Beyond the Stone: What Sustainability Really Means in Jewellery

  1. Beyond the Stone

    What Sustainability Really Means in Jewellery

  1. When Maddy and I started Kate & Kole ten years ago, we were new to the jewellery industry. The mined diamond market felt overwhelming—this vast, complex system with supply chains we couldn't fully trace or understand. Lab-grown diamonds, by contrast, felt manageable. The supply chain was smaller, the relationships more direct, and the information our suppliers provided felt genuine and transparent.

    It seemed like the obvious choice for a young business trying to do things differently and with my background in Sustainable studies at the University of NSW our environmental impact was front of mind for these early choices.

    We're proud to have been early champions of lab-grown diamonds in Australia, and we remain committed to them. But a decade in this industry has deepened our understanding in ways I find genuinely exciting. Sustainability isn't as simple as "lab-grown versus mined," and that complexity—rather than being discouraging—has actually helped us become better jewellers and better partners to our customers.

  1. A decade of working with lab-grown diamonds has taught us that the "ethical jewellery" conversation is far richer and more interesting than we once thought. — Sara, Co-Founder & Design Director

  1. What We've Learned

    When we started, we believed that choosing lab-grown diamonds was the answer to ethical jewellery. And while we still love working with lab-grown stones, our perspective has evolved.

    The industry is complex—and that's okay. We've learned that even within lab-grown diamonds, there's meaningful variation. A stone produced using renewable energy has a very different environmental footprint than one created with coal-powered electricity. Just as mined diamonds vary based on mining practices and company ethics, lab-grown stones vary based on their production methods and energy sources.

    This realization pushed us to go deeper—to work with suppliers who could verify their environmental practices, to seek out certifications, and to ask more questions. It made us better at what we do.

    Understanding the full picture takes time, and it's worth it. Like many industries, jewellery supply chains can be opaque. We don't always have direct access to growers or miners, which means building strong, trusting relationships with suppliers becomes essential. Over nearly a decade, we've developed these relationships, and they've taught us so much about what goes into creating truly sustainable jewellery.

    This ongoing education is something we're genuinely excited about. Every year, we learn more. Every conversation with suppliers, customers, and industry peers helps us refine our approach.

  1. The Real Conversation: Systems, Not Just Stones

    Here's what energizes us most: a diamond is just one part of a ring's sustainability story, and understanding the whole system is where real impact happens.

    You could choose the most sustainably produced diamond in the world, but if it's set in newly mined gold, manufactured under questionable conditions overseas, and mounted in a setting that won't last more than a few years—the overall impact tells a different story.

    On the other hand, a beautifully made ring using recycled gold, produced locally under fair working conditions, designed to last generations, and set with a thoughtfully sourced stone—whether lab-grown or mined—represents a genuinely sustainable approach to jewellery.

  2. For us, sustainability means looking at the complete picture:

    Recycled gold. Our pieces use recycled precious metals, which means very little mining is required. We love that we can create something beautiful without extracting new resources from the earth.

    Local manufacturing. We make as much as possible in-house here in Australia, under conditions we can personally vouch for. When we work with other local makers, we know them, we visit their workshops, we understand their practices. This isn't just about environmental impact—it's about supporting fair work and being part of a community of craftspeople we're proud to know.

    Built to last. We design and craft pieces that are genuinely fit for purpose—jewellery that can be worn daily for decades, passed down, resized, and repaired. We get such joy from seeing customers return years later to have their rings serviced or redesigned, knowing we built something that's still part of their daily life.

    Thoughtful stone sourcing. We work primarily with lab-grown diamonds, and we're careful about where they come from and how they're produced. Understanding the nuances—which suppliers use renewable energy, which certifications matter—has become something we're genuinely passionate about.

    Continuous improvement. We believe a commitment to sustainability means constantly evolving. There's always more to learn, better practices to adopt, and new ways to reduce our impact.

  1. What Sustainability Looks Like in Practice

    After nearly a decade in this industry, here's what excites us about sustainable jewellery:

    It's personal. Your values around sustainability might prioritize carbon footprint, or labor practices, or supporting local economies, or all of the above. What matters is that you're making an informed choice that aligns with what matters most to you. We see our role as helping you navigate these decisions with honesty and clarity.

    It's holistic. The stone is important, but so is everything else—the metal, the maker, the longevity, the full lifecycle of the piece. When all these elements come together thoughtfully, you end up with jewellery that truly reflects your values.

    It's evolving. What we knew about sustainability ten years ago has changed. What we know now will undoubtedly change again. Rather than seeing this as a challenge, we find it exciting. Every improvement in technology, every new certification standard, every conversation about transparency moves the entire industry forward.

    It's collaborative. The best sustainable practices emerge from conversation—between jewellers and suppliers, between businesses and customers, between industry peers working toward common goals. We love being part of this ongoing dialogue.

  2. Why We're Optimistic

    The jewellery industry is changing in genuinely positive ways. More certifications are available. More suppliers are transparent about their practices. More customers are asking thoughtful questions. And designers and jewellers are committed to doing things better.

    We're excited to be part of this evolution. Lab-grown diamonds remain central to our practice because we believe in them—but we also believe in recycled gold, in local making, in building pieces that last, and in honest conversations about what all of this means.

    For us at Kate & Kole, sustainability isn't a marketing message—it's an ongoing commitment that shapes every decision we make. It means continuing to work primarily with lab-grown diamonds while being thoughtful about their production. It means maintaining our commitment to recycled gold and local manufacturing. It means building pieces designed to last lifetimes. It means pursuing certifications that hold us accountable. And it means having honest conversations—like this one—about what sustainability really means in practice.

    The jewellery you wear should make you feel good in every sense—not just aesthetically, but ethically too. And we're here to help you navigate those choices with all the knowledge and transparency we've gained over nearly a decade in this industry.

    Because here's what we've learned: the most sustainable jewellery isn't defined by a single choice. It's the result of many thoughtful decisions working together—from the stone to the setting to the maker to the care it receives over a lifetime of wear.

    And that's a conversation we're genuinely excited to have.

  2. Contact our Team

    Have questions about any of this?

    We'd love to talk through it with you. This industry is evolving, and we're learning alongside our customers every day.

    — Sara, Co-Founder & Design Director

    Contact our Team