The Fairmined 100 Challenge is a global design competition featuring 127 brand new jewelry collections to show the world that it is possible to make jewelry in an ethical and responsible way, and at the same time help artisanal and small-scale mining communities. The industry judges are deciding their favorites and today is your chance to support my Pleiades collection in the "Public's Favorite" category, this is the only category in which the winner is chosen by you, the public.

Voting is open until October 7,2022 so please share the voting link with your friends, family, and people who are interested in sustainability and ethical sourcing.

For your creative listening pleasure! Michelle Pajak-Reynolds chats with Risa Dickens co-host of the Missing Witches podcast about gems, history, lore, and the ethics of her jewelry art in order to answer her daughter’s questions: “Who made it? How did it get here?”

Inspired by the weathered beauty of ancient and mysterious stone circles the Mira collection features ethically mined Herkimer diamond quartz crystals, Fairmined 14 karat gold and hand-pierced recycled sterling silver. Small and intimate in size, these designs reimagine the magic of ancient landscapes as modern-day talismans.

Wow, what an incredible adventure! I've recently returned from a beautiful Herkimer Diamond mining trip with my friends and fellow jewelry designers in Herkimer County, New York. Herkimer is home to the world-famous Herkimer Diamonds. Learn more about these fascinating gems and how to mine them in this account from our treasure hunting.