When it comes to going green, some industries are undeniably further ahead of the game than others. The jewelry industry is not one of those pioneers. Fortunately, after some digging around, I was able to not only find an eco-friendly engagement ring -- but actually make it myself!
I hardly need to lecture on the negative impacts of creating engagement rings. The environmental devastation -- not to mention human conflict -- caused by mining for both precious gems like diamonds, and premium metals like gold and platinum, is well known. And with an industry mostly profiting off of older, extremely wealthy customers that don't demand any change, transparency, or accountability, what incentive do major jewelers have to clean up their operations?
So when I wanted to pop the question, I was overwhelmed with a barrage of mental perplexities: Where do I get an eco-friendly ring? What metals and gems are more environmentally friendly than others? Does a truly 'green' engagement ring even exist?
Quick Google searches on the subject yielded little information, especially for someone well-versed in the deceptions of greenwashing. Most of the websites turning up were filled with links to pages that looked straight out of the Internet of the '90s, when cheesy animated images and self-serve, do-it-yourself insta-websites boomed (remember Geocities?).
But then I stumbled upon a site that looked different, not through its simple design, but the quality of its product. New York Wedding Ring offered something for the eco-minded customer that was elegant and refined, not some dramatic fantasy hippie jewelry that many of the other 'green' sites exhibited (no offense to hippies -- my DNA test reveals that I am actually one-third hippie myself).
After turning up some extremely positive reviews, I decided to get in touch with the man behind the operation, Sam Abbay. Right off the bat, he was extremely informative -- offering his insight and opinion on different gems and metals, and the operations behind the resources.
Sam was quick to point out that he doesn't like the new wave of Canadian diamonds passing themselves off as "eco-friendly." In his eyes, the only remotely eco-friendly diamond is a reused one, or a lab-grown one. (At this still-infant stage of the technology, the latter are actually more expensive than mined diamonds.)
Sam is extremely lucid when detailing the sources of all the materials provided. In this case, we settled on a diamond re-purposed from old jewelry, and recycled platinum that had been melted down for reuse. Then the fun began -- I actually got to make the ring myself!
I'll be honest, before setting to the task, I thought the workshop would be more of a hand-holding, let-me-do-the-cinematic-parts type venture, while Sam did most the work. Boy, was I wrong!
In what took over 15 hours to complete, I toiled away with tedious polishing, filing, grinding and hammering. Of course, Sam was on hand to help with the particularly difficult moments (like setting a princess-cut diamond), but I was glad to have full reins during the exhilarating parts, like lighting up the torch to bring the platinum to a gorgeous red-hot glow.
In the end, I was able to make a one-of-kind ring for my one-of-a-kind love -- a unique experience that was not only incredibly satisfying and rewarding, but the best option at hand for creating an eco-friendly engagement ring, and investing in an effort that really represented my adoration for the woman I want to spend my life with -- rather than merely shelling out some dough at Tiffany's.
Sam was an absolute pleasure to spend such a long stretch of time with, and even he admits that his business -- which he eats, sleeps and breathes -- isn't just a way for him to make money, it's more of a way for him to meet and hang out with interesting individuals, watching them set foot into the blissful journey of marriage while also providing a service rare among the industry. He truly does what he does out of passion, and it shows in the quality of his work, customer service and dedication.
Fortunately, after all that hard work, the love of my life said yes! So we'll be visiting Sam again soon for our wedding bands. In the meantime, check out some incredible photos of the process below (taken by Sam), to see how I made my own eco-friendly engagement ring.
Visit NewYorkWeddingRing.com if you're looking for green jewelry. You won't find anything like it -- or anyone like Sam -- at those big box jewelers.
Follow Travis Donovan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/twdonovan
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Giving a false sense of "green" and setting the bar as terribly low as you have here is NOT a way to encourage people to be more green. It is merely a way to encourage people to be a little less un-green and a LOT more self-congratulatory.
This is similar to what has been happening in our educational system. We don't want to set the bar "too high" and hurt anyone's feelings, so we proudly march towards a future of complete and utter mediocrity (if not lower!).
Again, this was a very sweet gesture on your part and a lovely thought, reflecting a noble sentiment. I wish you and your beloved a lifetime of happiness and I hope this ring becomes a family heirloom so that your great-grandson can be truly green and give this ring to his beloved.
Please do not confuse your personal attachment to this ring with a "green" cause. You may think you are defending the "green-ness" of this ring on this thread, but your responses to others clearly reveal that you are really defending the ring itself (which nobody is actually criticizing at all). I understand this is a very intimate and important piece of jewelry and you want to defend it no matter what, but please do not conflate two issues - that is a disservice to the "green" cause.
This is what is happening in our educational system, beliefs trumping empirical data using unsubstantiated claims in support of beliefs.
You do a disservice to this young man who was pretty straightforward with his process by making unsubstantiated counter claims, at length.
Congrats on her accepting your proposal and I wish you two a long happy life together!
The point is--the diamonds are already there. Why not reuse them and the gold to make another ring? I hate to remake the engagement ring, but the years have worn the band so thin and the setting (platinum--which I would reuse) needs to be reworked to protect the diamond. But I feel like remaking my own ring honors the love that came from his grandmother and from my husband.
We've been married for almost 19 years...and I have several chronic illnesses. The divorce rate for the chronically ill is 75%. Do I need a diamond to prove his love? No. He's an amazing husband and father. It is a symbol. And I've told him if he were to buy me any more jewelry I don't want any more diamonds.
I don't understand the venom/cynicism coming from some people. Travis, I wish you and your bride many wonderful years of marriage, love and bliss :)
In context to your article, recycle diamonds are good; but a diamond mined by a small scale producer polished in his village is better. Recycled gold is good, but Fair Trade gold (now available) that supports responsible, non-toxic mining is better.
There are between 15 and 20 million small scale miners supporting 100 million people worldwide-- most of them very poor. Poverty is bad for the environment. We need to find ways of maximizing the impact of the jewelry sector toward the creation of regenerative economy that supports scale miners, and their ecology in producer communities. A few projects do that now. We are currently similar to where fair trade coffee was in the seventies.
The public needs to become a little bit more educated about the effect of their purchases (not just with jewelry, but with lumber, gas, ANYTHING they buy) and make choices that will reward those who are acting with the next seven generations in mind.
You article helped. But, to see change, everyone must ask their jeweler where he sources from. The key is traceability and transparency from mine to market. Jewelers and civil society members of my organization are already committed to this goal.
i understand all that you've said, and i can appreciate what you wanted to do to show your love for your intended.
to me, no matter what material is used in jewelry, and jewelry making, technically, nothing is green. no matter if the stone is real or synthetic, or if the stone is dust, and is compressed to make a larger stone; the mining of the stone and metal used, as well as the forming of the metal, even the use of wood; small stones could also be found lying on top of the ground. all equiptment used to harvest the contents of any ring will use energy, thus, it isn't green. please don't take wrong what i'm saying, because i mean no foul.
for myself, i believe the only way to be green, is to hand polish the stones used, and look for a lightening killed tree for the ring body itself. a cylindrical stone could be used to "drill" the ring for the prospective wearer also.
i've thought for years, of ways to protect nature and give back what she has gifted me, and i think that i've found one of many.
Many happy, creative years you both! :) Great job!
Take care,
Travis