Why Is Antique Jewellery Sustainable

This is a collaborative post.

I do like antique jewellery. I have a few pieces I have inherited or received as a gift and I wear them on special occasions. My favourite thing about them: they get you wonder about their previous life with a previous owner and how many lives a piece of fine jewellery can have. What I find special about owning antique jewellery is being a part of its journey. Wearing an item that is centuries or decades old and give it new life. The thing that fascinates me most about antique jewellery is its ability to tell a story. We can’t always find it out, but it gets you wondering. Well, if they are looked after – literally, they have centuries in them. I find this fact mind blowing. Fine jewellery never goes out of fashion. And it’s always a good investment as well. Carus Jewellery is a great site to browse an extensive and fine collection at the best price.

Trifari Ostrich Feather Brooch

And that’s another aspect I really like about antique fine jewellery. They hold their value and they are always in style. So, ultimately they are the most sustainable and eco-friendly option too.

Edwardian Aquamarine and diamond earrings

What makes a jewellery sustainable?

We can say, that a jewellery is sustainable when it’s made of recycled, renewable or waste materials and where principles of reduce, reuse and recycle have been incorporated into the life-cycle of the jewellery piece itself, including its fabrication, use, and disposal. Antique jewellery perfectly ticks the boxes of sustainability.

When you purchase a piece of antique jewellery you will not be contributing to the mass production process which is detrimental to our planet. Reusing the precious metals and gemstones naturally reduces the demand for newly mined metals, thus also reducing the environmentally damaging effects of mining practices. The reduced labour impact means less energy usage. Buying a piece of vintage jewellery that has been in circulation for many years is environmentally sustainable and is not adding to the ever growing carbon footprint.

14 ct gold coral ring

Antique jewellery is as sustainable as you can get

Precious metals, diamonds and gemstones are mined, shifted, refined and, the final product a piece of jewellery is made with them. This is not very kind on the environment. How? Well, mining is damaging to ecosystems and the wider environment. This includes the earth displacement, usage of chemicals, the fuel and usage and discarding waste material responsibly.

Antique jewellery was made by skilled craftspeople hundreds of years ago, before the introduction of mass-scale mining. Truly sustainable modern jewellery can be hard to find, but buying antique jewellery is a great way to reduce the need for further mining and manufacturing operations – making it a truly environmentally friendly option.

Amber nugget stretch bracelet

Always in fashion

Classic styles never go out of fashion. You can always combine any jewellery from any antique or buy from the same area if you have a favourite. You can also wear them on a modern way: rings on necklaces multiple brooches and armbands, statement pieces etc. But normally, I just fall in love with one piece and wear it with anything and everything, because I love it.