The Ethical Benefits of Bespoke Jewellery

Author’s Bio - Angela Benjamin of Ange B Designs, is a sustainable jewellery designer and maker based in West London. Alongside her jewellery design business, she also teaches one-day jewellery making workshops for beginners.

Before I became a jewellery designer, if someone had asked me what ‘bespoke jewellery’ was, my imagination would have probably veered towards ‘blingy’ engagement rings. However, fast-forward to the present day, I can firmly say there is so much more to bespoke jewellery than that…

Firstly, jewellery can be any form of adornment or accessory that you choose to wear OR give to someone else as a token of affection - I recently made a recycled sterling silver ‘fish’ paperweight, that had was commissioned as a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary present!

Historically having bespoke jewellery commissioned would have been a rather costly process. In 2022, when we are all thinking more about sustainability and ethical consumerism, it’s actually a more affordable and accessible option.

What makes jewellery ethical and sustainable?

Sustainable jewellery has a minimal impact on the environment, is not involved with conflict or wars, and gives back to workers by way of fair wages and safe working conditions. This is something which I am particularly conscious of when sourcing my gemstone. I strive to purchase gemstones with a ethical provenance, from mining collectives like Moyo Gems.

Something old, something new!

It’s not uncommon to have in your jewellery stash gold or silver pieces that you no longer wear or simply have fallen out of love with. You may even have been lucky enough to have inherited jewellery from a family member ( also known as ‘heirloom jewellery’), which despite it’s sentimental value may not be to your personal taste. Having a bespoke jewellery design made out of old silver, gold and gemstones, is an excellent way of making your jewellery collection more sustainable. In so doing, you are cutting down on the need to mine for the respective minerals, thereby reducing the impact on worker safety, and on the environment. Repurposing heirloom jewellery will also save you some money, since there is less cost incurred in buying materials.

All that glitters…

As an ethical jewellery designer that likes to think outside of the box, I love the opportunity to combine my love of jewellery and sustainability in all it’s forms. I’ve collaborated with a woodcraft creative to make a limited edition collection of brooches, which combined reclaimed timber and recycled silver.

Overbite - 14ct gold crown ready for melting

When a returning client contacted me and asked if I’d consider making her a piece of jewellery from a 14 carat gold crown which she’d recently had removed from a tooth, I was very excited. This seemed like the ultimate sustainable jewellery project - turning something that had lost its functional use, into something beautiful and decorative! I was able to get enough gold to make her a pair of hoop earrings, that she could wear with pride to her next dental appointment!

Origin story

Aside from the comfort of knowing where the raw materials in your bespoke jewellery has come from, a custom made commission affords you the comfort of knowing who created it and how it was made. You’ll have piece-of-mind in knowing that no one was exploited in the making of your bespoke jewellery. Having a good rapport with your jewellery designer will increase the likelihood of you ending up with a bespoke jewellery commission that you LOVE - if you love it, then you’re more likely to appreciate the value in it and want to keep it forever.

In summary, investing in ethically-made bespoke jewellery not only saves you money and gives new life to your preloved heirloom jewellery, it is also a great way to preserve the planet’s resources and empower emerging communities around the world.