Eco-friendly Wedding Rings

Make Your Own Wedding Bands

ecofrien — Sun, 22 May 2011 15:11:54 +0000

It doesn’t get more meaningful than this. You can hand-craft wedding rings for each other at New York Wedding Ring’s one-on-one jewelry workshops. At the end of the day you will have made each other’s wedding bands and put all that loving energy into them, and they will be totally unique. Couples need no previous experience and are guided through each step by a professional metal-worker.

Various recycled precious metals are available to choose from, or you can bring in a piece of family jewelry that is no longer worn, to melt down and re-create into an even more meaningful piece.

There are also workshops to make engagement rings, where you can learn how to set stones into the ring and make a simple solitaire, or a piece of your own design.

Wedding ring workshop prices start from $2050 for 18K gold, which includes everything from the 8 hour workshop for you both, to the precious metals and two finished wedding bands.

Ethical Diamond Engagement Ring

ecofrien — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:27:42 +0000

Perhaps hand-crafted appeal isn’t what you’re after in an engagement ring, but you still want the assurance of ethically sourced gold and diamonds. Sophisticated jewelry for the eco-conscious is exactly what Jennifer Dawes produces from her metal-smith studio in Sonoma County California. Sustainably Beautiful is her initiative in creating jewelry that is socially and environmentally responsible. She only uses recycled gold and responsibly mined and conflict free diamonds and gemstones in all her jewelry.

As well as the classic solitaire diamond ring pictured, she has a wide range of modern and classic wedding bands, eternity ring and engagements rings, all of which share the same exquisite finish and precision of line.

This diamond ring costs $3,000 from Dawes Design.

Eco-Jewelry For The Caring Bride

ecofrien — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:48:15 +0000

Pearl droplet earrings with recycled sterling silver beads make a wonderfully simple adornment for your wedding day. Created by Green Diva, who has made it her business to source only Fair trade and ethical materials to craft her jewelry, your conscience can be easy that there is no ugly history to these pretty earrings.

The pearls are Fair trade, untreated, cultured freshwater pearls form sustainable and traceable sources and the silver is recycled. There is a matching pendant to go with the set or you can design you own via the green diva website. Very affordable and handmade, they really don’t cost the earth!

These Juniper earrings cost $35 from Green Diva Jewelry.

Recycled Palladium and Diamond Ring

ecofrien — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:33:27 +0000

Recycled precious metals are perfect for the eco-conscious bride. When they are handcrafted by an artisan jewelry designer who sources metals and stones from ethical companies, then you can enjoy your ring fully without worrying about harmful mining practices.

Palladium is a member of the platinum family with a similar hard-wearing quality and is very smooth to the touch. The diamond is guaranteed conflict free. Together they are crafted into a modern, minimalist design that is substantial and comfortable as well as pleasing to the eye.

Rings are custom made to size, so allow3-6 weeks for delivery.
This diamond ring costs $1,700 from singleBbeautiful on Etsy

Tree Ring Pillow in Pink

ecofrien — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:39:12 +0000

A fun way to bring the natural theme to your wedding, this tree ring with pink faux flower and ribbon makes a picturesque ring pillow for your wedding day.

The tree rings are made to order, sanded and preserved with wood stain. They are about 4” in diameter and 1” thick, so not as chunky as they look in the photo. The ribbons come in the color of your choice.

Tree Ring Pillows cost $19.99 from the Little Wee Shop on Etsy.

Created Gem-stones – The Ethical Choice

ecofrien — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:44:57 +0000

Diamonds, rubies and sapphires have been traditional gemstones for engagement rings forever. It is only recently that concerns about the ethics and environmental impact of mining precious stones have changed our perceptions of these sparkling stones. Conflict-free diamonds may be one answer, but those who oppose any form of mining have turned to gemstones created in the laboratory as excellent substitutes. Created diamonds, sapphires and rubies have the same chemical composition, the same hardness and durability as the mined stones do. They sparkle as brilliantly too!

So the socially responsible couple who are about to get engaged can still indulge that human love for brilliance and shine, without compromising their values.

The engagement ring pictured, Mont Blanc, features a created white sapphire and is available in 18K recycled white gold or in recycled platinum. Green Karat exclusively use created gemstones and recycled metals in their pieces and are proud of their eco-jewelry and ideals.

This engagement ring costs $875 from Green Karat

Choose Recycled Gold Wedding Bands

ecofrien — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:41:08 +0000

Gold wedding bands are the classic choice to pledge your vows on your wedding day. Yet eco-conscious consumers are often concerned about the ethics of gold mining and its impact on the environment. Green Karat reckons that enough gold has already been mined to last jewelers for the next fifty years, and resolves this dilemma by using only post consumer gold, from recycled jewelry, in its unique pieces.

These hammered 18K recycled gold wedding bands are simple but very tough, designed for those who work with their hands and put their jewelry through a tough regime. The bands are simple but organically formed and pleasing both to the touch and to the eye.

If you’re looking for unique wedding or engagement bands from a socially responsible source then browse the rest of GreenKarat’s collection. They have a wide range and can also produce custom designs.

These recycled gold wedding bands cost $525 from Green Karat.

Wooden Wedding Rings – An Eco-Friendly Choice

ecofrien — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:39:03 +0000

Wedding bands and engagement rings no longer have to be made from precious metals and set with diamonds. Eco-conscious individuals are finding alternatives that use less of the earth’s resources, so that they can pledge their troth in a meaningful way that reflects their values. Wooden wedding rings, hand-crafted from renewable or recycled woods, are a beautiful and hard-wearing choice for special rings.

This wooden engagement ring is made of teak and birch with a braided inlay of sterling silver. It looks beautiful and is one of kind, as each ring is custom made to size by hand and the wood grain and color varies each time. The rings are very durable, and can put up with a certain amount of water exposure, such as hand-washing or a quick shower, but shouldn’t be immersed for any length of time.

Simply Wood Rings have a fine selection of ring designs that will inspire and delight eco-conscious couple looking for something different for their wedding bands.

This wooden wedding ring costs $330 from Simply Wood Rings

Eco-friendly Sapphire Engagement Ring

ecofrien — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:18:50 +0000

Sapphire is a gorgeous stone for an engagement ring, symbolizing faithfulness and sincerity. Its deep blue color is unmistakable and looks wonderful set in gold. So how do you know if a sapphire ring is eco-friendly or not? Find an artisan jeweler who uses recycled precious metals and reclaimed stones, and you can be sure that you’re not unwittingly supporting a war in Africa with your hard-earned cash.

This simple but beautiful ring is handmade in 14K gold with a simple organic feel to it. Because it is handmade by a dedicated artisan it has a unique character to it and is one of a kind. It is also packaged in a recycled jewelry box for an extra eco-friendly touch.

This sapphire rings costs $316 from Tula Jewelry on Etsy or you can commission your own custom design.

Recycled White Gold and Sparkling Moissanite Wedding Band

ecofrien — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:15:13 +0000

It can be hard to find jewelry that is truly eco-friendly. Even conflict free diamonds have an impact on the environment, as does the mining of gold and silver. McFarland Designs’ Etsy Shop specializes in eco-friendly and ethical jewelry and has a fine selection of attractive wedding bands and engagement rings made from recycled precious metals and stones that are either ethically mined or laboratory produced.

The sparkling stones in this ring aren’t diamonds, even though they shine just as brightly, but are moissanite. This material was originally discovered in a meteorite that had fallen to earth 50,000 years ago, and the precious crystals can now be grown in a laboratory, so can be guaranteed free of the ethical implications of diamond mining. Apart from the eco-friendly credentials, this is a beautiful band that would delight any bride with a love of sparkling stones!

Each ring is handcrafted, so you may prefer to commission your own custom design from the designer.

This wedding band costs $548 from McFarland Designs on Etsy