Ethical Practices

A member of the nonprofit watchdog group Ethical Metalsmiths, Gillian has continued to put ethical practices at the forefront of her business.

All sources are carefully researched, and the collection’s gold is recycled from the business’ workshop as well as from Fairmined Gold which comes from reputable, ethical dealers. Diamond and colored gemstones are purchased from the markets of Australia, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, India, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. Pearls are sourced from Hong Kong and the South Pacific Islands. In addition, Gillian maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward conflict diamonds.

Through measures such as the Kimberley Process, which tracks diamonds from mine to market, the industry — in partnership with the United Nations, various governments, and nongovernmental organizations, polices diamond exports to prevent the trade of illegal diamonds. Gillian only purchases diamonds through the most respected suppliers who adhere to and enforce the standards established by the Kimberley Process.  All of the line’s diamonds are warranted to be conflict-free. If a supplier were found to be in violation of that process, the relationship would be immediately severed.

The Kimberley Process is an international process to track and certify diamonds. In April 2003, Congress and the president of the United States passed a law adopting the Kimberley Process, which requires all U.S. diamond retailers to buy diamonds from manufacturers who have documentation guaranteeing that the merchandise was obtained through legitimate channels. Today, the U.S. Customs Service actively enforces the Kimberley Process requirements as diamonds enter American ports. 

All Gillian Conroy Jewelry is made in New York City.