Most people today buy products without considering what it takes to produce them. The truth is, almost anything we buy has vast ethical implications if we are willing to dig deeper. Most people are familiar with concerns about animal cruelty in the meat industry raised by the vegetarian community because they have gained the most spotlight in recent decades. However, a time has come to see all the ethical dilemmas behind the mining industry as well.

We are sure you know how much your new iPhone costs on the market. But do you know what the ethical cost of your iPhone is? That’s much harder to measure, but let’s try. Most digital devices nowadays have cobalt and rare earth elements. 70% of cobalt is sourced in the Democratic Republic of Congo where one-third of the cobalt mines have substandard working conditions with people digging by hand. Many miners don’t have protective equipment, they are chronically physically overstrained, and may even die in those holes in case of an accident. This is not to mention the severe underpayment, forced labor, and child labor that is occasionally practiced in these places. 90% of rare earth elements are sourced from China, which has the technological capacity to go extremely deep into the earth, where these elements are found. Such technological processes invariably lead to environmental deterioration and the country is actively hiding the scale of the ecosystem destruction by withholding satellite images of these mines. And they seem to have enough money to get away with it even in the face of growing environmental concerns and ecological regulations.

Now, what is the ethical cost of diamonds? Although diamond mining per se doesn’t involve these issues, many power structures associated with diamonds are involved in war conflicts, mafia activity, and terrorism. The mining itself causes soil deterioration, pollution, and overall ecosystem destruction. If the diamond mining is done by hand (again, in many cases in the Republic of Congo), this might involve inhumane working conditions, lack of protective equipment, and severe underpayment. Poor Congolese workers have just enough to sustain their families and cannot afford the luxury of an iPhone or a diamond pendant, the very same items they helped to create.

Now, is there a solution for those who want to wear diamond jewelry and stay guilt-free? The answer most likely lies in lab-created stones. They have exactly the same properties as naturally occurring stones and no ethical burden that we’ve just told you about. As we have found an ethically neutral solution, now it’s time to delve into diamond jewelry itself, its styles, and possible motifs.

The most common style of custom lab-grown diamond pendants nowadays is a minimalistic solitaire piece with one round diamond with a bezel setting. Another popular choice is a halo design featuring one prominent diamond centerpiece encircled by smaller diamonds or other precious stones. Alternatively, you can take another gemstone as a centerpiece and use small diamonds for your side stones.

For a more flashy look, consider an iced-out diamond pendant featuring some word, a date, or a symbol that holds a special meaning for you. A piece entirely covered with diamonds projects an image of opulence and high status. It might become something that unites you with your favorite celebrities who prefer this type of jewelry.

A pendant is something you wear close to your heart, so it’s important to have some deep meaning behind it. Give a good thought to what kind of shape you want your custom pendant to have. The choice is yours: this might be an elegant angel with wings, a delicate heart shape, or an infinity sign. Some people prefer mythological, animalistic, or floral motifs as they are very symbolic and hold some kind of personal meaning for most people.

Depending on your motif, the pendant may have a sacred or religious meaning, for example, a personalized lab-grown diamond cross or an Omkara sign (the Om symbol). Additionally, some people prefer to wear a magic charm or an amulet to protect them from negative energies. Your custom diamond pendant can do this as well. For instance, a piece with a hamsa hand, a Celtic knot, or an evil eye sign will be enough to ward off evil spirits. No matter what motif or style of diamond pendant you prefer, the Olertis Jewelry team is here to make your dreams a reality. Please describe what kind of custom piece you would like to have and provide a preliminary drawing if possible, and we’ll do our best to ensure all your requirements are fully met.