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Paterson Fine Jewellery |
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At Paterson Fine Jewellery, we aim to provide jewellery that is ethically made and sourced. We are increasingly employing more sustainable practices in our manufacturing process by reducing wastage, recycling metals, sourcing high quality lab-created stones that have a reduced carbon footprint, among other practices. In addition to that, we have adopted ethical guidelines and regulations for jewellery manufacturing outlined by the state of California and the European Union.
Our diamonds are sourced from diamond dealers that adhere to and are proven signatories of the Kimberly Process.
The Kimberley Process (KP) is a multilateral trade regime established in 2003 with the goal of preventing the flow of conflict diamonds. The core of this regime is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) under which States implement safeguards on shipments of rough diamonds and certify them as “conflict free".
Uniting governments, civil society and the wider industry, the Kimberley Process (KP) defines conflict diamonds as: ‘rough diamonds used to finance wars against governments’ - around the world.
Similarly, our semi-precious stones are sourced from a reputable stone suppliers who source stones ethically.
We stock a wide variety of lab-created stones. These stones are sustainably created and are chemically, physically and optically identical to those that are mined. In addition to being a sustainable practice, lab created stones have fewer flaws, a lighter carbon footprint and cost less too. They are not imitation stones, but the real-deal. With increasing awareness of our environmental footprint and a desire to reduce our dependency on natural resources, lab-grown gemstones offer a sustainable alternative with great benefits.
Our pearls are sourced from sustainable freshwater pearl farms. Freshwater pearl cultivation produces pure pearls. They are known for their astounding lustre and can be larger than the saltwater pearls.
Natural Australian Opal are world renowned. Our Opals are ethically sourced from Coober Pedy, South Australia and Lightening Ridge, New South Wales. We buy from reputable suppliers who are committed to responsible mining practices.
Our jewellery is manufactured using precious metals sourced from a reputable New Zealand supplier that is an accredited member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC).
The Responsible Jewellery Council is an internationally recognised organisation established to improve ethical supply chain standards within the jewellery industry. The RJC strives to maintain high standards of responsible, ethical, social and environmental practices throughout the gold, silver, platinum group metals, diamond, and coloured gemstone jewellery supply chain.
The RJC has developed a benchmark standard for the jewellery supply chain and credible mechanisms for verifying responsible business practices through third-party auditing.
All alloys used in Paterson Fine Jewellery products are nickel-free. We adhere to the EU Nickel Directive which regulates the usage of nickel in alloys.
The Nickel Directive (and subsequently incorporated into the REACH* guidelines) is a European Union directive regulating the use of nickel in jewellery and other consumer products designed to come into direct and prolonged skin contact.
Additionally, our enamelling and plating process for ALL our jewellery including children’s jewellery adheres to the Californian Metal-Containing Jewellery Law.
The Metal-Containing Jewellery Law is designed to protect children and adults from exposure to lead and cadmium in jewellery. The law restricts the amount of lead in jewellery by identifying what materials may be used and setting lead concentration thresholds that may not be exceeded. The law also restricts the amount of cadmium allowed in children’s jewellery.
Although these are American and EU legislations, reputable jewellery manufacturers around the globe have adopted these guidelines to ensure the health and safety of consumers.
*REACH is a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. It also promotes alternative methods for the hazard assessment of substances in order to reduce the number of tests on animals.
