Available in 14k Fairmined gold and sterling silver

9.6mm at widest, 2.8mm at thickest

Fairmined® is an assurance label that certifies gold from empowered responsible artisanal and small-scale mining organizations. It transforms mining into an active force for good, ensuring social development and environmental protection, providing everyone with a source of gold to be proud of.

Moss Agate is a Fairtrade Level 3 stone from our most trusted ethical gemstone supplier, Columbia Gemhouse.  Sourced from Aurangabad, a city in Maharashtra, India, this Moss Agate is mined by their miners who works closely with local farmers to create a mutually gainful use of farming land. After the annual harvest, the mining takes place just before replanting for the next growing season. This collaboration helps identify the best mining spots during cultivation and ends with a collective effort in replacing topsoil when the time comes to plant.

As the farmers plow their fields before planting, they often find pieces of moss agate (as well as bloodstone). These discoveries indicate potential mining areas after harvest and are noted to come back to. The miner then uses an excavator to expose the seams of agate below the topsoil and breaks the solid pieces up in order to be extracted. After this process is completed, the miner refills with the topsoil to prepare for the next season of agricultural planting.

Oregon Sunstone is USA mined at the Ponderosa Mine in the high desert of eastern Oregon.  USA mined stones are generally considered more ethical due to strong labor laws, such as those enforced by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), which ensure fair wages and safe working conditions. They are also often mined with stricter environmental regulations compared to other parts of the world.

Learn more about our thoughts on sustainability and ethics in the jewelry industry.