Jon Dibben supports Fairtrade and waives costs
15 Mar 2012

This year, the Fairtrade Foundation is running its ‘Take a Step for Fairtrade’ campaign, which aims to generate positive change on unfair trade and encourage people to switch to buying Fairtrade products.

They are encouraging everyone to visit their website to register the steps they are taking to help them achieve their goal of 1.5 million by the end of the year; the number of farmers and workers involved in Fairtrade production.

To support their campaign, Jon Dibben we will be taking our own steps:

For the remainder of this year, for all sales and commissions, we have elected to waive all added costs associated with making pieces in Fairtrade & Fairmined gold. This means that customers can own pieces of jewellery in ethically mined gold, without it costing any more than standard gold. Also, whenever possible, we will make new stock pieces using Fairtrade & Fairmined gold.

‘In real terms to our customers, the metal is only one element of the overall cost’ says Jon Dibben ‘and the Fairtrade premium is a small percentage of the final price of one of our pieces; adding around £70 to the price of a fine gold wedding ring for example. But, we appreciate that every little helps, and we hope that waiving these costs encourages people to consider Fairtrade & Fairmined gold as an option more than they may have done previously’ 

It’s this ethos of choice, combined with a pursuit of integrity in using ethical, traceable materials that makes Jon Dibben want to support the Fairtrade Foundation. See examples of Jon's Fairtrade and Fairmined gold designs on our Jewellery page.

To register your steps and learn more about Fairtrade please visit their website.

Jon Dibben offers ethically mined platinum from Oro Verde
14 Mar 2012

For those who prefer platinum to gold, Jon Dibben offers platinum from the Oro Verde mining co-operative, in the Choco region of Columbia; the same group of artisinal miners that produce Fairtrade & Fairmined Ecological gold.

Most of the platinum is extracted from the Condoto region, from its rural areas and the Condoto River which, like its tributaries, is richer in platinum than gold. Nearly 85% of the 2,169 Afro Colombian families that live in this region are devoted to artisinal mining, but also engage in other productive activities such as hunting, fishing and agriculture.

Along with responsibly sourced gemstones, Jon Dibben can also source diamonds that go one step further than the Kimberley Process, the ‘conflict free’ certification system, to a traceability leading back to the county, or even the mine of origin.

This ring is made from safely and sustainably mined ecological platinum from Oro Verde and is set with Canadian diamonds from the Diavik Diamond Mine. 

Fairtrade & Fairmined gold - one year on
13 Mar 2012

A year on from the launch of the worlds’ first independent ethical certification system for gold, we thought you’d be interested to hear what the impact has been, both locally and internationally.

Since Valentine’s Day 2011 the number of jewellers working with Fairtrade and Fairmined gold has doubled. There are now four certified South American mines, with a further two imminent and, thanks to a grant of over £800,000 from Comic Relief, the Fairtrade Foundation will be developing gold supplies from artisinal miners in Africa.

Excitingly, in the last few days, the first legal export of gold from a Kenyan Gold Mining Co-Operative arrived in the UK; a wonderful start and significant step for artisinal miners on that continent.

The success story of this metal has reached far and wide. We saw Livia Firth, wife of actor, Colin, wear Fairtrade and Fairmined gold to the Oscars as part of her Green Carpet Challenge for Vogue.com and it’s even been applied to a weather vane on Chichester Cathedral! 

Also, Greg Valerio, co-founder of ARM (Association for Responsible Mining), whose partnership with the Fairtrade Labelling Organistaion led to Fairtrade and Fairmined gold’s inception, won the Observer Ethical Awards Global Campaigner 2011.

However, what’s more inspirational is how immediate the positive impact has been on the mining communities. People living in the isolated Peruvian community of Santa Filomena have already reaped the benefits. Sotrami, the first certified mining organisation from Peru, have invested their Fairtrade premium in healthcare, built an extension to the primary school and bought computers for the senior school. They also opened a not-for-profit convenience store, allowing the 500-strong community to buy food at reasonable prices.

Sales of Fairtrade and Fairmined gold bullion reached an estimated £700,000 last year, and estimated retail sales of all Fairtrade products increased by 11% from the year before. It appears there’s a better understanding of the significance of buying Fairtrade and the opportunities it provides to artisinal miners, farmers, and producers. Economic independence, control over their environment and the know how to protect and use their natural resources in a sustainable way is priceless.

To hear about our own exciting commitment to mark the anniversary and to keep up to date about Jon Dibben’s involvement, continue to read our News, sign up to our Newsletter on our Contact page or like us on Facebook.

Jon with Columbian miner, Luis Americo Mosquera, from the Oro Verde mining co-operative, at the Fairtrade & Fairmined gold launch party, London Jewellery Week 2011.