic Materials
There are many materials provided by Mother Nature that look great when crafted, and are 100% sustainable. Tagua net, coconut shell, and many woods and berries are show-stoppers. In addition to looking great, these pieces are often crafted by a true artist – who you’ll be helping to support through your purchase.  Look good, feel good.

There are many types of eco-friendly jewelry, and all you have to do is ask. It’s a simple way of Doing A bit better.