Ecology, sustainability, ethics: How does our Mialis jewellery deal with these issues?
Over the last few years, terms such as sustainability and ecology have become increasingly popular in society. These topics are not only related to the clothing industry, as it might seem at first glance, but to every part of our lives. You guessed it, including jewellery. In the jewellery industry, few people can be 100%, but at Mialis we try to think about natural and human resources. And now we're going to tell you how! We would like to start by saying that we are not trying to trick you. We know that all that glitters is not gold. We're not 100%, and we can't be, but greenwashing is not our thing. At the same time, we recognise that it is possible to be less or more responsible in the world of gold jewellery. We have chosen the second option! And so, by taking small steps every day, we try to make our work more ethical and environmentally friendly.
Planet-friendly jewellery production
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Recycled gold to reduce waste
Recycled gold is increasingly being mentioned in connection with jewellery these days. In fact, many jewellers, whether environmentally conscious or not, use this type of treatment. There are two ways in which gold can be given a second life: by remelting old jewellery or by using waste material.
Even our jewellery shop is committed to recycling gold as it is a great way to reduce waste. At the same time, it is important to us that we produce really high quality jewellery, so we only use the second method above.
In practice, this means that not all of the material is used to make the jewellery, and the process also produces waste in the form of gold dust. This is deposited on the working plates, where it is collected and returned to the gold supplier after a while. Here it is thoroughly cleaned. Gold dust contains not only gold but also traces of other metals, for example from tools such as files. After cleaning, the gold regains the required purity, is melted and is ready for further use. We are more than certain that almost every jewellery store uses this recycling option – just not all of them include it in their marketing communications.
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Lab grown diamonds and other gemstones
If you're interested in sustainability, you've probably noticed all that goes into the production of natural gemstones. Thanks to advances in technology, it's possible to create many gemstones in the lab that have the same chemical and physical properties as their natural counterparts. That's why you'll find many pieces of lab-grown gemstones jewellery, from lab-grown diamonds to lab-grown sapphires.
If you want diamond jewellery but don't want to support the blood diamond industry, you don't have to compromise. We have a more ethical version of these beautiful gemstones, and they come in a variety of colours. They're called lab-grown diamonds and, like natural diamonds, they score a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Although they're kinder to the planet and your wallet, lab-grown diamonds are indistinguishable from natural diamonds to the eye. So you can indulge in ethical luxury and get your dream jewellery in all its glory.
In addition to lab-grown diamonds, we are increasingly recommending moissanites, which are also lab-grown. Moissanite is colourless and very hard, just below diamond on the hardness scale, making it an excellent choice for everyday wear. Compared to diamonds, moissanites are more affordable, making them an attractive alternative where you don't have to compromise on quality or appearance.
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Truly handmade without harsh chemicals
All the handmade jewellery you'll find here is also hand polished. Why do we mention this? To save time, chemical and machine polishing is often used. But the result may not be as accurate. Also, the material on the jewellery is diminished in the process. Besides, it's your skin, our skin and the planet! Finally, hand polishing gives jewellers more control over their jewellery. That's why we still rely on golden hands and special tools with cloth discs that always do a perfect job, even without strong chemicals.
We make custom jewellery
We try to make jewellery from our studio not just for one use, but for a lifetime, so quality is the most important thing for us. At the same time, we offer our customers the opportunity to create custom jewellery. So if someone doesn't find their dream piece in one of our collections, that person can come to us with their idea and we will turn it into a piece of jewellery that the new owner will never get tired of.
We also offer a free choice of gold colour so that everyone can choose the one they will wear forever without a second thought! So if you're buying a piece of jewellery from us, be sure to choose whether you want white, yellow or rose gold.
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Elegant and environmentally friendly jewellery packaging
From the very beginning of our business, we've tried to reduce the use of plastic to a minimum, including in the packaging of your orders. The box is made of cardboard and inside you will find tissue paper and other paper materials such as a discount voucher or jewellery care instructions. All used packaging materials are easily recyclable. This includes the minimalist paper bag that you will receive when you collect your order in person. It is stylish and can be used to decorate your home or as an organiser.
One of the few items of plastic you will find in your package is a protective envelope containing a certificate of authenticity and, if applicable, a plastic scale to determine the size of the ring. While the use of plastic is necessary in this case, we try to reduce the amount of plastic as much as possible.
The power is in the little things
We believe that sustainable or green thinking is not just about the big steps, but also about the everyday little things. That's why we really think about every material purchase and choose the most ideal options. In our office, for example, we save water by using water barrels for the whole team. Of course, we sort all our waste carefully. And to reduce paper waste, we even reuse badly printed documents from the other side.
