We talk alot about eco-ethical weddings at Mindfully Wed, but let’s take a moment to talk about the piece of jewellery that symbolises and sometimes starts it all – the ring!
Buying an engagement or wedding ring is a huge investment for couples. You’re not just buying metal and stone, you’re investing in a piece of jewellery that lasts a lifetime with some even being handed down through generations. They represent the love and commitment between a couple and will most likely be the most expensive piece of jewellery you’ll ever own. Such a big investment requires careful consideration, not just popping down to your local chain jewellery store for a mass produced ring.
We’ve asked Melbourne based bespoke jeweller, Laura from Coral Covey Jewellery, to explain what it means to purchase ethically made rings and why it’s so important. Whether you’re planning on popping the question to your partner, or you’re engaged and looking to purchase that special piece of jewellery together, there’s a few things to consider before your big investment.
Can you explain to me how your wedding jewellery is made sustainably?
This is a question Laura is asked a lot. For her, it’s her commitment to slow fashion, conservation, secondhand consumerism and recycling that underpins everything she does in her business too. Laura suggests asking the same question of any jeweller that you may be interested in, to get a clear picture of what they mean by sustainable (i.e. let’s make sure they’re not greenwashing!)
To give you an idea, here are some ways Coral Covey Jewellery is environmentally sustainable:
- She uses 100% recycled sterling silver, gold & platinum (sourced from Heraeus GmbH)
- Her workshop is powered by 100% renewable energy
- Her Coral Covey jewellery boxes are handmade in New Zealand from a sustainably managed forest
- She donates every month to her chosen charities
- All packaging/print media is made from natural biodegradable materials
- Any precious stones are locally mined and/or cut or come with a certificate of origin
- Each piece is carefully handmade in Melbourne/Naarm by Laura
Photo credit: @viewfinderstudios
What makes a stone ethical?
An ethical stone will be sourced using fair wages, traceable to its original source, and mined using sustainable and environmentally responsible methods.
Is ethical jewellery just about sourcing ethical stones?
Ethically sourced stones are certainly one of the biggest considerations for a ring, but the metal itself should be either 100% recycled or purchased from an ethical source. When it comes to crafting the ring; fair wages, safe practices, and preserving craftsmanship are important too.
If Laura has a couple who are interested in a particular stone and Laura can’t source it ethically, she works with the couple to find a solution. Whether it be to source stones from a pre-loved or heirloom piece, or to consider alternative stones all together.
Lab grown diamonds are often suggested as an ethical or sustainable alternative to unethically sourced diamonds, but for more information on the difference between lab made diamonds and ethically sourced diamonds check out our blog post here.
The bride client inherited a piece of jewellery from her family. Laura unset the diamond from the original piece and incorporated it into the wedding band.
We have some heirloom jewellery, can we use that to make a new ring?
Using heirloom jewellery is a great way to recycle metal and stone, and to make a meaningful piece of jewellery with a history.
Laura will inspect the pieces and take them to a professional valuer to establish the density and carat of the material. They are then given a market value which is credited towards the final ring.
Jewellers typically won’t work with chipped, cracked or broken stones, which is why it is important to have it assessed by a professional valuer.
Diamonds, sapphires and rubies are the most durable and hard wearing, as they get the highest reading on the MOHS scale.
Australian parti sapphires, particularly free-form cuts. Australian soil produces the most incredible coloured sapphires – predominately hues of green, blue and yellow. A parti sapphire is distinguished by the presence of two or more colours within a single stone, making each one uniquely special—no two are the same. Free-form cuts enhance this uniqueness further, as lapidarists cut the sapphires in an organic way which does not conform to traditional, classic cuts.
Can we source our own stones? Or can you source stones for us?
Yes! You can provide your own stones or Laura will source stones for you. Laura only uses reputable suppliers who source their stones ethically.
Laura encourages couples to consider unique stones that have beautiful imperfections – which also means choosing stones that you really connect with. She will often pull a tray of unique stones out for couples and they will be immediately drawn to a particular stone – unlike diamonds which can look very similar.
FUN FACT: Australian parti sapphires are great because we know they’ve been sourced ethically, sometimes by small fossickers.
The initial sketch for an engagement ring by Laura (Coral Covey Jewellery)
The finished ring for Cassie – by Laura from Coral Covey Jewellery
What are the first steps couples should take when they’re in the market for an engagement or wedding ring?
Do some research and find a jeweller that matches your ethos and aesthetic, then get in touch and ask them what their policy is for in-person or online consultations. You don’t always need to be in the same city as your jeweller!
For Coral Covey, you can Book an in-person consultation or an online consultation (Zoom, Whatsapp and videolink). There’s even an option to have stones couriered to the couple directly so they can choose.
Laura suggests you should know these three things before you get in touch with a jeweller:
- When do you need it by? (For custom jewellery you’ll typically be working within a minimum 8 week timeframe)
- What is your budget?
- Have you seen a ring online that has caught your eye?
But I want to pop the question soon! What can I do?
Ask yourself if it’s important to pop the question with or without the ring. If you want to use the ring, then you’ll need time. If you’re happy to propose without the ring, Laura suggests pre-booking an appointment with the jeweller so you can go soon after the proposal. She finds couples really love designing rings together, so this is her most popular option.
CUTE IDEA: THE RESERVE RING Laura has “reserve rings” that can be hired and used for the proposal and then the deposit can be used towards the final ring. After the proposal you can make an appointment together to discuss ring designs.
The Reserve Ring, which you can hire from Coral Covey jewellery and the cost of which can be used as a deposit for your engagement or wedding rings. You can read more about that here
Why do you think couples should shop for something unique and handcrafted over mass produced jewellery from chain retailers?
Some couples might pop down to their local chain jewellery store and buy a ring in the size they require. Easy as that right? We don’t think so. These couples probably don’t consider that these types of rings are not unique, and are instead mass produced. They may not use ethically sourced stones, and they may not have even been made in Australia.
For Laura, one of the biggest reasons you should choose a unique and handcrafted engagement or wedding ring is to support local makers. Knowing your ring has been crafted by the hands of a local artisan is something special. It also boosts the local industry, economy and community. And by keeping things local, it’s better for the environment.
This ring was designed to look like cherry blossoms, representing their Chinese heritage. You can read more about this ring and their story here.
What are the benefits of using a custom jeweller?
Laura loves that it’s a collaboration between the jeweller and the couple. Couples love being able to tell people that they designed their engagement or wedding ring!
Laura loves working closely with the client to create some amazing details and make sure everything has a meaning. It’s not just a symbol of the engagement or marriage, but can be symbolic of what they want their relationship to be, and their hopes and dreams for the future.
These custom details might be a special engraving on the inside of the ring, or the stones and settings are meaningful to their love story. This is where your custom jeweller will help you design something special.
These rings were designed in secret with client Chloe, to propose to her partner Aaron while hiking in Tasmania. A lot of the meaning is hidden on the inside of the band. You can read more about these rings here.
MORE ABOUT LAURA FROM CORAL COVEY JEWELLERY
Coral Covey was founded and established in 2014 by Australian jewellery designer (fine artist, gold & silversmith, photographer & illustrator) Laura Deakin. The name, Coral Covey, is the unity of Laura’s two grandmothers, Coral McKissick and Gladys Covey, who were both important influences in the designer’s life, and taught her the importance of caring for her community and environment.
Coral Covey is a business committed to sustainable jewellery practices. It is Laura’s goal to continue making a positive environmental difference within her field of bespoke art.
You can read more about Laura’s work on her website: https://coralcovey.com/
