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ETHICAL
JEWELLERY COLLECTIONS MAIN MENU » ETHICAL WEDDING
RINGS AND PARTNERSHIP
CHOICES
A wedding, partnership
or engagement celebration is the perfect time to express the shared
ethical values of your future commitment. This is made possible
through the way your rings have been chosen and lovingly crafted
... holistically,
with compassion and genuine environmental care.
Kerstin Laibach offers the most ecologically balanced choice of
ethical wedding rings designed and completely handmade to an exceptionally
high standard: aesthetically and precisely tuned to ensure comfort
and visual appeal for a lifetime of wear.
Kerstin Laibach's purely ethical wedding and relationship ring
service is naturally based on her
ethical principles, which
includes nothing newly-mined, so no environment / habitat displacement,
no animal-derived products and is cruelty-free.
What
is the difference between recycled gold and new-mined gold?
We can discuss
your requirements and
suggest options so Kerstin Laibach can make your rings while taking
the most greenest and holistic
route possible throughout the whole process.
Laibach ethical wedding rings and partnership rings can never
be taken for granted, because whichever style you have chosen
- classical, ethereal or contemporary - the principles by which
they are made will always connect love, commitment and compassion
... a reassuring combination for a happy future.
Please look at The
Laibach Principles to
understand how Kerstin Laibach makes her pieces. This will give
you an idea of what stones and materials can be used to craft
your rings.
The ethical wedding ring of
your dreams can be made in a wide choice of recycled precious
metals including: yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, platinum,
palladium or silver.
Ethical
Clarity and Never any Greenwashing.
Kerstin Laibach's complete ethical path in hand-making
your wedding and relationship rings.
Greenwashing is currently
rife in the jewellery industry. It is therefore important that
clients recognise Kerstin Laibach's passion in what has been described
by visitors to her
exhibitions as "impeccable
ethics". Atelier Laibach offers the most genuine environmentally
tuned choices possible ... and without compromise.
The only justifiable
ecological and therefore ethical choice for your precious metal
wedding rings is to have them made in recycled and not from new-mined
... and this also means no fairtrade gold either, which is mined.
What
is the difference between recycled gold and new-mined gold?
(opens separate window)
Like all Laibach jewellery,
every aspect of your ring will be handmade by Kerstin Laibach.
First, your choice of recycled precious metal(s) is sourced from
Laibach's fine quality refiner. The metals are then either forged
(hammered) into its initial ring shape from a single piece of
recycled precious metal or, depending on the shape, it may be
melted into its basic form from a handmade (vegan) wax model (not
multiple factory-cast like many jewellery makers). With a combination
of rolling, hammering, soldering, layering and polishing, your
ring eventually takes its final shape and appearance. The end
result is a finely honed individual piece of jewellery which is
designed to wear for life; faithfully crafted without using any
animal-based derivatives or harmful chemicals ... and this also
means it is not electroplated.
Many jewellery makers use "findings" when making their pieces.
Findings are factory-made parts such as chains, clasps, earring
clips and ring "blanks". Ring blanks are commonly used
as the basis for wedding bands. The manufactured band (ring blank)
is then decorated and electroplated
by the jeweller into its finished appearance and can even be misleadingly
presented as a handmade item. (The correct term, so not to mislead
should be "hand-finished".) Findings can often be made
from newly-mined precious metals, and with no dependable traceability
process, the best solution for the environmentally aware and for
anyone who wants rings genuinely made from start to finish is
to source an ethical fine goldsmith who holistically
crafts 100% of a piece ... and only using recycled precious metals.
More discussion about Laibach's genuine ethical use of precious
metals
can
be found here.
More about colours and grades of precious metals as well as price
options
can
be found here.
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
Kerstin Laibach always maintains absolute ethical integrity and
this means clearly explaining to her customers regarding every
stage of her unique jewellery making process. To find out more
on this please read the Laibach
Principles and follow
through the related pages.
Gold
or Silver Band Rings? ( ... or palladium or platinum?)
Because of the high
price of gold, the popular choice for a wedding band can often
be silver. Without blinding you with metallurgical science we
describe here how to carefully consider the pros and cons when
choosing precious metals for your lifelong ring.
We explain the differences between
precious metals in strength and affordability. If your wedding
budget is at a squeeze and a pure gold ring is not an option,
we also explain compromises which might enable you to choose a
balance between long term durability and affordability:
a) Recycled Sterling
Silver:
It is important to note that silver is a softer metal than gold
and is much more prone to wear, damage and distortion when worn
on a daily basis.
Laibach rings in silver are crafted with strength to help withstand
wear and tear associated with the softness of this precious metal.
However, having a wedding ring made entirely in silver can in
the long run prove to be a false economy as you will most certainly
require it to be reinforced, remade or choose to replace with
a gold or palladium version. Due to the high price of gold, you
may opt for silver instead. This is understandable, but in the
long term you may wish to consider the following option.
b) Recycled Palladium
(instead of silver):
Palladium is from the platinum group of metals but priced roughly
in the middle between silver and gold. It's main advantage over
silver is that it doesn't wear down like silver and doesn't tarnish.
Although harder than silver, palladium is softer than gold, and
with heavy wear could suffer more from dents and slight distortion
than its gold counterpart.
There are two palladium options. Palladium 950 contains more pure
palladium. Palladium 500 is slightly cheaper and is alloyed with
more silver and is darker in colour and also slightly softer than
Palladium 950.
c) A combination of
recycled silver or palladium with recycled gold:
We mainly recommend combining an external layer of gold on top
of a foundation / base design made of silver or palladium. The
gold helps keep the ring rigid and less prone to wear on the surface
and outer edges. This combination of metals in Laibach designs
can also look stunning.
d) Recycled Yellow
Gold:
With options of 9, 14, 18, 20 or 22 carat (depending on design)
these steps also make a diference on the strength and durability
of the ring. In yellow gold, the higher the carat means a more
vivid colour, and when it comes to a balance of vibrancy and robustness,
18ct yellow gold is traditionally the most appealing "compromise"
for a long-term wedding band ... and it doesn't tarnish.
To give you a rough idea of its long-lasting characteristics,
18ct yellow gold is much more dense than silver and 50% heavier.
22 ct (or even 24ct) is only usually suggested for rings as a
design embelishment and in areas of the ring not subjected to
too much impact. This is because higher carat gold is softer and
can subsequently bend and dent more easily. 9ct has a very low
gold content and so radiates much less colour. The mainly non-precious
alloy metals in a 9ct ring means it tarnishes and is less malleable
in character. There is also more risk of alleric reactions with
low carat rings. (Please note that none of our precious metals
contain nickel alloying).
NOTE: Do not be fooled by the superficial appearance of a 9ct
gold ring in a jewellery shop looking as radiant and intense as
an 18ct gold ring. It only means it has been electroplated with
a thin layer of fine gold which will soon wear off (See electroplating
below).
e) Recycled White Gold:
Laibach provides two white gold options: 14 ct and 18ct., which
is alloyed with palladium for best results. The slight diference
in colour is that 18ct white gold has a more yellow hue, while
14ct is harder with a whiter hue. Depending on the design, either
of these options are equally as appealing and highly regarded
by Kerstin Laibach as a dependable material for creating special
rings.
f) Recycled Platinum:
Platinum is the most dense of all precious metal options (100%
heavier than silver). When contacting us please always ask for
a comparison quote between white gold options or platinum; depending
on the current precious metal prices, platinum prices can be closely
comparable with gold.
Please
get in touch if you wish
to further discuss these precious metal options for your Laibach
rings.
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Left: Unpolished Palladium
500 on the left side and unpolished Sterling silver on the
right side with a strip of unpolished 18ct gold laid on top. |
Avoid
Electroplated Rings
As described by Kerstin
Laibach ...
" By nature of the making process, it can be argued that
true ethical wedding rings should technically be crafted to a
much higher standard than rings which depend on chemical plating
to artificially embellish their appearance and cover up impurities
associated with cheap casting and substandard work. Electroplating
or galvanising is widely used in the jewellery industry to present
customers with a "mesmerising" finish on the jewellery they sell.
It is a short-lasting micro layer of precious metal alloy which
creates a more vivid depth of colour to base metals and which
can simultaneously cover up imperfections. I compare electroplating
of jewellery to artificial flavourings and colourings. With wedding
and engagement rings in particular we are describing an item of
jewellery which would often be worn daily and appreciated as a
lifelong investment. I believe a quality piece of jewellery, when
worn over years should age with grace and therefore maintain a
timeless appeal. Electroplated wedding and engagement rings soon
look dull and unattractive as the thin finish wears off, eventually
looking nothing like the radiant item bought from the jeweller
a few months before. When a customer comes to me who is dissatisfied
with a piece of jewellery they have bought elsewhere with the
electroplating now half worn off, I will explain why and offer
ways to rework the piece so that it might look more appealing
in the long term.
For ethical and craft quality reasons I never electroplate my
rings or any of my jewellery and instead ensure that the finish
on my pieces looks aesthetically pleasing as the result of an
entirely handmade work. I would never suggest electroplating precious
metal jewellery to customers, and have trouble understanding why
any jeweller would even recommend that couples freshen up their
rings by having them electroplated prior to their special day.
If a marrying couple had chosen fine quality "natural" engagement
and marriage rings to begin with, all they might need is a simple
clean, and if scratched, a light polish. Above all, the environment
takes a battering each time unnecessary electroplating is applied
to jewellery - dipped into a cocktail of highly volatile chemicals.
As an example, if my customers order rings in white gold I encourage
them to understand the pure natural look of this precious metal.
Natural white gold gives a slight yellowish tinge, but many jewellers
will rhodium plate on white gold and silver, and their customers
won't even realise, or even be told by the jeweller that their
rings are plated. Initially, plating makes the ring appear radiant
"white" but as soon as the rhodium finish starts to wear off in
places, the ring looks a patchy mess. Natural white gold (and
silver) can look wonderful without unnecessary plating and will
mature gracefully. This goes for all colours of natural precious
metals. So don't be fooled by the superficial appearance of a
9ct gold ring in a jewellery shop looking as radiant and intense
as an 18ct gold ring. It only means it has been electroplated
with a thin layer of fine gold which will soon wear off. If a
piece is handmade perfectly and looks attractive without any artificial
embellishment (plating) then you can rest assured that you'll
be happy with the look and feel of your wedding jewellery for
years to come."
It is important to
understand that having jewellery entirely hand crafted without
short-lived embellishments such as plating, there are anomalies
which you might notice on the finished piece, such as a slight
colour difference at soldering points - depending on the precious
metals. If these joins are executed with fine care, they will
simply feel part of the characteristic of the piece and certainly
not as something undesirable. By nature of hand crafting, solder
joins are a part of the handwork of the piece. However, the skill
of a jewellery maker can be gauged by the standard of solder joins
and the general finishing. (Sparkling electroplating can distract
a customer's eye from poor workmanship).
Suitable
for Veggies and Vegans
As with all new Laibach
jewellery creations, your rings will also be completely suitable
for vegans and vegetarians. Not only are the rings themselves
vegan but Kerstin Laibach has gone many steps further by adapting
and sourcing workshop tools which, to the absolute best of our
knowledge and research, are free of any animal products, right
down to the specially obtained polishing paste. Atelier Laibach
offers jewellery services with a clear conscience to the strictest
vegan, and our principles mean we give a completely honest answer
about any ethical question relating to vegan requirements. We
explain the more essential moral aspects of our creation process
rather than hide any anomalies by simply not mentioning it, so
please let us know if you have any additional essential requirements
regarding the construction of your wedding or partnership rings
when ordering.
More information about our Vegan principles can be found on the
Laibach
Veg*n Inscribed Pages (opens
separate page).
Diamonds
and Other Gems
For relationship rings
requiring diamonds (i.e. engagement) please contact us with your
wishes well in advance of your special day. We only use flawless
lab-created diamonds of the finest quality, or alternatively Kerstin
Laibach may be able to recover precious gems from your unwanted
/ broken old jewellery and create a breathtaking new ring for
you. We can also source high quality antique diamonds for your
ring on special request.
(For ethical suitability see our Ten
Year / Pre-Millennium Principle)
All
Aspects of Wedding Day Jewellery Design
Kerstin Laibach can
also suggest jewellery pieces or sets which compliment your wedding
styling. The beautiful FlowerPower Collections create perfect
ethical harmony for bride and bridesmaid. A matching tiara can
also be handmade to size. See
below
Engraving
A basic engraved name
or short message inside a gold band ring is free of charge. Specialised
hand engraving and laser engraving prices are quoted on individual
requirements.
Basic engraving on a silver band ring starts at 60 cents (Euro)
per letter or numeral.
Please tell us if you require engraving on your rings during initial
ordering. If so, please include the exact wording on your ordering
correspondence.
Rejuvenating
Worn-out Wedding Rings ... and entirely new from old
Atelier Laibach offers
unique ways to bring worn-out partnership rings back to life by
"rejuvenation"; the most environmentally friendly way
to express your vows ethically.
New couples may wish to breathe a next generation of life into
a worn-out family inherited wedding ring.
For elderly couples, these of course may be your own bands that
require a new lease of life.
From re-strengthening to a complete redesign, the choice is yours.
 |
Palladium and rose
gold wedding rings by Kerstin Laibach. Made for a wedding
couple using rose gold from the bride's grandparents old wedding
rings. |
More details about
Kerstin Laibach's rejuvenation service, which includes fascinating
examples of work already undertaken can
be seen here.
Ordering
/ Delivery and Sizing
Our wedding and partnership
display
pieces are just a small
aspect of the many design options which we can discuss with you
when you contact
us. All wedding and partnership
bands are made specifically to order and we will require a minimum
deposit between 50% to 75% (depending on precious metals) prior
to beginning work on your bands. Delivery may take up to three
weeks (depending on waiting list) and rings which require lab-created
diamonds may be longer. We will give you a clearer estimate of
delivery time when you contact
us.
For our full ordering and delivery details please
see here.
See our important information
about our ring sizer and finger measurement here
(opens separate page).
Examples of Laibach Band Ring Designs
You
can choose a completely individual design when you discuss
your wishes with Kerstin Laibach
or choose from our handmade to order Collection examples. These
are crafted to suit you and your partner's personal comfort.
You
may wish to check
your ring size. (Opens
a separate page)
For bespoke orders please
contact us
All
Rings Menu
See
Also Family Tree Creations
To
The Collections Main Page
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Only
recycled precious metals and not directly mined and therefore
no further displacement of fragile eco-systems.
