Three Reasons Custom Jewelry is the Sustainable Choice
Most of us are consistently trying to prioritize more environmentally friendly choices in our shopping. From groceries to clothing, we’re conscious of what we consume and buy, but jewelry isn’t often at the top of the list when people think about ethical shopping decisions. However, it should be! I’m constantly looking at ways to make my jewelry and production processes more sustainable, and that is reflected in a shift I’ve made in my business in 2025.
I’m working with more custom clients this year. Of course, one of my major motivating factors is the creative challenge of designing exclusively for one person’s unique tastes and stories. But the other incredible benefit is that this work aligns my production in the studio with my personal values and my commitment to sustainability.
In a world where so much is new — and new gold prices keep rising — my custom pieces, which often use heirloom stones, repurposed jewelry, and recycled metals have a measurable positive ethical and environmental impact.
Want to learn a little more about why this matters? Here are three reasons custom jewelry is the sustainable choice.
We Use Stones That Are Already Mined
With custom designs, I'm often repurposing heirloom stones or reusing stones from a ring that's been sitting in a jewelry box. Whether it’s your grandmother’s sapphire or your mom’s diamond, we're using what's already above ground rather than contributing to new mining.
There are, of course, ethical mining practices in 2025, and I work with admirable miners from across the United States when I’m sourcing stones. But using what’s already been pulled from the ground is always going to have a lower impact, especially in terms of energy and environmental effects.
There's a Lower Carbon Footprint
Using recycled metals has a significantly lower carbon footprint than relying on mined gold, platinum, and silver. Consider the pollution and refining process that occurs in even the most ethical and clean mining practices. There is no way around the impact and, in some cases, there is a 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when you choose to use recycled gold.
It Gives Jewelry a Second Life
If I'm repurposing stones and metal from an existing piece, we're giving a second chance to something that might have otherwise sat unworn for years to come. And saving something from being sent to a landfill is always more sustainable than buying something new.
Learn More About Custom
From repurposing gemstones to recycling gold, custom jewelry lets us reuse what's already out in the world. If you have a custom project you’ve been dreaming of — whether that’s an engagement ring, a necklace to celebrate a big life accomplishment, or a ring that connects you to a sentimental family memory — let’s talk!
You can learn more about my custom jewelry process here, and we can set up an in-person or virtual appointment to discuss your custom jewelry vision, as well as any stones or metal that we can use from your existing pieces. These are the projects that fuel my creative energy, and I’m excited to learn more about what you have in mind.
