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home ›   tip library ›   Sep 09,2008

Looking for a Tolkien of appreciation for a loved one?

The Bite:

Get in the hobbit of purchasing only responsibly mined jewelry. You can trace Brilliant Earth's gemstones back to the source, so all of the rocks it carries come with a clean-conscience guarantee. Sure, our days are filled with more conference calls than carats, but we know a good-lookin' rock when we see one. Check out Brilliant Earth for gorgeous gems (and cost-competitive pricing) you thought only existed in fantasy fiction.

Company Background

Brilliant Earth was cofounded by Beth Gerstein in 2005 after her fiancé had major trouble finding a U.S. retailer that could guarantee ethically sourced diamonds. "Jewelry purchases have such emotional symbolism, and our customers want their purchases to be consistent with their values," says Beth's business partner, Eric Grossberg. From the recycled gold in their settings to the recycled paper they print on, the company's raking in sales by doing good. All of which has a nice ring to it.

Why Care?

• All Brilliant Earth diamonds are found and finished using fair labor practices and are guaranteed conflict-free since they can be traced back to the mine in accordance with the Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct and other accreditations.
• The two Canadian mines from which the company sources its diamonds are subject to rigorous environmental monitoring.
• The company uses 100% recycled gold, eliminating the need for additional gold mining. Believe it or not, it takes 30 tons of ore to produce a single new gold ring.
• BE donates 5% of profits to promote development in communities harmed by the jewelry trade.
• Its website also offers ethically sourced sapphire rings - a hot, blue alternative to traditional diamond engagement rings.
• Highly competitive pricing. Because overhead's low, the company's wares are often less expensive than those at your local retail jewelry store.
• Biter exclusive: Through Sep. 30, get 10% off Brilliant Earth's new 18-karat gold Choco pendant, made utilizing the world's first source of independently certified fair-trade gold (just input the code Biter2008 during checkout).

Keeping It Real

Crystal clear as the digital photos on Brilliant Earth's website may be, it's tough to beat seeing one of its rings in person. Right now, that's only possible by appointment at its SF showroom. And while all of Brilliant Earth's packaging, including its beautiful handmade wooden box, is sustainably sourced, the company is still working on offsetting the CO2 created by the shipping of its gems.