10 Ethical & Sustainable Jewelry Brands For 2023
The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
We’re always searching for ethical jewelry brands and small businesses for sustainable jewelry. We love finding local and woman-owned jewelry companies that dedicate themselves to thoughtful sourcing, fair wages, and give-back initiatives that truly have an impact. Whether it’s a thoughtful addition to our own wardrobe or a sustainable gift for our loved ones, ethical jewelry is an accessory that we can (and do) cherish for a lifetime.
We’ve rounded up our favorite sustainable jewelry brands that pair their values with a dedication to quality and style. Each one of these ethical brands does incredible work—whether it’s sustainably ending cycles of poverty through employment, upholding traditional craft techniques, or sourcing fair-mined gold and other materials, there’s a jewelry brand here that matches your values.
If you’re popping the question (or if you’ve already said yes!), check out our guide to ethical and conflict-free engagement rings.
Best Overall | Most Affordable | Best Luxury
1. Mejuri
Best For | Responsibly sourced and recycled gold
Ethics | Ethically sourced metals & stones, RJC certified responsibly sourced or recycled gold, fair labor, gives back to BIPOC & nonbinary communities
Price Range | $38 (single mini hoop) – $5900 (diamond tennis necklace)
Mejuri doesn’t want you to just wear your fine jewelry on special occasions; the brand wants you to wear it every day. Shop here for rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets handcrafted by specialty jewelers in Italy, India, South Korea, and more—without the traditional luxury markups. The materials include cultured freshwater pearls, genuine mineral stones, and diamonds that are ethically sourced from suppliers who follow conflict-free practices. And did we mention it’s all gorgeous? See our honest Mejuri review for more!
2. Aurate
Best For | Fine jewelry with no markups
Ethics | Ethical working conditions, seventh-generation artisans, sustainably sourced, conflict-free, & recycled materials, gives back to various causes
Price Range | $40 (gold hinge huggie earrings) – $18,000 (diamond bezel tennis necklace)
Born out of NYC, Aurate crafts the delicate, stunning gold jewelry (including engagement pieces) that we love, made with 100 percent recycled gold! Inspired by NYC icons—think historic building doorknobs and the Brooklyn Bridge—the sustainable pieces in this collection come with flair and style, making this line perfect for the modern woman. Crafted by seventh-generation craftspeople (yes, seven), you know you’ll look and feel your best flaunting Aurate. You’ll rise to the gold standard in every way.
3. SOKO
Best For | Kenyan artisan-made pieces
Ethics | Certified B Corp, artisan empowerment through globally connected technology, fair trade practices, upcycled & sustainable materials
Price Range | $58 (bow threader earrings) – $278 (collar necklace)
Fair trade jewelry brand SOKO works with artisans, helping them to build businesses, improve production capacity, and sustainably increase income. Using SOKO’s mobile tools, Kenyan artisans have access to consumers, orders, and payments, and can expand their businesses and entrepreneurial endeavors (and SOKO artisans earn 5X more than the average maker in Kenya). This ethical jewelry collection includes a stunning range of classics and luxury pieces. Inspired by architecture and traditional tribal designs, SOKO’s line has a strong yet minimal aesthetic that eludes to its origins.
4. Brilliant Earth
Best For | Conflict-free gemstones
Ethics | FSC-certified sustainable packaging, traceable diamonds, recycled precious metals, gives back to various causes
Price Range | $95 (pearl stud earrings) – $79,950 (diamond necklace)
Brilliant Earth has a history of ethical and sustainable practices, making them a TGT staple for when we really want to splurge on a piece of jewelry. The brand was one of the first jewelers to provide traceability of a diamond’s origin and ownership, and to offer blockchain-enabled diamonds at scale— you won’t have any trouble tracing the provenance of your Brilliant Earth diamonds. Their provenance claims for natural diamonds, recycled gold, and recycled diamonds are independently audited and verified, so you know you’re getting the real deal! While rings are a popular go-to, Brilliant’s Earth’s necklaces are perfect for layering with formal or everyday wear.
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5. Bario Neal
Best For | Custom & ready-to-ship engagement rings
Ethics | Traceable gems, reclaimed metals, fairmined gold, small footprint, gender-neutral & size-inclusive jewelry, gives back
Price Range | $110 (knottedrush ring) – $12,760 (cluster diamond ring)
For custom engagement and wedding rings (and lots of unique ready-to-ships options too), check out Bario Neal. Founded by designers Anna Bario and Page Neal, this women-owned jewelry company is known for its quality handmade pieces and progressive manufacturing processes. Each item is carefully crafted in their Philadelphia flagship store using fairmined gold, reclaimed precious metals and ethically sourced stones. Bario Neal’s jewelry transcends heteronormative ideals, with gender- and size-inclusivity at the forefront of the company’s design ethos. We’re loving the endless stone options and unique wedding band styles you won’t find anywhere else.
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6. Etsy
Best For | Customizable, one-of-a-kind finds
Ethics | Powered by renewable energy, sustainable & upcycled finds, carbon-offset shipping
Price Range | Varies with seller
Etsy is the place to go if you’re looking for something really unique that also supports small businesses. While it can feel a little overwhelming to hunt through the large marketplace, a little patience can have a huge payoff if you’re looking for something truly special. Everything from diamond heirloom jewelry to handmade artisan pieces from non-traditional materials can be found here; we love the engaging sellers who will work with us to get our order exactly right. Check out one of our favorite shops, Omi Woods, for elegant and chic statement jewelry. Bonus: shops are based worldwide, and Etsy offers carbon-offset shipping!
7. GLDN
Best For | Personalized jewelry and modern heirlooms
Ethics | Handmade, 90% recycled materials, donates 10% profits, 85% pieces are made to order
Price Range | $36 (staple studs) – $480 (milly band ring)
GLDN is a TGT fave for personalized pieces that celebrate the one you love with classic and timeless symbols (think birth flowers, zodiac constellations, or monograms). With a commitment to both affordability and sustainability, the brand offers almost all of its pieces in recycled silver, gold fill, rose gold fill, or solid gold options. Whether you love dainty, everyday pieces or an heirloom-quality piece with sentimental meaning, you’ll find something you’ll love at GLDN.
8. CLED
Best For | Bold, modern statement jewelry
Ethics | Sustainable, cruelty-free & discarded materials, FSC-certified & plastic-free packaging, gives back to various charities
Price Range | $35 (charm) – $390 (loop bracelet)
CLED® focuses on making the fashion industry a more sustainable space by upcycling high quality, existing materials and turning them into stunning wearable art. Derived from the word cycle(d) and stands for Conscious Lifestyle Earth Friendly & Ethical Design, CLED® is committed to redefining modern luxury through its jewelry while minimizing harm to the planet. The bold glass gems you see throughout their pieces are made from recycled glass and no two pieces are the same. Each gem is fused or formed by hand resulting in colorful baubles you’d never imagine came from glass bottles!
9. Catbird
Best For | Dainty pieces for layering
Ethics | Ethical production in Brooklyn, recycled gold & diamonds, conflict-free stones, gives back via giving fund
Price Range | $14 (earrings) – $15,500 (knife edge diamond ring)
The woman-owned and -operated brand Catbird makes its jewelry entirely in-house at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. With more than 40 fairly paid jewelers and artisans on-site, the team crafts dainty, delicate, and stunning pieces of jewelry for everyday wear and beyond, as well as stocking other artisan jewelry like engagement and wedding rings. All pieces use recycled gold and conflict-free, responsibly sourced stones. Plus, the Catbird Giving Fund donates one percent of all sales (not just profits!) to organizations like the ACLU and the Food Bank of New York City.
10. Made by Mary
Best For | Every day chains you won’t want to take off
Ethics | Ethically sourced, fair wages, woman-founded, some made-to-order pieces
Price Range | $22 (stud earring)–$300 (solid 14K gold chain necklace)
With over 40,000 five-star reviews, you know we had to check out Made by Mary. These thoughtful, beautiful pieces are artisan-made and so light and lovely, most customers report never wanting to take them off. So the brand created an option to make it permanent! Book an appointment in their Bluffdale, Utah studio to have the links of your favorite Made by Mary chain welded together in lieu of a traditional clasp. Or, go the traditional route with ready-to-ship pieces that are so comfortable you’ll forget you’re wearing them––until someone stops you to compliment them!
