For a light little ring, it weighed
heavily on her heart.
The inspiration
The inspiration for Unmined came about when our founder was proposed to back in 2016 with a gorgeous natural diamond ring. While overwhelmingly happy to be spending the rest of her life with her significant other of 10 years, she could not help but be distracted by how much the ring cost. Where did the ring come from, who mined it, were they paid a living wage, how much of our environment and trees were destroyed for that beautiful ring that now sat on her finger.
40.5
people work in artisanal mines
1
of them are children
1,400
of mercury released every year
The devastation
The more she researched, the heavier it felt. Attracted by the misinformed promise of “get-rich-quick”, more than 40.5 million[1] people are lured to work in artisanal mines, and subject themselves to hazardous conditions and toxic substances every day. Mining is also hotbed for nefarious activities, forced labor and human trafficking[2]. An even more heart-breaking fact is that over a million children[3] work mines globally due to their parents doing the same or is forced into it to bring income home.
Mining operations also caused serious environmental damage, and threatened the people’s rights to health, water, food and a healthy environment.[4] An estimated 1,400 tons of mercury (40% of the world’s total) is emitted every year from mines, resulting in the pollution of air, water and fertile soil.[5] While ethical mining practices for diamonds have been making some progress (but not enough), but there is little equivalent for the gemstones and crystals industry.
More needs to be done.
The beginning
After years of development, she finally started her own boutique lab to produce diamonds and gemstones that are chemically and aesthetically identical to mined equivalents. Unmined was found. Today we are in 3 locations and supply beautiful lab-grown stones to jewelers and independent artisans who share our vision worldwide.
Our Vision
Be part of our mission in keeping what nature spent billions of years making unmined. Make a conscious decision with our gemstones for your important milestone.
Purchase a gemstone,
Set with your favourite designer
Ask your favourite designer
to use an Unmined stone
Not ready to make a purchase?
Help us spread the word
(It’ll mean a lot to us!)
Our Values
The Unmined philosophy
Kind to ourselves, Kind to others and Kind to the environment. These are the three values that Unmined is founded upon. We are often our own harshest critiques. We sometimes say things to others we wish we could take back. We think about what type of world we are leaving for our future generations.
Unmined is breather, a reminder that we are all a work in progress. We are not any singular decision or mistake we make, and that we can all do better. To have a great sense of appreciation, have more empathy, and choose kindness as much as we can.
Explore Unmined
Chemically and visually identical to mined gemstones
Our support and aid in mining communities and reforestation efforts
Our lifetime
guarantee
Citations
[1] Global Trends in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): A review of key numbers and issues, Jan 2018. The International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.ilo.org/ipec/areas/Miningandquarrying/lang–en/index.htm
[2] 23 Human Rights Watch, Deliberate Chaos: Ongoing Human Rights Abuses in the Marange Diamond Fields of Zimbabwe, June 2010, https://www.hrw.org/report/2010/06/21/deliberate-chaos/ongoing-human-rights-abuses-marange-diamond-fieldszimbabwe; A Poisonous Mix: Child Labor, Mercury, and Artisanal Gold Mining in Mali, December 2011, https://www.hrw.org/report/2011/12/06/poisonous-mix/child-labor-mercury-and-artisanal-gold-mining-mali; A Heavy Price: Lead Poisoning and Gold Mining in Nigeria’s Zamfara State, February 2012, https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/Nigeria_0212.pdf; Toxic Toil: Child Labor and Mercury Exposure in Tanzania’s Small-Scale Gold Mines, August 2013, https://www.hrw.org/report/2013/08/28/toxic-toil/child-labor-andmercury-exposure-tanzanias-small-scale-gold-mines; Precious Metal, Cheap Labor: Child Labor and Corporate Responsibility in Ghana’s Artisanal Gold Mines, June 2015, https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/06/10/precious-metal-cheap-labor/childlabor-and-corporate-responsibility-ghanas;“What … if Something Went Wrong?” Hazardous Child Labor in Small-Scale Gold Mining in the Philippines, September 2015, https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/09/29/what-if-something-wentwrong/hazardous-child-labor-small-scale-gold-mining.
[3] The Hidden Cost of Jewelry. Human Rights in Supply Chains and the Responsibility of Jewelry Companies, 2018. https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/jewellery0218_web_0.pdf
[4] International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), adopted December 16, 1966, G.A. Res. 2200A (XXI), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 49, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 993 U.N.T.S. 3, entered into force January 3, 1976, art. 12.
[5] UN Environment Programme, “Reducing Mercury in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining,” http://web.unep.org/chemicalsandwaste/global-mercury-partnership/reducing-mercury-artisanal-and-small-scale-goldmining-asgm (accessed July 27, 2017); Herman Gibb and Keri Grace O’Leary, “Mercury exposure and Health impacts among individuals in the artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Community: a Comprehensive Review,” Environmental Health Perspectives, 122 (7) (July 2014). The UN Minamata Convention on Mercury seeks to reduce exposure to mercury, including in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Minamata Convention on Mercury, adopted January 19, 2013, UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/INC.5/7, entered into force August 16, 2017.
