Rings with a Conscience

There’s an effortlessly beautiful way to elevate your wedding rings: choose sustainably. As the one tangible keepsake from your day that you’ll wear for a lifetime, your rings should reflect not only your story, but the world you share.

Erin Cox

From recycled precious metals and responsibly sourced gems to remodelling heirlooms and discovering vintage treasures, the region’s leading designer-makers are ready to guide y
ou towards an exquisite, earth-kind choice.

Becca Williams

Metal & Stone
The materials you choose play a crucial role in creating a truly sustainable set of wedding bands. “When buying a new piece of jewellery, it's important to consider where the metal and the gemstones have come from,” says jeweller and goldsmith Becca Williams (beccawilliams.co.uk). “Many gemstones aren’t fully tracked from the mine to the final seller, which makes it difficult to ascertain their origin and what their purchases may have funded.” Becca recommends opting for traceability certification schemes – currently available for gold and silver – to help ensure ethical mining practices. “The Fairmined scheme ensures miners are paid fairly and that certain environmental standards are adhered to. The Single Mine Origin Scheme also aims to invest mining profits back into mining communities without overly raising metal prices for consumers.”

Justin Duance

Recycled metals remain one of the simplest ways to reduce your environmental footprint. “We use recycled gold and platinum as standard,” says Jasmine Bowden from Erin Cox Jewellery (erincox.co.uk). “We’re also one of a select group of jewellers registered and fully licensed to use Fairtrade Gold.”

Erin Cox

“All the gold we use is 100% recycled, and because we cast our jewellery ourselves, we do lots of the recycling in-house,” adds Jamila Hirtenstein from Justin Duance (justind.co.uk). “Using recycled gold means we’re not contributing to another huge hole in our planet.”Becca Williams

Gemstones can be approached in the same way – though fair trade certification isn’t yet available. “There has to be an element of trust involved,” admits Jamila. “We’ve pledged to use only fully traced gemstones and diamonds, so we know where the stone was mined, cut and polished, and we continue to keep a record of them right up until they are on your finger.” Their collection includes brown diamonds from Australia, sapphires from Malawi and Sri Lanka, and Canadian diamonds certified by CanadaMark. “Due to more regulated environmental and ethical mining standards in Canada than in other parts of the world, Canadian diamonds are perfect for those who want to make a more conscious choice,” notes Jasmine.

Justin Duance

Recycled stones are also gaining momentum. Justin Duance’s growing selection of vintage diamonds and reclaimed gemstones – salvaged from old jewellery – offers beautifully characterful, second-hand sparkle.

Erin Cox

Another traceable option is Ocean Diamonds. “They’re retrieved without mining by divers from the ocean floor and then cut in South Africa,” explains Becca. “With the company based in Falmouth, there’s a lovely local connection too.” Designer Stephanie Stevens (stephaniestevensjewellery.co.uk) is equally enthusiastic. “I love everything about Ocean Diamonds – the ethos, the idea of them coming from the sea and their sustainable nature.” Becca Williams

Lab-grown diamonds continue to rise in popularity, though Becca advises choosing carefully: “Their impact depends heavily on their country of origin and style of manufacture. Look for stones where the electricity source is transparently shared – stones that are made with solar energy or hydroelectric energy are good environmental choices.”

Justin Duance

“Erin has recently embraced lab-grown diamonds,” adds Jasmine. “Each stone is IGI-certified for authenticity and quality – and utterly breathtaking.”

Erin Cox

Erin Cox
Becca Williams

Sourcing Second-Hand
Pre-loved pieces are a dream for eco-conscious couples. “An antique ring is a very sustainable option because it already exists,” says Becca, who recommends asking your jeweller about vintage options or scouring auction houses.

Erin Cox

“If you’re buying an antique ring, I’d always recommend seeing it in person before you purchase, especially if you're taking the auction route as the ring will often not be returnable,” she advises. “Look for UK hallmarks to ensure the metal quality, and opt for quality gemstones like diamonds, sapphires, rubies or emeralds. And remember, a ring with a little wear and tear can usually be repaired or refurbished.”

Becca Williams

Justin Duance

Heirloom Treasures
Giving new life to family jewellery offers you a bespoke, meaningful piece while opening a fresh chapter in its story. Whether you opt for a simple resize or engraving, or choose a complete redesign, you can be sure that remodelling will yield beautifully sustainable results.

Erin Cox

“Erin has become a go-to jeweller for remodelling, and her molten style lends itself beautifully to giving old pieces new life,” says Jasmine. “Reusing gold and stones reduces waste, breathes new life into precious heirlooms and often results in something even more meaningful than buying new.”

Becca Williams

“We love turning pre-loved jewellery into new pieces that suit the personality and style of the wearer,” says Jamila. “It might sound a bit cheeky, but it’s worth asking family members if they have old jewellery they’d contribute as a wedding gift – some of the most special pieces we’ve made have been amalgamations of family heirlooms.”

Erin Cox

Justin Duance

Eco Makers
Sustainability goes far beyond the materials. From packaging to waste, ask your jeweller about their work practices to ensure your rings come with the lightest possible footprint.

Becca Williams

“We operate with an almost zero-waste mindset in the studio,” says Jasmine. “Every offcut, filing and scrap of gold is collected – we even keep our hoover bags! Any metal deemed unusable is sent to be refined in Birmingham and re-enters the supply chain as recycled precious metal.” Erin Cox Jewellery also uses FSC-certified boxes made from recyclable materials that support responsible forest management, balancing luxury with eco-consciousness.

Becca Williams

“We’re always looking for ways to reduce our impact, from our sustainable cork ring boxes to our morning coffee,” adds Jamila. “Justin Duance is proud to hold Plastic Free Status by Plastic Free Penzance and Surfers Against Sewage – it reflects the changes we’ve made to minimise our contribution to plastic pollution.”