Today I’m sharing with you my first collaboration of 2019 and it’s an exciting one! I’ve been asked to review a piece by the ethical fine jewellery brand Ingle & Rhode, and I’ll be taking a look at their beautiful Snowflake Earrings, which they have kindly gifted to me to try out.
Have you ever wondered where the diamonds and gemstones for your jewellery are sourced? David Rhode did when he tried to buy an engagement ring and no jeweller was able to enlighten him, so he launched his own ethical jewellery company with friend Tim Ingle in 2007. You can read more about their story here. Following the scandal of blood diamonds in the ’90s, which caused countless deaths and misery, it’s vitally important to any ethical consumer to know where and how to buy ethically sourced conflict-free diamonds, and Ingle & Rhode were one of the first jewellers to achieve this goal.
Snowflake Earrings
I was thrilled to received as a gift the snowflake earrings from Ingle & Rhode’s stunning silver collection. The earrings themselves are exquisitely delicate and beautiful; the snowflake is a classic design and the silver is robust without weighing the ear down. I love that the silver of the snowflake stems is not overly shiny as it makes the diamond in the centre stand out more.
The shape captures the delicate beauty of snowflakes perfectly and I’ve loved wearing them in the snowy weather we’ve had recently. The diamond in the centre of the snowflake gives these earrings a beautiful sparkle, as unique as snowflakes. They hang beautifully and draw the eye. The clasp is very secure, which is quite unusual in earrings, and they won’t slip out – which is great as I’m a fiddler and I’ve lost many an earring this way!
These gorgeous earrings can be paired with all sorts of things, especially during the colder months. They are stunning on their own but they can also be paired with this beautiful matching snowflake pendant. I’ve worn these earrings with thick, winter knitwear and also with dressy gear when going out; I’ve even worn them to the shops, and felt very decadent! They will make a wonderful gift, especially on Valentine’s Day.
Ethical jewellery
Like all good millennials, I’m worried about things; more specifically, the planet. But I’ve never really extended that anxiety to jewellery, though ethical consumerism goes far beyond a reuseable coffee cup. Precious metals and minerals are often sourced in war zones, and consequently people working in the mines are subject to horrific exploitation and abuse; often mines use child labour and fatal accidents are common, as this report by the Human Rights Watch into the trade in the Marange diamonds details.
All of Ingle & Rhode’s diamonds and gemstones can be traced back to the mine and are extracted from Canadian mines, which trade conflict-free diamonds. Ingle & Rhode also ensure that they use in their products gold and platinum from FairTrade or recycled sources. Now that my eyes have been opened to the ethics of jewellery manufacturing, I will certainly be a lot more choosy and inquisitive about where the raw materials have been sourced.
While you’ve heard of Fair Trade, you’ve probably not heard of Fairmining; essentially, this involves mining for precious metals and gems in conflict-free areas, without human exploitation and with a view to limiting environmental harm. The Fairmined label is an assurance that the materials used to create the jewellery have been mined under good working conditions and with fair pay. If you practice ethical consumerism, you can extend these standards to jewels as well, and it’s reassuring to know that all of Ingle & Rhode’s gold, silver, and minerals are sourced from mines that are accredited with the Fairmined label, which means those mines are responsible employers and their practices protect the environment and the miners.
How often do you buy anything and know where it came from? Admiring these earrings and knowing all the component parts that have been crafted together to make such a beautiful product have all been sustainably, fairly and ethically sourced means I can wear three gorgeous snowflake earrings with pride. For years I haven’t bought cheap jewellery because it doesn’t last and just gets dumped eventually; Ingle & Rhode’s beautiful snowflake earrings are a rare piece that will certainly stand the test of time. At £395 they are a a substantial investment but if you were to splash out on yourself or on a loved one you can rest assured that this piece would stand the test of time.
Ingle & Rhode Engagement & Wedding Rings
Ingle & Rhode are perhaps more well known for their wonderful range of eternity, engagement, and wedding rings, but they also offer a bespoke custom made service where you can design your own ring; therefore, if you have something specific in mind they can create it for you.
Again, all of these rings are created using recycled gold, silver and platinum, and ethically sourced diamonds and sapphires. The collections are beautiful, timeless classic creations, which I’m sure you’ll fall in love with as much as I have.
Ingle & Rhode create their jewellery using materials that have been ethically sourced in conflict-free mines. All gold, silver, diamonds, gemstones and minerals can be traced back to the mine, which carries the ‘Fairmined’ certification. Traceability is of huge importance in evaluating the ethical credentials of any brand, and clearly this company take this responsibility seriously and are dedicated to protecting workers and the environment throughout the supply chain. It’s also a huge boon to the modern consumer to know that their purchase is supporting fair mining across the globe and protecting the environment.
I was sent the snowflake earrings as a gift to give my honest review of the product and brand.
This Veggie Life 