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Eight ethical jewelry brands that will delight your Valentine—without hurting the planet

These pieces from AUrate, Cuyana, Tini Lux and more are environmentally friendly and ethically sourced.

Eight ethical jewelry brands that will delight your Valentine—without hurting the planet

[Photo: courtesy AUrate]

BY Rachel Kim Raczka3 minute read

In a sea of direct-to-consumer jewelry brands, there are plenty of affordable options for finding a stylish, thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift. But before you go clicking around for the most affordable gold vermeil gift you can find, consider that materials such as gemstones, gold, and other precious metals can have a heavy toll on both the human workers who retrieve them, as well as the environment.

That’s why we did the hard work of finding you dependable jewelers that are stylish and timeless and unique but also conscious of maintaining transparent environmental and employment practices. Here are some of our favorite ethical, eco-friendly brands with clever solutions—from lab-grown diamonds to interchangeable, buildable earrings—designed to be treasured forever. Because buying less always means more.

[Photo: courtesy Catbird NYC]
Catbird NYC
This New York mainstay offers their baubles and beauties online, where you can explore their dainty, vintage-inspired finds and creations, many of which are ready to ship for V-Day. For their in-house fine jewelry collection,Catbird reliesheavily on recycled precious metals and keeps a transparent trail for diamonds and gems through their supply chain. We’ll be turning to them forpersonalized piecesand sentiment-driven designs — like theseteeny tiny key-shaped pendantsthat you can have engraved with a home address.Awww.
[recommender link1=”https://www.catbirdnyc.com/tiniest-key-charm-yellow-gold.html” label1=”Catbird Tiniest Key Charm” price1=”From $88″ ]

[Photo: courtesy Tini Lux]
Tini Lux
Designed as a solution for founder Jackie Burke’s sensitive ears, Tini Lux uses medical grade titanium, which is hypoallergenic and arecommended, skin-safe metalfor new piercings. While this might sound like true love to some people, others can look to their sweet, stackable, no-fuss hoops, chains, and huggies that can surely charm your Valentine—no matter their age. (Don’t miss the very cuteLittle Luxline featuring screw-back studs for first-time wearers.)
[recommender link1=”https://tinilux.com/collections/little-lux” label1=”Tini Lux Earrings” price1=”Prices vary” ]

[Photo: courtesy AUrate]

AUrate
This Kerry Washington-invested fine and demi-fine jewelry startup is flush with beautiful everyday gold and gem pieces. Aurate prioritizes its ethical values: It uses 100% recycled gold—a conservation effort not to mine new metals—and ethically sourced gems abiding by the Kimberley Process, an international coalition that monitors the restriction of conflict diamonds. We love their elegant vintage-inspired rings, which start at $280 for gold vermeil and are ready to ship.
[recommender link1=”https://auratenewyork.com/collections/all” label1=”Aurate Jewelry” price1=”From $280″ ]

[Photo: courtesy J. Hannah]
J. Hannah
Founder Jess Hannah wants to make your hands look great: Her namesakeJ. Hannah nail polish brandfirst made the chic-indie wish list in 2017, and now she sells a range ofbold, ethical jewelrythat’s just as covetable. Pieces range fromgraphic masculine renditions of signet and class ringstochunky chain braceletsinspired by gold, rounded sculptures from the 70s. And if things are really heating up, Hannah’s bridal line,Ceremony, instills the same responsibly sourced practices in modern diamond rings and bands made from recycled materials.
[recommender link1=”https://jhannahjewelry.com/” label1=”J. Hannah Jewelry” price1=”From $195″ ]

[Photo: courtesy Kinn]

Kinn
Declared modern heirlooms, Kinn’s solid gold jewelry suite is designed to be timeless. Every L.A.-made item is classic with a luxe twist, for instance, the Colette Tapered Necklace, a solitaire necklace with a slightly slanted emerald-cut diamond, and the Kennedy Herringbone Chain II, a slightly rounded rendition of the typically flat, woven gold necklace. Kinn’s designs are made with gold certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council and stones that meet Kimberly Process standards.
[recommender link1=”https://kinnstudio.com/” label1=”Kinn modern heirloom jewelry” price1=”From $120″ ]

[Photo: courtesy Vrai]

Vrai
Sustainable science-made stones from the Pacific West are the focus of Diamond Foundry’s D2C brand, Vrai. While their zero-carbon-footprint, lab-grown diamond engagement rings are tough to beat, their traceable fine jewelry collection features playful designs that are set in solid gold and sparkle just the same. We love the clever Mixed Cuff Ring, which pairs negative space and two retro-cuts for a truly unique spin on the everyday diamond, and the ever-so-dainty Bezel Bracelet.
[recommender link1=”https://www.vrai.com/all-jewelry” label1=”Vrai Ethical Diamond Jewelry” price1=”From $180″ ]

[Photo: courtesy Cuyanan]

Cuyana
Cuyana’s first modular jewelry collection features a tastefully curated collection of interchangeable and buildable earrings. Each gold-plated, recycled-brass earring and embellishment can be mixed-and-matched for modern, multi-hole creations; or wear them alone, they’re perfect that way too. Like their handbags and apparel, Cuyana’s intent is for you to buy it once, and buy it right. And who doesn’t want that no-fail, sticking value in a gift?
[recommender link1=”https://www.cuyana.com/jewelry” label1=”Cuyana Modular Jewelry” price1=”From $75″ ]

Hernán Herdez
These sculptural pieces are made from recycled metals and are perfect for that someone who wants a subtle conversation starter. Artist and founder Melissa Hernández’s designs are handcrafted by New York-based silversmiths and feature softly swooping curves and colorful stones. We like the funky, unforgettable Fiesta Ring, a grooved band with three sapphires set in 18k plated brass. 

[recommender link1=”https://hernanherdez.com” label1=”Hernán Herdez Collection” price1=”Prices vary” ]

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