Metal that has been responsibly mined by small-scale artisanal miners that have met strict requirements to obtain their certified Fairmined label.

These standards are set by Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) in an attempt to improve trading conditions and environmental sustainability for mining organizations in developing countries.

A select few styles at Made Line are made with certified Fairmined Gold. I am constantly trying to develop this colleciton and find new ways to work with this tracebable gold.

Metal that is from a previously owned piece of jewelry, or sometimes even electronics and dental work, rather than from newly mined metal. After the metal has been properly melted down, “cleaned” to take out any impurities, and re-alloyed at the refiner, the metal is ready to be made into something new. The quality and value of recycled metal is exactly the same as newly mined metal, but using recycled metal is a great way to ensure that you aren’t supporting any unethical mining practices that could possibly have social and environmental consequences (although it is very important to support small scale mining operations that are being responsible - read more about Fairmined metal above)! The metal vendors I work with are very passionate about being responsible. Not only is their metal certified recycled, but they also have very strict regulations for their refining, processing, and manufacturing procedures.

The diamonds I use are either recycled (AKA reclaimed) — repurposed from older jewelry — or traceable Canadian diamonds from mines with strict environmental and rehabilitation standards. 

• Recycled diamonds - Recycled diamonds are reclaimed from existing jewelry. Because they’re pulled from older pieces, sourcing them in consistent sizes, shapes, and clarity can be challenging. For that reason, many of my diamond pieces become true one-of-a-kinds that can’t easily be reproduced. This is a beautiful way to give beautiful or sentimental stones a second life.
• Canadian diamonds - In recent years, several of my trusted vendors have begun offering fully traceable Canadian diamonds. Many of the Canadian diamonds currently in my collection come from the Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine in Canada and are cut in a responsible cutting facility in Surat, India. These Canadian mines operate under strict environmental regulations and land rehabilitation requirements, offering a higher level of traceability from mine to market.

Sapphires might be my favorite gemstone to work with. Beyond their incredible range of color — from icy blues to earthy greens and golden tones — they are naturally hard and durable, making them ideal for everyday heirloom jewelry.

I source sapphires from several origins around the world, each with its own story and level of traceability.

• Sri Lankan Sapphires - Many of my Sri Lankan sapphires are sourced directly from a small-scale miner who also operates a cutting facility in the same village as the mine. This rare level of vertical integration allows for meaningful transparency. What I value most about working with him and his partners is their commitment to education for miners and cutters, fair wages, women’s equality in the workforce, and community development projects in surrounding areas. These sapphires feel especially meaningful in my work because I can speak directly to the people and community behind them.
• Australian Sapphires - I primarily work with two sources for Australian sapphires. One vendor lives in Australia part of the year and works directly with miners. The rough sapphires are pre-formed by hand in Australia before being sent to a small cutting facility in Bangkok. The second vendor also works directly with miners to source the rough sapphires. The stones are then cut in their facility in China, where their mission centers around safe, properly ventilated working conditions, wages paid at 2x above minimum wage, paid time off, and medical insurance for workers.
• Montana Sapphires - The Montana sapphires used at Made Line come from a few different vendors. One is a husband-and-wife duo who own the mine and process the land themselves. They carefully reclaim the land after mining by filling excavated areas and planting grass seed to restore the ecosystem. Their rough stones are then sent to artisanal cutters in the U.S. or to responsible cutting facilities overseas. My other Montana sapphire vendor works directly with miners to procure rough sapphires, which are then cut in a facility in China that prioritizes safe working conditions, fair pay, paid time off, and medical insurance.
• Tanzanian Sapphires - Many of my sapphire cabochons are sourced from a vendor whose parents mined the material in Umba Valley, Tanzania the 1960’s and 70’s. These stones have been in a vault since then, rendering them vintage rough, then are shipped to a cutting facility in Sri Lanka. 

Tourmaline has quickly become a customer favorite –– and one of mine as well. I'm drawn to its incredible range in color — pastels, vivid neons, and sometimes multiple colors in one stone. It adds a bright, joyful layer to the collection. Most of the tourmaline I use comes from Nigeria and Brazil. 

• Nigeria - Some Made Line tourmaline comes from a small mining community Nigeria. The vendor works directly with miners to source the rough, then ships the rough gemstones to their cutting facility in China where their mission is to provide a safe, fair, comfortable working environment including proper ventilation, pay 2x above minimum wage, paid time off, and medical insurance.
• Brazil - A few of my tourmaline vendors are the miners and cutters themselves, which means I get to choose stones directly from the people who unearthed and shaped them. It’s where many of my best tourmalines have been found.

Most of my garnets are sourced from women miners in Tanzania through an incredible initiative called Moyo Gems. Their work brings transparency, fair pay, and long-term support to artisanal mining communities — and it’s been an honor to incorporate their stones into my collection. I’m looking forward to expanding these gemstones in my collection and learning how I can support their mission even more deeply.

Emeralds have been one of the most challenging stones to source ethically. I’ve spent years searching for options with true transparency from mine to market, and until recently, they were nearly impossible to find. A vendor I trust has begun offering emeralds from the Cabra Mine in Bahia, Brazil, which are then cut in a responsible cutting facility in China that focuses on workers rights. So far, I’ve only used these stones in a few designs, but I’m excited to see more material from this mine and explore new ways to weave emeralds into the collection. 

The most well-known source for lapis has traditionally been Afghanistan. However, the gemstone vendor I work with no longer felt comfortable sourcing from that region due to concerns about inadvertently funding instability or conflict. After four years of searching for an alternative, they now source lapis from the Andes Mountains in Chile. The stones are cut in their facility in China committed to safe working conditions, proper ventilation, fair wages (2x above minimum wage), paid time off, and medical insurance.