Golden Integrity: Why Ethically Sourced Fairmined Gold Matters in My Jewelry
Every piece I make is more than just jewelry. I put thought, care, and intention into every creative choice. The metals and gemstones I choose do more than sparkle. They carry a story. One afternoon in my studio, I had a moment that made me realize just how important it is to really know what that story is.
It was August 2018, and my three-year-old daughter was doing her best version of helping me in the studio. She was full of giggles, picking up stones and half-finished pieces, squealing, “WOW! Pretty pretties! Mommy makes pretty pretties…”
Then she suddenly went quiet.
I looked up to see her holding a cluster of gold and gemstones delicately between her tiny fingers with chipped glitter nail polish. She studied them intently before blurting out, “Mommy, who makes this? How did it get here?”
I started giving the usual answer, naming jewelry suppliers, metal refiners, and gemstone dealers, but she scrunched her nose and with toddler conviction, and declared, “NO! Mommy, I don’t think so. Tell me WHO!”
My studio assistant—three years old and already asking big questions. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds
That hit me. She was not asking about logistics. She was asking about people.
I realized two things. She inherited my curiosity and my finely tuned bullshit meter. And I did not have an answer that truly honored her question. My heart sunk…
I had been following responsible sourcing for years, but that moment made it personal. It was not enough to rely on good intentions. I needed to know for sure who made this and how it got here.
That moment led me to become a licensed Fairmined gold jewelry designer in the fall of 2018.
Fairmined gold is not just traceable. It is about justice, sustainability, and empowerment. It comes from small-scale artisanal miners working under safe, ethical, and environmentally responsible conditions. When you wear one of my pieces handcrafted in Fairmined 14k gold, you're embracing beauty and joining a global movement toward conscious luxury. Each design reflects a chain of care, from the miner’s hands to mine to yours.
This same intention shapes my silver collections, which feature the highest-quality 100% recycled sterling silver from trusted U.S. suppliers. While Fairmined silver isn’t yet available domestically, I’m watching closely and the moment it is, I’ll welcome it into my work.
Jewelry is intimate. It rests against our skin, holds our memories, and often becomes heirloom. It should never carry harm. I believe true luxury isn’t just about how something looks. It’s about how it’s made and who it honors.
And now, whenever my daughter or anyone asks, “Who made this? How did it get here?” I have an answer.
Fairmined Gold Jewelry
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