KNOWN PROVENANCE
Caring about the materials that are used in the production of a product is not a new phenomenon, nor is it a passing phase. Notably, jewellery has a troubled history with the ethics and practices used to obtain raw materials. We align with a new generation of makers and consumers willing and able to pay more money for more transparency and more intentionality throughout the supply chain. Fine Craft Makers partners with independently audited suppliers to offer complete chain of custody from the earth to our workbenches.
Gold
The Association of Responsible Mining (ARM) is a leading actor in the development and auditing of best practices for the precious metals mining industry. ARM regulates and licenses the name "Fairmined" to a very select group of mines in South America. Within the Fairmined standard, the most restrictive, and thereby most environmentally and socially conscious, designation is labeled at "Fairmined Ecological Gold". Fine Craft Makers exclusively uses Ecological Fairmined Gold from the Oro Puno mine in Peru where the process is free of cyanide and mercury. Makers and consumers can be assured that their support of this standard directly, and positively, affects the communities where the gold is extracted.
Diamonds
The Kimberly Process (KP), established in 2003, is a regulated process for assuring makers and consumers that diamonds used or purchased are "conflict-free". The KP has functioned well to curb the flow of money from mining that is used to fund civil wars. The standard falls short addressing many of the continuing gaps in the supply chain with respect to environmental and social concerns. Select mines in the world build on the KP and allow unbroken chain of custody from earth to workbench; even fewer follow the chain for melee diamonds (those smaller than 3.4mm in diameter). The Ekati diamond mine in the Northwest Territories, Canada, follows the KP, allows an unbroken chain of custody for melee, offers industry leading community outreach, and leads environmental stewardship programs. All Fine Craft Makers diamonds come from the Ekati mine.
Tsavorites
Few colored gemstones hold as well a documented history as the tsavorite. First discovered in 1967 within the Tsavo National Park, Kenya, the tsavorite is a garnet formed with the presence of vanadium to create stunning and deep shades of green. Unlike their red garnet cousins, tsavorites are extremely rare. They are the quintessential green gemstone. Found only in only a small region of the world, along the Kenya/Tanzania border, tsavorites are more durable, rare, and radiant than an emerald; and are the signature colored gemstone of Fine Craft Makers. We source tsavorites exclusively from suppliers who are certified good actors by the Responsible Jewelers Council.