The dazzling beauty of rings, necklaces, and other types of jewelry has long been associated with style, social stature, love, and sentimental value. Impressive as they may be, what most wearers are oblivious to is the degree of environmental harm that is involved to obtain the precious metals and stones used to craft these pieces. By opting to buy sustainable jewelry NYC collectors can help play a role in the reduction of this damage.
Most jewelry is made from gold, silver, or platinum. Contained within rocks and ore in very minute amounts, they can only be extracted through mining methods which by nature are quite destructive to the earth, and implement the use of mercury and cyanide which are toxic elements that remain in the form of waste product contamination.
A reasonable solution to this problem is deciding to buy either previously owned pieces or to get old jewelry melted down and reformed into a new creation by a jeweler. In the case of platinum, it will likely be necessary to locate someone who specializes in its refinement. There are also a select few jewelers who only deal with metals which have been mined in an environmentally friendly manner.
Diamond extraction does not involve toxic materials but it does cause a considerable deal of harm to the landscape just the same. There is one species of diamond, found in Canada which is mined from lake-beds after they are drained to begin excavation that present somewhat less damage to the earth. Diamonds are also a resource that produces some of the wealth needed to fund wars and violence in some nations, although in recent times treaties have been drawn up to change this situation.
If one chooses to buy diamonds that have been mined in Canada or Australia, they are opting to support and industry that is not associated with any sort of conflict. A few mining companies are also striving to restore mining sites when they have been depleted of diamonds. Some opt for synthetic diamonds which can closely resemble the real ones, and do not cause harm to the environment.
Gemstones such as rubies, emeralds, sapphires, are mined in a similar manner which is destructive to the earth, and some of them are also associated with political conflict. These colored stones are also normally treated using heat, radiation, or resin fillers to improve their appearance, all of which can pose a potential risk to those working in the plants where they are processed.
Because these gemstones are found closer to the rock surface, they don't call for as much destructive extraction as diamonds. Research conducted by some companies in the mining industry has also allowed them to alter their practices in a way that limits the pollution produced during extraction. Gemstones can also be recycled by removing them from one piece and resetting them in another.
If buyers continue to inquire about the source and method of metal and gemstone mining used in the manufacture of the jewelry, it will eventually force all sellers to obtain and provide these details for disclosure to their customers. This will help to build awareness of this issue and its importance, both within the retail jewelry market and in general.
Most jewelry is made from gold, silver, or platinum. Contained within rocks and ore in very minute amounts, they can only be extracted through mining methods which by nature are quite destructive to the earth, and implement the use of mercury and cyanide which are toxic elements that remain in the form of waste product contamination.
A reasonable solution to this problem is deciding to buy either previously owned pieces or to get old jewelry melted down and reformed into a new creation by a jeweler. In the case of platinum, it will likely be necessary to locate someone who specializes in its refinement. There are also a select few jewelers who only deal with metals which have been mined in an environmentally friendly manner.
Diamond extraction does not involve toxic materials but it does cause a considerable deal of harm to the landscape just the same. There is one species of diamond, found in Canada which is mined from lake-beds after they are drained to begin excavation that present somewhat less damage to the earth. Diamonds are also a resource that produces some of the wealth needed to fund wars and violence in some nations, although in recent times treaties have been drawn up to change this situation.
If one chooses to buy diamonds that have been mined in Canada or Australia, they are opting to support and industry that is not associated with any sort of conflict. A few mining companies are also striving to restore mining sites when they have been depleted of diamonds. Some opt for synthetic diamonds which can closely resemble the real ones, and do not cause harm to the environment.
Gemstones such as rubies, emeralds, sapphires, are mined in a similar manner which is destructive to the earth, and some of them are also associated with political conflict. These colored stones are also normally treated using heat, radiation, or resin fillers to improve their appearance, all of which can pose a potential risk to those working in the plants where they are processed.
Because these gemstones are found closer to the rock surface, they don't call for as much destructive extraction as diamonds. Research conducted by some companies in the mining industry has also allowed them to alter their practices in a way that limits the pollution produced during extraction. Gemstones can also be recycled by removing them from one piece and resetting them in another.
If buyers continue to inquire about the source and method of metal and gemstone mining used in the manufacture of the jewelry, it will eventually force all sellers to obtain and provide these details for disclosure to their customers. This will help to build awareness of this issue and its importance, both within the retail jewelry market and in general.
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