Don't Accept Diamonds from Strangers

For this week's Etsy find I decided to do a search for fair trade and ethical jewelry. I found an amazing designer called McFarland Designs who specializes in eco-friendly rings made from recycled metals and lab-grown or ethically mined gems. If you saw the movie Blood Diamond you know the harmful societal and environmental effects traditional diamond mining can have. The mines are very frequently run in a very dangerous manner with a lack of safety precautions and treacherous conditions. Diamonds mined in this way are often called blood diamonds or conflict diamonds and they are sold to finance an insurgency, invading army's war efforts, or a warlord's activity.

Unfortunately, this usually happens in Africa. Recently the super- fierce Naomi Campbell was questioned in a case against former Liberian leader Charles Taylor involving conflict diamonds that were given to her as a gift... allegedly!

I would not want to wind up in a room with an angry Naomi Campbell, so I think steering clear of any questionable diamonds is probably a good idea. Stick with gems that you know have been mined ethically, or even created in a lab - it's not as bad as it sounds. Lab produced gems can often be more brilliant and colorful than natural stones, and the production of them does not involved digging up the whole earth.

So, that brings me back to McFarland Designs and their gorgeously fabulous rings! The ring I chose to feature here is Moissanite and Recycled 14K Yellow Gold with Recycled Sterling Silver. Moissanite is a stone I was not previously familiar with, but it turns out it is created in a lab, so you know that it's creation did not exploit workers or harm the environment. Which is fabulous! You can read more about Moissanite on the item's description.

Usually, I like to point out that eco-fashion does not have to be super expensive. You can be eco-friendly without breaking the bank. However, there have to be exceptions to the rule! This ring is a little pricey, but I would assume you would purchase it for a special occasion like to celebrate your independence, perhaps. If you are feeling generous and would like to buy one of these rings for me (I am your favorite eco-fashion blogger, right?), go for the Fair Trade Garnet and Recycled 14K Gold band - garnet is my birthstone!