'Ethical Gems' have become the jewellery interenet's favourite buzz words...but what does it even mean?! Honestly, the meaning of 'ethical gems' is subjective, as ethics is based on personal values and judgement, it runs on a continuum so to speak. Nonetheless, I do acknowledge that the movement of 'ethical gems' stems from the idea of combatting the ugly truths about the exploitive gem industry. A lot of the world's most beautiful gems come from developing countries where conflict and exploitation of people and land exist. This is the sad truth. Do you remember the movie Blood Diamonds starring Leonardo Dicaprio? I do suggest everyone watching it if not, because it protrays the ugly truths about the diamond mining industry in South Africa. So 'ethical gems' can come in varying degrees from fair wages, safe working conditions, abolishing of child labour, protection of land...all the way to even creating lab gems.
Moreover, my take on lab gems might be controversial, as lab gems are NOT my cup of tea. 🍵 …If you’re into jewellery that uses lab gems that’s cool. 👩🏼🔬🥼🔬Each to their own. IMO, what’s preventing a company like Temu from mass producing lab gems? It may come to a point like that if not already. 😖 FYI they simply cannot replicate opals in labs, as natural opals have a lot of natural inclusions, such as sand, potch, dirt and cracks which influence their irregular play of colours. 🎨 …Lab gems are massed produced and so they don’t hold their value. 💸 In Australia, opal mining is regulated under strict legislations to prevent exploitation of people and land. .. I love 😍 the beauty of natural opals 🪨💠 and I am privileged to live in a country that has strict laws protecting the small scale mining practices, which makes Aussie opals so rare and unique because they are found in such small scales..🖤
xoxo Kê Lì