OUR COMMITMENT: AN ETHICAL STUDIO + PRACTICE

  • GOLD + SILVER

    Katie Poterala Studio uses certified and in-house RECYCLED gold and silver.

    It’s true — we can’t control the practices surrounding the origins of your existing heirlooms that were mined long before you got them, but we CAN re-use them in-house, thus recycling them without the use of additional chemical separation processes.

    When starting fresh or when supplementing your heirloom gold, we have two options, both of which avoid contributing to questionable mining practices: We can choose to purchase either 100% certified     RECYCLED Gold or purchase gold sourced from active artisinal mines that benefit their community.

    Recycled gold is not new, but does result in lower greenhouse gas emmisions, reduced resource extraction, and does not contribute to human rights and environmental abuses.

    Gold from modern responsible sources is traceable to small ASM certified mines. The gold we source comes from the Iquira artisanal and Macdesa artisanal mines in Columbia + Peru. This metal is both socially and environmentally responsible, and has traceable origins that are free of chemicals as well as irresponsible social practices. The communities that extract these metals are positively impacted by the trade of these materials.

  • GEMS + DIAMONDS

    Katie Poterala Studio makes every effort to provide information about the sources of stones used, and has relationships with dealers who specialize in sourcing conflict free Diamonds and Gemstones from all over the world, as well as man-made and lab created alternatives.

    Although not every single stone in our current inventory can be certified conflict free— many of them are, and if that’s important to you, we’re more than happy to help you source a special stone just for you.

    Not sure what exactly you’re looking for? No problem — we can show you all of the options, and source based on your specifications.

WHY RESPONSIBLY SOURCED GOLD MATTERS

To learn more about responsibly sourced materials,
we recommend learning about Fairmined Gold + Practices.

FAIRMINED.ORG

ALL ABOUT: ETHICAL DIAMONDS

  • ETHICALLY MINED DIAMONDS

    Mined responsibly from Canada or sourced from Diamond Sightholders, who are held to stricter standards than the Kimberly Process, ensuring Diamonds come from conflict-free, socially responsible companies that utilize the highest environmental standards possible. These stones typically come from mines in Canada, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.

    Buying an ethically mined Diamond supports small developing communities and economies across the world.

  • LAB CREATED DIAMONDS

    Chemically and optically the same as natural or 'earth-mined' Diamonds, these stones require no mining or disruption of land to produce.

    Lab created Diamonds are often of US origin.

    There are two major manufacturing processes, but both result in the same final product: a Diamond that is chemically and optically identical to a traditional Diamond pulled from the earth.

    Certified Diamonds are laser inscribed. This is the only way anyone (jewelers included) would be able to differentiate between a natural or lab-grown Diamond.

  • NATURAL RECYCLED

    Diamonds can be removed from old or heirloom jewelry and re-purposed. For those interested, heirloom or pre-owned Diamonds can be re-certified, re-cut or re-polished if necessary.

    Although the original origins of such stones may never be known, no new mining or questionable practices were required for the purchase or use of these stones.

    For each recycled diamond used, consider it one less natural Diamond (of potentially questionable origins) purchased.