Ethical jewellery

The spotlight of scrutiny is turning on jewellery which for centuries has got away with being the face of cruelty and avarice. So if you're investing in a piece for yourself or a loved one, check its provenance. 

Ellie Air jewellery is fair trade and ethical

Blood diamonds are stones mined in a war zone and sold to finance that war. So who would feel good about wearing a blood diamond on their finger? More jewellers, such as Ellie Air, are taking huge care to ensure they use only ethically produced gold and gemstones in their designs. Pictured above: Sapphire Polaris necklace, £550, from Ellie Air

Lauren Rowden, founder of jewellery brand Ellie Air, is among a growing number of jewellers bringing ethicality and sustainability to the jewellery trade. She uses 100 per cent recycled Fairmined gold in her pieces and sources all gemstones and diamonds for her designs from suppliers who have direct contact with miners and cutters, to ensure they do not come from conflict zones.

She offers several collections, with prices starting in the hundreds, which each piece being hand-made in Dorset.

Hope necklace from the Vault Collection, by Ellie Air, from £110
Sunburst rose cut diamond pendant, £600, ellieair.co.uk

Other ethical/sustainable jewellery brands

Anuka Jewellery

Yala Jewellery

Solitude the Label

Ingle & Rhode