What Does a Truly Traceable Engagement Ring Look Like?

A traceable engagement ring is one whose materials can be followed back through meaningful parts of their supply chain, rather than a ring that has a general claim of being made from “responsibly sourced” materials. When you’re buying an engagement ring, it’s important to look at the metal, center stone, and supporting evidence to determine its sustainability.

Below, we’re exploring what a truly traceable engagement ring looks like and how we incorporate traceability into our supply chain at Valley Rose.

1.   Start With the Gold

While the center stone gets the most attention, your setting is also an important part of the supply chain. It’s important to understand where your gold is sourced from and if there are any independent certifications behind the brand’s claims.

At Valley Rose, we use Fairmined gold for our custom engagement rings, which supports fair pay, safer working conditions, environmental improvements, and safer chemical handling within artisanal and small-scale mining operations.

Read more: Why Traceability is the New Standard for Fine Jewelry

2.  Ask Where the Center Stone Came From

Traceability can look different depending on the gemstone you’re considering. For sapphires, provenance is important, and we use responsibly sourced sapphires from artisanal miners in Australia and Montana. Diamonds can be more complicated, although lab-created and carbon-capture diamonds are more traceable due to their production process.

Read more: Are Sapphire Engagement Rings Ethical? What to Know Before You Buy

3.  Traceability Should Go Beyond Raw Materials

There are multiple steps in the supply chain for creating an engagement ring, so traceability should go beyond raw materials. Miners, cutters, suppliers, jewelers, and stone setters are all part of the supply chain. 

At Valley Rose, we’re committed to paying a living wage throughout our supply chain and are actively working to reduce our emissions, waste, and water consumption.

Although traceability and transparency go hand-in-hand, there is an important distinction. Traceability focuses on the materials in the supply chain, while transparency reflects how a brand communicates these factors to its customer. Jewelry brands that are more transparent typically have greater traceability with more information accessible to regular customers.

Create a Truly Traceable Bespoke Engagement Ring with Valley Rose

Traceability is more than just an aesthetic and is a way to incorporate your values into your engagement ring, especially if you want to create a modern heirloom. 

While the growing popularity of lab-created diamonds has brought attention to the traceability of gemstones, it’s just as important to consider the other aspects of your engagement ring. At Valley Rose, our traceable rings might combine a Montana sapphire with a made-to-order Fairmined gold setting, giving you the peace of mind that every individual and company within our supply chain is treated fairly.

Learn more about our raw materials and labor practices or book a virtual consultation to start designing a bespoke sustainable engagement ring.