C5 founder interviewed by FairJewelry.org
3 April 2009
FairJewelry.org, founded by Marc Choyt, is doing more to promote sustainability in the jewelry sector than probably any other single site. Marc consistently posts great information about the realities of the traditional jewelry sector. His straightforward approach is what the movement needs.
Read Marc’s recent interview of C5 sustainable fine jewelry founder and principal, Meghan Connolly Haupt.
Check out www.C5company.com to learn about jewelry you can feel good about purchasing, gifting and wearing.
Sustainable jewelry showcase
16 March 2009
* EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT *
C5 company has partnered with the exclusive San Francisco W Hotel to bring you the Sustainable Fine Jewelry Showcase this Thursday.
Guests will be able to purchase beautiful jewelry from well-known designers who are all committed to sustainability. All of their jewelry is made from recycled precious metals and ethically sourced gems.
The event introduces the Bay Area to Zultanite – a rare gem ethically mined in the mountains of Turkey that is one of only a few color changing stones in the world. Zultanite transforms from pale sage green to captivating champagne and deep pink hues in various lighting. It is as beautiful as it is sustainable. Come see for yourself!
Top Sustainable Designers:
You won’t want to miss this event:
- Complimentary Drinks, Hors d’oeuvres and Chocolate Tasting by Vice Chocolates
- Deep Discounts on Sustainable Jewelry and Gems
- Promotions, Giveaways and more!
The event is open to the public. Please plan on attending.
- Thursday, March 19
- 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- W Hotel (181 Third Avenue, San Francisco)
The Sustainable Fine Jewelry Event benefits Under the Baobab Tree, a nonprofit organization providing educational and economic opportunities to communities in Africa most impacted by the metal and gem mining industry.
For more information:
- Call 888.536.4555
- Check out C5 company on Facebook
- Email info@C5company.com
Honor Earth Day with the Embrace Pendant
2 March 2009
Hitting the market just in time for Earth Day, the Embrace Pendant is as sustainable as it is beautiful. Made with almost no social and environmental impact compared to traditional fine jewelry, this is truly a purchase to feel good about.
The Embrace Pendant, created by top jewelry designer Jennifer Dawes for C5 company, is the perfect marriage of craftsmanship and sustainability. Hand-made from recycled 14 Karat yellow gold, the necklace features a ¾ inch charm that reads “embrace” on one side and has the outline of the Earth on the other. The split ring from which the charm hangs also hosts a 1 carat, bezel set Zultanite stone.
As sustainable as it is beautiful. The Embrace pendant is hand-crafted from recycled metals.
Zultanite is a natural, tri-color gem that transforms from shades of pale green to champagne browns to deep pink in various lighting. Zultanite is exclusively mined in Turkey and less than 3% of all of the rough harvested results in cut and polished gem-quality stones. The rare, sophisticated gem is not only breathtaking with a light dispersion greater than that of a diamond, but one of the most socially and environmentally responsibly mined gems in the world.
With the limited edition piece, C5 seeks to raise awareness about sustainable fine jewelry and promote ethical practices in the jewelry sector. The Zultanite gem alone typically retails for $600, but the Embrace Pendant is available for only $495.
It is also available without the gem in recycled sterling silver for $80.
Call 888.536.4555 for more information.
Jewelry sector slow to embrace sustainability
10 February 2009
This past week we were in Tucson at the AGTA and GJX shows. Among hundreds of metal and gem vendors only but a handful qualify for C5’s business. We do the leg work, so you don’t have to, to find dealers that embrace social and environmental responsibility. This is no small task as it often feels like we are searching for a needle in a haystack. One designer told us that almost all metal on the market today is recycled. She might mean it is recycleable, but it certainly isn’t recycled when first used. (More and more we see the term ”recycled” being used when really the intention is “recycleable.”)
We did talk with a few companies with which we hope to do more business in the future. Jadexchange is one such company that stood out. As far as we are aware, they are the only company in the world offering fair-trade jade from Guatemala. That is super cool since most of the world’s jade comes from China and Burma.
We are also excited to have a great source for a variety of ethically sourced gems including Peridot, Garnet, Amethyst, Topaz, Aquamarine, Tourmaline and Citrine.
Contact us for more information on sustainable fine jewelry.
Nonprofit serving African community impacted by mining industry
22 January 2009
While C5 provides ethical jewelry alternatives for conscious consumers, we are also working globally to create industry-wide change. One such effort is a new partnership that allows C5 to serve communities most impacted by the metal and gem mining industry in Aftica.
Under the Baobab Tree (UTBT) is an innovative nonprofit that provides education and economic opportunities for hundreds of people in Malawi, Africa. Founder and Director, Dr. Raj Patel, grew up in Africa and was a witness to the severe impact of the mining industry. The organization began as a family initiative and has grown to become an important support program in Namaso Bay. The goal is to create a sustainable community in one of the world’s most impoverished areas. To this end, the UTBT school curriculum goes beyond the basics of reading, writing and mathmematics to teach nutrition and ecology.
The partnership with Under the Baobab Tree will help educate consumers about the negative social and environmental impacts of traditional fine jewelry while raising funds to improve lives in Africa.
Please consider making a contribution to Under The Baobab Tree at www.UTBT.org.
C5 online boutique offers new options in sustainable jewelry
3 January 2009
In these uncertain economic times, consumers are spending less, but when they do spend, are looking to align their purchasing with their values. More and more, consumers are supporting socially and environmentally responsible companies, like C5, that offer products they can feel good about.
C5 Classic Emerald Pendant
C5 is pleased to announce that we have added more products to the online C5 boutique. In addition to featuring collections from six sustainable designers, we offer pieces you won’t find anywhere else.
The latest addition to the C5 boutique is the stunning Classic Emerald Pendant. A one-carat emerald set in a four-prong basket elegantly hung from an 18″ recycled gold rope chain.
As we act as consultants to help you find the jewelry you want (as opposed to try to sell you jewelry we stock), the store is not all-inclusive of our offering. We either custom create or find for you the best source for the piece you seek.
Green diamonds?
5 December 2008
We received an inquiry asking about the existence of green diamonds. Since it is the first time we have ever been asked this, we thought we would pass along the answer to everyone…
Ethically sourced, genuine green diamond created in a lab.
“Lab-created diamonds are available in a full spectrum of colors including shades of blue, yellow, pink, peach and as of recent, green. The green is more of a peridot (lime) color. They are being produced by one of our suppliers in Russia. The company we purchase most of our lab-diamonds through is based in the United States, but the closest they have to green is more of an aqua color.
Lab-created diamonds and gems are the most sustainable option available. There is no social impact of the stones and the environmental impact is minimal and drastically less than the environmental impact of mining. Lab-diamonds are produced in a machine the size of a washing machine and require as much energy as a hair dryer. There is no waste involved in the process.”
Mines in Canada aren’t “Canadian”
1 December 2008
Diamonds from Canada have received a lot of publicity the past year as being mined in the most socially and environmentally responsible way. However, research into the Canadian diamond market has revealed issues with the indigenous communities affected by the mines. We also learned that most diamonds mined in Canada are actually shipped to India and Africa for cutting and polishing. Further research into whether or not Canadian diamonds deserve their position as the best option for conscious consumers revealed that the mines in Canada are not necessarily Canadian owned.
Of the four major Canadian mines, only one is majority owned by a Canadian company.
Ekati - 20% Canadian gemologists who discovered the deposits/80% BHP Billiton Diamonds (Australian)
Diavik – 40% Aber Diamond Mines (Canadian)/60% Rio Tinto (British)
Jericho – 100% Tahera Diamond Corporation (Canadian)
Snap Lake – 100% De Beers (British)
Simply stated, ethically sourced diamonds only exist as lab-created stones. There is no question with genuine diamonds made in a lab that they are conflict-free, have no negative social impact, and have minimal environmental impact. Unfortunately, current technology is unable to meet demand. As such, C5 offers both lab-created and conflict-free mined diamonds. Concurrently, we are actively working to make ethically sourced diamonds available.
C5 company joins Madison Dialogue
19 November 2008
By offering a wide selection of sustainable fine jewelry, C5 company serves two communities concurrently.
Through our custom design services and our online boutique, we offer conscious consumers the opportunity to align their purchasing decisions with their values. Secondly, we are working to raise the standard of the jewelry industry as a whole and therefore, to positively impact communities in developing countries that are most significantly impacted by the gem and gold mining.
The Madison Dialogue is a cross-sector initiative designed to foster communication and action toward establishing a protocol for best practices, sustainable economic development and verified sources of metals and gems. As part of the manufacturing working group, C5 is collaborating to develop international definitions and standards.
