Back in the day, we never asked where the stones came from

I've been a jeweler for decades now. When I started, nobody talked about where gems were sourced from. We just checked the cut and clarity, then set the price. Now, with all the focus on ethical mining, it's a different world. I had a client last month with a vintage necklace that had rubies from a shady source. Do I tell them and maybe ruin their heirloom, or keep it to myself? It's a choice that keeps me up at night, and it wasn't even on our radar years ago.

3 comments

3 Comments

umahenderson4h ago

Remember thinking like that too, that the story of a stone didn't matter as long as it was beautiful. Learning about the real human cost behind some mines completely changed my mind for good. Now I feel like not knowing is a luxury we can't afford anymore. That history is part of the piece whether we like it or not. Telling the client might hurt, but hiding it feels like lying about what they own. The truth lets them decide what that history means to them.

the_betty2h ago

How do you even start to explain that to someone who just sees a pretty ring? Your last line really hit me, @umahenderson. Once you know something, you can't not know it, and staying quiet starts to feel like you're part of the problem. It's so heavy to carry that knowledge when a client is just happy about their new thing. But you're right, the truth has to be theirs to hold too, even if it changes how they see it. Keeping it from them just protects our own comfort, not them.

the_claire1h ago

How do you even begin that conversation without sounding like you're raining on their parade? I usually say something like, "Hey, can I share some background on where these materials sometimes come from?" It frames it as extra info, not an attack. Like @umahenderson said, the truth is theirs to hold, so I've found just asking if they want to know more lets them choose. It's still bumpy, but starting with a question feels less like dumping a hard truth on someone and more like an open door.