How we source the materials that we use to craft our jewellery pieces matters to us as much as it matters to you. We take great pride in our investment in quality first, fairly priced, ethical, sustainable materials, with our use of Fairtrade gold and recycled sterling silver something we regularly shout out!

Our gemstones are crucial to our creations too, with these stunning stones shaped by nature featuring in many of our jewellery pieces. And you’ll be pleased to hear, we take our time sourcing those too. Read on to discover how we do just that without putting the planet or its people at risk.

The journey from mine to market

Historically, a gemstone’s journey from mine to market isn’t a smooth one. As an industry, the gemstone mining market is marred by huge ethical and social injustices, particularly in small-scale and artisanal operations.

Many of the miners responsible for sourcing the gemstones you see glittering in jewellery shop windows work in dangerous conditions without protective equipment, fair wages or job security. While, in some regions, child labour and forced labour are still prevalent. As a result, we work only with trusted suppliers who can provide a transparent supply chain, so we know exactly where our gemstones come from and the conditions in which they were mined.

A conflict-free guarantee

Unfortunately, the trade can also be linked to armed conflict, where gemstones or conflict stones are illegally mined and their profits used to fund violence. Often referred to as ‘blood diamonds’, conflict stones apply to any gemstone type.

All of our gemstones meet the requirements of the Kimberley Process (or equivalent independent ethical standards), ensuring they are free from conflict and not funding armed groups. Here the Kimberley Process explains more about its important work:

“The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme that regulates trade in rough diamonds. It aims to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds, while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) outlines the rules that govern the trade in rough diamonds. The KPCS has developed a set of minimum requirements that each participant must meet.”

Fair treatment for people…

The sourcing and processing of gemstones involves and affects many individuals and the environment. Being aware and willing to support this bigger picture is our responsibility as an independent jewellery brand as well as our ethical commitment to you.

With this in mind, we prioritise suppliers who work with small-scale artisanal miners to guarantee fair wages, safe working environments and respect for local communities. We primarily choose suppliers who reinvest in the communities where the gemstones are sourced, whether that’s through education, healthcare or infrastructure improvements.

…and the planet

Environmental damage from unregulated mining is rife. It causes soil erosion, water pollution and habitat destruction, further harming local communities whose livelihoods depend on the land. Here at Dainty, we always side with sustainability; our partners use low-impact mining techniques as well as restore land and waterways after to preserve important ecosystems.

Quality without compromise

We believe that beauty and ethics should go hand in hand. That’s why every gemstone is hand-selected for both its brilliance and the integrity of its journey. Discover timelessly styled treasures that tell a story and support all the characters along the way by shopping with us today.