Which sapphires are considered ethical?
Technically, a sapphire isn’t really classed as ethical because it’s not the gemstone that’s ethical, it’s the mining practice.
All of my sapphires are ethically sourced from trusted suppliers, ensuring that highly regulated and responsible mining practices have been used.
Why Australian sapphires?
Sapphires are beautiful gemstones that have been formed over millions of years to give them rich hues of colour. Each stone is unique and they come in a huge spectrum of colours. Some stones even contain more than one colour, these are usually called ‘parti’ or ‘bi-coloured’ sapphires.
Sapphire is the third hardest mineral, measuring 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale, making it an ideal gemstone to use in engagement rings, as it is very durable and resistant to wear and tear compared to other coloured gemstones.
Australian Sapphires are particularly beautiful in my opinion because of the vibrant array of colours that originate from this part of the world. They are typically somewhere on the spectrum of yellow-green-teal-blue, reminiscent of sunlight shining through the ocean or leafy green forests. Green sapphires are a particular favourite of mine.
Another huge reason I am attracted to Australian sapphires in particular, is that they derive from highly sustainable mining practices which gives both myself and my customers peace of mind.
What makes Australian sapphires ethical?
All mining activities in Australia are strictly regulated and have a higher level of standards than most other countries.
Fair labour laws, health and safety regulations, full traceability and the environment are at the core of Australian mining practices.
Once mining operations are complete, miners are obligated to return the mined land to its previous condition. This involves planting trees, seeding and levelling out the land to its previous state. Failure to meet these criteria results in heavy penalties.
Are lab-grown sapphires more ethically sourced than mined sapphires?
Lab-grown sapphires aren’t necessarily more ethical than sustainably mined sapphires. For example, ethically sourced Australian sapphires are extracted under fair labour practices and with environmental care in mind. Just because lab-grown sapphires are grown in a lab doesn’t mean that the facility is treating their workers fairly or that they’re being environmentally conscious. It’s important to do your research and understand exactly where and how the lab grown sapphires are being made.
Why does ethical sourcing for sapphire engagement rings really matter?
Non-ethical mining practices are destructive to our environment and can be dangerous to the people involved. If you’ve ever heard of the term “blood diamonds” it is referring to conflict diamonds that are mined in war zones to fund armed groups and the same thing can apply to sapphires.
I value supporting a mining industry that supports local economies in a positive way and has a minimal impact on the environment.
Are Australian-Sourced sapphires good quality?
Sapphires from Australia have an unmatched beauty and are of a very high standard. Unless I have specifically stated otherwise, the stones I use in my engagement rings have no visible imperfections when viewed with the naked eye.
Once these beautiful ethically sourced sapphires are mined, they are then cut and polished, often within Australia, to enhance their natural beauty. This also supports local artisans and reduces the carbon footprint by removing any additional steps included in transporting raw sapphires overseas for processing.
Overall, Australian sapphires are some of the most beautiful, unique and ethically sourced sapphires on the market and I’m delighted to offer them as the centrepiece in my sapphire engagement rings.
If you have any further questions regarding my sustainable sapphire sourcing process, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Kiya x
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