How to Select Eco-Friendly Wedding Bands

Not everything that glitters is eco-friendly. Mining for precious metals and gemstones takes its toll on Mother Earth quite extensively. Gold mining is one of the dirtiest mining industries around. 20 tons of mine waste is produced to create just one gold ring. Diamonds are often mined in war torn areas that use the money from diamond sales to fund more death and destruction (hence the term blood diamonds or conflict diamonds). Even gemstones and metals mined under strict guidelines still have their share of issues such as water, ground and air pollution from all the mining compounds used. Luckily, there is another way. You have several “green” options when it comes to responsible wedding bands.

Instructions

1. Steer clear of dirty gold and conflict gems. You want to start your new life as a married couple with a clean conscience and good karma. Sometimes the actual price paid for beautiful things is much more than you fork over at the store. The environment suffers as do people that mine for metals and gems.

2. Go for recycled metals. You can scour your jewelry boxes for old and broken necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings to be melted down and made into a new ring or set of rings for your big green day or you can opt for a jeweler that only uses recycled and reclaimed gold and other metals like Green Karat.

3. Go vintage. Using vintage jewelry is another way to be "green". Honor your heritage and get married with a ring passed down through the generations if possible. Check out antique stores or vintage jewelry specialists. By going vintage no new resources were used to create the rings and you may find a unique one of a kind piece that is just what you’ve always dreamed of.

4. Be aware that wooden rings make a cool statement. Some ambitious greenies are opting for handcrafted wooden wedding bands made from responsible and beautiful wood. Wooden wedding bands are definitely unique but are they a good choice? Some say yes others no. Wood rings can’t be sized and they are not as durable as metals. You don’t want to get them wet and you have to take special care of them.

5. Go shopping in your town. Regular stores are pledging to sell only conflict free diamonds and non-dirty gold. If you want the normal everyday jewelry choices that are easy to find it's no problem. Many companies are going green, even the big jewelers like Tiffany, The Signet Group (Kay and Sterling Jewelers), Cartier, Piaget and Zales. There are also the jewelers that have pledged themselves to only using sustainable materials and fair trade practices from mining to sales like brilliant Earth, Cred Jewelry, and the Sumiche Jewelry Company.

6. Ask for certificates of origin telling you where the diamonds and gemstones originated from, purchase US and Canadian mined gemstones or even go synthetic no mining to worry about. That way you know what you are getting is really "green".

Tips & Warnings

• Buy what you like, but try to go green for peace of mind.

• When buying used and vintage gems, make sure to get appraisals so you know you're purchasing authentic jewels.

• If someone cannot tell you the origin of a gem, metal, or the entire piece pass on it there could be many problems from being stolen to being mined in a conflict area.