The origin of McCaul's Fairtrade Jewellery Collection

For quite a while we have wanted to create a range of fine jewellery using solely Fairtrade gold and traceable gemstones, taking our time to source the perfect gemstones and to come up with beautiful designs which enhance the natural beauty of the gemstones. We are really proud of our new Fairtrade fine jewellery collection which combines ethically sourced, traceable gemstones and Fairtrade gold. 

The Materials 

Coloured Stones

The sapphires & chrysoberyl in our Fairtrade collection have been sourced from Ilakaka, Madagascar, an area with a well-developed tradition of small-scale gem mining. Sourced by our partner, Wennick-Lefèvre, these gemstones have been ethically sourced and responsibly mined, with a tree being planted for each stone sold. Each piece with a gemstone sourced by Wennick-Lefèvre comes with a certificate of origin.

Argyle Cognac diamonds

Certified Argyle diamonds are from the specific Argyle mine in Western Australia. The unique composition of Argyle diamonds is attributed to a volcanic pipe, commonly known as the Argyle pipe, made of olivine lamproite. Due to an eruption, minerals such as zeolite, micas, kaolinite and clays interacted with the diamonds during their formation to form rare, fancy coloured diamonds. Each piece set with an Argyle cognac diamond comes with a certificate of traceability. 

Fairtrade Gold

Buying Fairtrade Gold jewellery means supporting small-scale miners to receive a fair deal for their hard work, as well as protecting the environment and making life better for themselves and their communities. All Fairtrade gold is sourced from mine sites which meet the Fairtrade Gold Standard; a globally recognised marker of best practice. We are proud to be part of the Fairtrade Goldsmiths Scheme. 

 

“Being a small outfit plays to our strengths and allows us to be agile in making sustainability commitments which are really important, both to us as makers, and to our customers.” David McCaul

By using traceable, one of a kind gemstones to act as the basis for our designs, our aim is to create gorgeous pieces of jewellery which enhance the natural beauty of each stone; we did this through considering the choice of colour of the Fairtrade precious metal, the setting of each stone and fundamentally how each individual design enhances the colour, shape and cut of the stone itself. Simply put, our aim is to create sculptural designs which bring out the natural beauty of each individual gemstone and which are simply a joy to wear!

We are very pleased to introduce you to some of our first pieces in McCaul's Fairtrade collection:

Fairtrade Red Gold and Argyle Cognac Diamond Twist Ring

This rich, cognac-coloured, pear-shaped diamond is a special find and we knew as soon as we saw it that it was the perfect stone to form part of McCaul’s Fairtrade collection. Certified Argyle diamonds are from the specific Argyle mine in Western Australia. The unique composition of Argyle diamonds is attributed to a volcanic pipe, commonly known as the Argyle pipe, made of olivine lamproite. Due to an eruption, minerals such as zeolite, micas, kaolinite and clays interacted with the diamonds during their formation to form rare, fancy coloured diamonds.

Fairtrade White Gold and Blue Sapphire Four Claw Ring

This 0.70ct pale blue sapphire that was mined in Madagascar, is a soft colour but a breathtaking stone. This gorgeous stone is offset beautifully against the soft satin finish of the 18ct Fairtrade white gold of a sculpted four claw solitaire ring. Designed to be both delicate but strong, pairing this stone with this design was a match that was meant to be. 

Fairtrade Red Gold and Argyle Cognac Diamond Wave Ring

McCaul’s popular ‘Wave’ ring has been re-imagined to form part of our Fairtrade collection with a brilliant-cut, cognac-coloured, Argyle diamond set within a generous 18 carat Fairtrade red gold setting. The rich depth of colour of this sparkling diamond complements the warm, sumptuous hues of the 18 carat Fairtrade red gold beautifully.

Fairtrade Red Gold and Violet Sapphire Arris Ring

The lightness and vibrancy of this violet sapphire from Madagascar dances with tones of deeper mauves and violets contrasting beautifully with glints of pale pinks. Madagascar has a well developed tradition of gem mining, and the gems here are still mined by hand using traditional methods. These methods respect the work of local workers and preserve the land after the mining activities have ceased. This lovely piece from our Fairtrade collection truly is joyful ring to wear.

Fairtrade Yellow Gold and Chrysoberyl Arris Ring

This remarkable 0.92ct ‘Parrot’ chrysoberyl stone, forming part of McCaul’s Fairtrade collection, is a rare find. Originating from Madagascar, this eye-catching lime green stone has an amazing vibrancy with plays of yellow and deeper hued greens. Named after tropical parrots, the gemstone’s vivid colours are enhanced by the wide yellow gold bezel surrounding the stone and it looks especially vibrant against the rich hues of the 18 carat Fairtrade yellow gold in this stunning Arris Ring. Crafted to last generations, this ring is perfect for everyday wear.

To see more pieces in McCaul's Fairtrade collection, take a look here. Please get in touch if you would like to learn more about our Fairtrade pieces or to learn about how to commission your own individual piece. We would love to hear from you!