7. The Dealer passes the gemstone to a Dealer to promote
8. The gemstone is bought to a Wholesale Importer
9. The gemstone is bought to a different Seller, normally within the vacation spot nation
10. The seller sells the stone to a Jeweler or Designer, who units it into a chunk of knickknack
11. If the tip of the chain is a big retailer, there will probably be much more steps involving a number of producers and distributors
Due to this lengthy, winding provide chain, unethical sourcing and mining practices can simply be hidden – suppose: labor points, harmful working situations, corruption, and low wages. Additionally, it makes it onerous for the individual chargeable for mining the stone to a get a justifiable share of the stone’s sale worth. When miners get their justifiable share, it helps convey communities out of poverty and enrich the areas the place stones are mined.
Wanting by that provide chain, even at Step 3, when a Seller buys a stone from a Dealer, that Dealer can simply make any claims in regards to the origins or ethics of that stone and the seller has no approach (or does not attempt) to confirm the reality. Then, take into consideration the final step in that chain – the Jeweler. They don’t have any technique to confirm the true origin or mining practices behind that stone after it passes down the phone line of 10-15 folks.
If a jeweler says their gem stones are ethically sourced, however has no details about the origin or sourcing of that stone, be very cautious. Oftentimes these Jewelers are taking the phrase of the seller they bought it from, and generally they’re simply claiming “ethically sourced” as a result of it’s what the market needs to listen to or conflating it with “battle free” sourcing.
We consider “ethically sourced” has a unique that means than “conflict-free” though the trade typically makes use of these phrases interchangeably.
Transparency is what issues right here – we should always all be capable of buy gem stones that align with our ethos and that is solely doable if we all know the reality behind a stone. If you’re coping with somebody sincere that does not know (or cannot confirm) a stone’s origin, they may merely say they can not make sure.
At Gem Breakfast, we all the time attempt to supply mine to market stones or stones with origin, nevertheless relying on the shopper’s design necessities, it may be difficult. We ask purchasers to grasp that once we say “we don’t know” a couple of particular stone’s origin, that’s the most moral reply (when many within the trade really feel compelled to stretch the reality to appease purchasers). All of us deserve the reality and not using a filter.
