What does conflict-free mean at Aquamarise®?

That a stone did not come from a conflict zone and its supplier can account for where it did come from. Natural diamonds are Kimberley Process certified as a minimum. Where we cannot say more about a stone, we say that on the listing.

Are your gemstones ethically sourced?

They come from a small group of suppliers we have bought from for years, who document origin wherever the trade allows and answer our questions about labor. When a supplier will not answer, we stop buying. That is the honest version of ethically sourced, and it is why we describe the process instead of printing a badge.

Are lab-grown stones more ethical than mined ones?

They avoid mining, which is the largest social and environmental impact of a natural stone. Most of what we set in engagement rings is moissanite or lab-grown diamond for that reason. Natural stones such as moss agate, sapphire and moonstone come with the origin questions above.

Where does your gold come from?

From refiners, who are asked for recycled metal first. Recycled gold carries the same hallmark as newly mined gold. Where recycled stock is unavailable, mostly small findings, we use newly refined metal and say so. See Sustainability.

Can I ask about a specific ring’s stone before I order?

Yes. Email help@aquamarise.com with the ring name and we will tell you what the stone is, whether it is treated, and what we know about where it came from.

Ethical Sourcing

Ethically sourced gemstones and recycled metals, with the paperwork to show for it

Every stone we set comes from a supplier we can name, with origin documented wherever the trade allows and a plain answer on the listing wherever it cannot.

We ask where every stone comes from, and we tell you what we know.

How we buy

Suppliers we know, questions we ask

We buy from a small group of suppliers we have worked with for years. They document where a parcel came from wherever the trade allows it, and they answer our questions about their own supply chains. Not every colored stone comes with paperwork; where it does not, the listing says what we know and nothing more.

We have zero tolerance for child or forced labor anywhere behind our stones and metals, and we do not buy material from conflict zones.

Why we don’t say “conflict-free” lightly

The industry phrase comes from the Kimberley Process, which certifies that diamonds did not fund a war. It says nothing about wages, safety or the land. Any natural diamond we sell is Kimberley Process certified, and we treat that as the floor, not the claim. We use the words conflict-free only about a stone that has origin paperwork behind it, because otherwise the words would mean nothing.

What each stone is, said plainly

Since 2016

Buying from suppliers we know by name

0 tolerance

For child or forced labor

IGI · GIA

Reports on lab-grown diamonds

Every listing

States what the stone is

Sourcing, stone by stone

What each of our most-used stones is and where it starts. The product page repeats it for the specific ring.

Pear White Sapphire Art Deco Bridal Ring Set in Sterling Silver displayed on purple crystal stones, showcasing sparkling pear-shaped white sapphire with delicate sterling silver band by Aquamarise.

Moissanite

Lab-grown silicon carbide. No mine, no origin question, more fire than diamond.

Moissanite rings

Three gold rings with heart-shaped gemstones on a purple background

Lab-grown diamonds

Grown by HPHT or CVD, chemically identical to mined, IGI or GIA report with every stone.

Lab diamond rings

Moss agate

Natural chalcedony from long-term suppliers, every stone different, origin documented where the trade allows.

Moss agate rings

Sapphire

Natural corundum. Heat treatment, where a stone has had it, is stated on the ring.

Sapphire jewelry

Alexandrite

Color-changing chrysoberyl. Each listing says whether the stone is natural or lab-created.

Alexandrite jewelry

Elegant ring with blue gemstone and black band on a light purple background

Starry Night®

Our signature midnight-blue goldstone, cut for the collection that started the studio.

Starry Night® rings

Sterling silver teal gemstone halo ring beside an abalone shell statement ring on lilac satin, Aquamarise collection banner

Gemstones

How we buy gemstones

Colored stones are bought as parcels from suppliers we have known for years, not from whoever is cheapest that month. For each parcel we ask the same questions and we keep the answers.

Where was it mined? Country where the supplier can show it, region or mine where they can go further.
Has it been treated? Heat, dye, stabilization, coating. Whatever the answer, it goes on the listing.
Who cut it, and under what conditions? Suppliers who will not answer this do not get a second order.
Is it what you say it is? Lab-grown stones are sold as lab-grown, simulants as simulants, and the mineral name always appears beside any brand name.

Gemstone guides

What makes jewelry ethical

Silver, rose gold and yellow gold pave eternity bands stacked beside a gold leaf band on lilac, Aquamarise Labor Day sale mobile banner

Metals

Recycled first, and honest about the rest

Our gold, silver and platinum come from refiners, and we ask for recycled metal first. Recycled metal is chemically identical to newly mined metal and carries the same hallmark, so nothing about the ring changes except its history: no new mine, no new tailings.

Where recycled stock is not available, mostly small components such as chains, posts and clasps, we use newly refined metal from the same refiners and we say so. We do not buy metal from unregulated mining, and we do not print a 100% recycled badge we cannot document. The Sustainability page lists what we plan to publish about our metal, and when.

Sustainability

Precious metal guide