Materials & Sourcing

Sustainability pages are usually a list of adjectives. This one is a list of facts, including the parts that are not flattering.

Stones

Our moissanite and lab-grown diamonds are grown in laboratories in China and India. A lab-grown diamond has the same crystal lattice and the same hardness as a mined one; the difference is where the carbon came from and how much energy was used, which varies by producer and which we cannot verify per stone. What we can verify is the grading certificate, and we supply it.

Lab-grown colored stones — sapphire, ruby, emerald, spinel — come from three suppliers we have used for years. We buy calibrated parcels for pairs, which is why matched earrings match.

We do not sell mined diamonds as a matter of course. If a customer specifically wants a natural stone, we source it and say so in writing on the quote.

Metal

Our casting grain is certified recycled for gold and silver, purchased through a refiner that provides a batch certificate. Platinum is purchased as sponge and alloyed in-house. We do not claim our metal is traceable to a specific mine — recycled grain is not.

What we do not claim

• Carbon neutral. Casting and shipping use energy. We have not offset it and will not claim we have.
• 100% conflict-free. We do not buy mined diamonds, so the question mostly does not arise — but melee parcels in the wider trade are hard to trace, and we would rather say that than print a badge.
• Zero waste. Polishing dust and offcuts are collected and refined, but not everything is recovered.

Packaging

Boxes are paper-wrapped with a magnetic closure, no glue, no foam. Pouches are cotton. The care card is printed on uncoated stock with soy ink. We ship in paper-padded mailers rather than plastic bubble.

What we are working on

A per-parcel energy figure from our two largest stone suppliers, and a take-back programme for re-plating and re-polishing old Holycome pieces — the most sustainable piece is the one already in your drawer, repaired.