The CRED blog

What next for the Kimberley Process?

2012-01-26T14:02:00.000Z

On Monday, CRED's Greg Valerio was one of the great and the good of the UK's diamond jewellery industry meeting at the Foreign Office to discuss the Kimberley Process (referred to as KP) and how it may be reformed to become credible again.

The main questions asked focused on the issue of Human Rights which is currently not accepted under the definition of 'conflict diamond'.

The outcome of the discussions was very positive, with all the parties agreeing that Human Rights should be included under the mandate for KP. It may sound obvious, but it is not quite as straight forward as that.

KP is an intergovernmental process of which all the main diamond source, processing and consuming countries are members. So when countries who don't agree with the inclusion or definitions of Human Rights, the process can be complicated and slow - especially when these countries are where the majority of rough diamonds are taken to be cut & polished or jewellery is manufactured

Greg's own view on the process is that "the industry now needs to put pressure on countries that are opposed to Human Rights being a mandatory feature of the KP. These countries need to understand that by resisting their inclusion they are devaluing and ultimately undermining the future value of the diamond trade and their role within that trade"

CRED's policy on diamond sourcing is consistent with our gold policy, namely we insist on mine to market traceability and given the current confusion surrounding the KP, CRED have begun a review of all their sources to double check that our commitment to being the worlds leading ethical and fair trade jewellery company is being lived up to.

Have your say on the Kimberley Process

2012-01-23T10:12:00.002Z

Today Greg Valerio is heading down to the Foreign Office (UK) to discuss the Kimberley Process (referred to as KP) and how it may be reformed to become credible again.

You may remember previous posts about KP accepting of diamonds from Marenge diamond fields where severe human rights abuses have been reported, and about Global Witness, one of the founding members, pulled out of the process.

Today the discussions at the Foreign Office will include:
1) Should the KPs definition of conflict diamond be expanded to include Human Rights?
2) If the KP is not able to address Human Rights issues are there other mechanisms that could address these issues in the diamonds supply chain (i.e. RJC Chain of Custody scheme /OECD guidelines / NAG/BJA plans)
3)Time Permitting - Other industry concerns/views about the KP/System of warranties/consumer confidence etc

Greg would love to be able to represent the views of consumers and jewellery industry members at the meeting so please let him know your thoughts by leaving a comment on his blog, or tweet @gregvalerio.

Green Fashion goes big time

2012-01-16T10:45:00.000Z

We love Livia Firth. She has made the fashion industry sit up and take notice of green issues. By adorning herself in the most stunning eco, sustainable and ethical fashion and fairtrade accessories on the red carpet she has shown that it is worth it's place there. And now the big names are getting involved - starting at last night's Golden Globes where Livia wore Armarni:

(Image: Ecouterre)

You may be thinking 'surely anyone wearing a vintage Armarni can call it eco'...but this isn't vintage. It is brand new...well not brand new - recycled. Yep, you heard right. An Armarni dress made from recycled plastic bottles! Wow!

Livia has been blogging about her Green Carpet Challenge on Vogue.com. she says 'Being Italian, I grew up with Giorgio Armani (figurativelyspeaking). Indeed during my youth there were only two names thatsymbolised Italian elegance in fashion: Armani and Valentino. Toopen the GCC 2012 with a stunning bespoke eco gown by GiorgioArmani - well, that is unreal.'

Read her amusing tale about the bespoke design process on Vogue.com.

Livia promises more big names and top design statements in 2012, including Chanel, Gucci, YSL, Tom ford and Stella McCartney. The Green Carpet Challenge has come on in leaps and bounds since it started with a worn-again wedding dress at the Golden Globes in 2010. Since then she has worn ready-to-wear gowns from sustainable designers, bespoke designs from innovative eco fabrics, and my favourite - the amazing creation of upcycled vintage fabrics from the 1930's making the stunning Oscars 2012 outfit completed with the first ever Fairtrade and Fairmined gold marked jewellery, made by CRED Jewellery.

Highlights of 2011

2012-01-03T13:42:00.000Z

2011 was an amazing year for CRED, Fairtrade gold and the Jewellery industry. To give ourselves a boost into the new year and all that 2012 could bring we are reminding ourselves of our 2011 highlights. What would yours be?

1. Fairtrade gold launched

On Valentines Day 2011 Fairtrade gold was certified for the first time with the joint Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold mark. When CRED began 10 years ago we came up against opinions in the jewellery industry that tracability could never be reached for gold and precious stones. So we worked hard to build up relationships with small scale group Oro Verde who mine gold to fairtrade and ecological standards that we developed together - these standards became the basis for the Fairtrade gold certification. All gold with this mark is independently audited so the system is open and transparent. Our gold has always been fairtrade, but now we have an extra stamp to prove it. Read more about Fairtrade and Fairmined gold.

The first jewellery made that was stamped with the new Fairtrade and Fairmined mark was...

2. CRED Jewellery on the Oscars red carpet.

The first certified Fairtrade gold to arrive in the UK was whisked straight off to be made into an exclusive collection for Livia Firth to wear on the Oscars red carpet as she accompanied husband Colin Firth to pick up the Best Actor award for The Kings Speech. Designed by Anna Loucah, the earrings and cocktail ring were made from CRED ethical white gold with ethical diamonds and dramatic aquamarines - all from traceable sources. So CRED jewellery was paraded to the world and talked about on Vogue.com. The collection was then auctioned in aid of Oxfam for a record breaking £25,000. More pieces from the Juana collection are available from CRED.

3. Greg wins ethical campaigner of the year

15 years after setting up CRED Jewellery Greg Valerio was recognised in June for his work with the Observer Ethical Award for Campaigner of the Year. His vision has always been 'to make it culturally unacceptable to buy any jewellery that is not fairtrade or ethically responsible'. Greg accepted the award from Livia Firth alongside Americo Mosquero, a miner from Oro Verde Colombia - a poignant moment - but more about that next...

4. Americo's Trip

After working with us since we offered fairly traded Gold 10 years ago, Luis Americo Mosquero, one of the miners from Oro Verde in Colombia, finally came to the UK. We brought him over for the summer launch of Fairtrade Gold at London Jewellery Week as the representative of Oro Verde and the artisanal miners. In the short time he was here Americo had a whirlwind tour including the usual tourist stops, and adding in a few extras including hanging out with Colin Firth, accepting an award, giving a speech to the jewellery industry, and meeting influential players. His father used to joke about leaving the Chocco rainforest in Colombia and going to London, and Americo has finally lived his dream many years later.

5. CRED on TV

Throughout 2011 CRED were on TV talking about fairtrade, gold, diamonds, awards, fashion and generally being called upon for our expert opinion, and often to input a positive story where the news seemed negative. The Channel 4 Dispatches programme in June caused many a debate about the sources of gold, but we could confirm that it is possible to buy from truly traceable and ethical sources. similarly with the negative news that the Kimberley Process has received we talked to Channel 4 news about ensuring we offer traceable stones from ethical mines. Great News! See some of our videos on YouTube

What a year! As well as this top 5, in 2011 we also launched a new website, hosted a party for Fairtrade UK, hosted an ethical jewellery show as part of London Jewellery Week, held a competition for MA students... The appearance of Fairtrade gold in unusual places, such as on top of Chichester Cathedral, and in a Banana shaped necklace in Denmark, also made the news...

Bring on 2012!

Winter Sale - up to 40% off Ethical Jewellery

2011-12-26T11:30:00.000Z

All CRED Jewellery ranges have 40% off.

All Solitaire and Trilogy Engagment Rings have 40% off - perfect if you got engaged at Christmas and are looking for an ethical ring to seal the deal.

Plus, fashionistas favourite Daisy Knights is at 30% off.

More offers in store at the Chichester Boutique with up to 50% off, making room for new collections in 2012.

Browse the sale now.
All offers are subject to availability.

All that's left to say is...

2011-12-25T11:00:00.000Z

Thank you to everyone for your support this year. It has been amazing. Read our 2011 Highlights

Through the campaigning and ethical jewellery produced we know that together we are making a positive impact on the lives of the Fairtrade miners, and the jewellery industry is starting to take notice.

The journey continues with our Winter Sale starting tomorrow, and fresh new ethical jewellery collections in the new year - so stay tuned.

Sign up for our newsletter to keep abreast of events, new products and exclusive offers to your inbox monthly.

See you in 2012!
See our Holiday openings

2011-12-24T17:27:00.000Z

Destination Fairtrade Gold in Africa - Part 1...

2011-12-21T11:30:00.000Z

After years working in South America, developing the basis for Fairtrade gold and helping small-scale miners prepare for exporting under Fairtrade, for CRED the next step is Africa.
Greg Valerio, Founder of CRED, is working with small scale miners in Africa with the aim of embedding the Fairtrade gold idea across Africa creating value chains that deliver social, environmental and economic benefits to local people. Here he gives us the lowdown of those first steps towards making Fairtrade Gold in Africa a reality.

"Julius contacted me via this blog back in January of this year. A Kenyan born activist, Julius had grown tired of the endless fundraising form filling you need to undertake when you work with an NGO. As a local Migori County man he had grown up surrounded by artisanal small-scale miners and was familiar with the lifestyles, environmental impact and social conditions that the many thousands of miners endured in order to to pay there daily way in the world. So I was delighted when Julius showed a considerable amount of interest in how Fairtrade Fairmined Gold could work in his locality. We talked throughout the year and planned. One of the biggest reasons why Julius approached the Fairtrade process, was because the local miners wanted ‘to be free of the economic slavery forced on them by the Asian traders in the region’.

Migori County (MICA) Artisanal Mining COOP was established to allow the local miners and traders to come together and to formalise their relationships in such a way as they could move forward to achieve Fairtrade status and begin exporting their production directly to the international market. Additionally by removing themselves from the economic controls of the bigger traders they would be able to increase their prices and begin lifting themselves out of the poverty that this form of gold trading creates.

Illustratively, the local gold business works through networks of local traders, linking with the artisan miners and then selling their production back to central processing hubs were the production is weighed, tested for purity and then smelted into simple ‘doray’ bars (unrefined gold bars) before it is moved to Nairobi and then sold to refiners in Dubai. This system is funded at the front end by money from the traders, who due to their financing, control and monopolise the entire region. They buy the gold at discounted rates as much as -28% as I discovered and then adjust for purity. Many miners complain of dodgy scales and purity testing. For example, I had one local processor boast about his cheap PC computer that could scan gold and give a 100% accurate reading on the purity. The genius of this system is it keeps everyone in debt. The local trader may make an average commission as little as KSH 80-100 per gram that he buys on behalf of the Asian buyers with their money. Everyone owes money to these monopoly traders and therefore you have an effective and very efficient form of economic slavery. Any deviation from the proscribed process meets with a swift response as we were to find out.

Over the course of the year, I and others had worked with MICA to see them formalise into a COOP, secure a direct export license and then create a traceable supply chain that would link transparently the miner to the end purchaser of their gold. This in an of itself is progressive as we had to work our way through the myriad of prejudice that exists towards small-scale miners from the refiners, shipping companies and potential financiers and business men, all whose lives are linked to risk mitigation and protecting their investments. Although understandable to a degree, it becomes untenable when in the name of ethics and justice people expect the poor to underwrite their risk with personal guarantees etc.

Anyway with MICA at one end and CRED Jewellery stepping up to the plate to act as the buyer, we booked the trip with a view to enabling the first direct export of gold from a small-scale mining coop from Kenya in the history of the country. The simple aim to enable the COOP to export it first shipment and thereby open up a supply route that would give the COOP access to the international market as well as lay the foundations for a vital part of their becoming a Fairtrade certified mining operation.

However, and this is where it came unstuck, the financial, social, cultural and indentured relationships that have governed this area for so long were not happy with the idea of the local miners being free to export directly, as this would be an erosion of the power they have in the region. Traders have all the power in these artisanal relationships and the COOP discovered that the wrong trader in the mix can kill a process by simply using the economic leverage they have to dictate price, pre-finance behaviour and loyalty. As we came to the day of the trade, it became increasingly obvious that the big traders had a plant in the COOP who simply killed the opportunity, withheld a part of the services needed and prevented the COOP from delivering. That same evening certain members of the COOP were visited by local bully boys and everyone got the message that this movement towards economic independence was not going to be tolerated by the invisible status-quo.
It is a strange thing knowing that you are so near, yet so far. I literally watched the gold disappear in front of my eyes. It was all there, yet the COOP could not bring it all together and deliver and of course this all happened on the same day as the money for the shipment arrived in the COOP account. Also I was now being advised to get out of the area for awhile as things were heating up and the COOP were not happy about the deteriorating security situation. So with driver and passport to hand I jumped into a car and drove to Mwanza to visit some friends there, while the COOP waited for the situation to calm down.

I learned a very valuable lesson on this trip. Traders have the potential to create problems in a way that anyone in the fair trade movement must never underestimate. The Gold mafia are a very real obstacle to change and we must have a strategy for dealing with them. And also that a quality relationship is often forged in adversity, as opposed to success. In many ways the COOP needed to fail on the first trade so that they could fully understand the scale of the mountain they want to climb and how much work they will have to put into their dream.

The COOP I am pleased to say as we parted company with them having transferred the money back to the UK, were very clear of their continued commitment to becoming a Fairtrade COOP. Are now much clearer as to what the obstacles are and also the relationships that prevented their first shipment. In truth we stress tested the system and in doing so all have a greater understanding of what not to do in the future.

Is there a future? Yes there is, and I hope to be able to update everyone on our progress early in the New Year as CRED and MICA seek to facilitate Kenya’s first export from a local COOP.

Read more on Greg's blog.

Five (Fairtrade) gold rings!

2011-12-20T11:30:00.001Z

We're in the festive spirit & couldn't resist the chance to brag about our fave 5 fairtrade gold rings (and earrings...).
Don't forget there's still time to order for Christmas - order by 12pm noon on Thursday 22nd Dec.

Twisted hoop earrings - Ok, not technically rings, but we love these, literally a twist on the classic hoop earrings and perfect to jazz up that party outfit this Christmas. 40% off - Now £33 fairtrade gold plated

Gold pipal filigree ring - A best seller. The cut-out design creates a filigree-like pattern which looks luxurious. 40% off - Now £36 fairtrade gold plated

Brilliant Illusion ring - A classic ring with a sparkle - the diamond appears to be suspended in the band, but it is discreetly held secure. Perfect for a special gift or your Christmas proposal. Choose white or yellow fairtrade gold. 30% off - Now from £486.50

Liana Vines ring - a band of intricately woven golden vines wraps around the finger. We love the detail of the leaves. Made in solid Fairtrade Eco gold and inagined by celebrity jewellery designer Sophie Harley. 30% off - Now £346.50

Juana ring with Aqua & Diamonds - This really would be the best christmas gift ever! From the collection designed for Livia Firth to wear on the Oscars red carpet this year, the Juana ring is made from Fairtrade white gold with an oversized 2ct Aquamarine and 20 ethical diamonds set around the band. Simply £2000

Last few days of 40% off

2011-12-16T11:00:00.000Z

There are just 9 days till Christmas, and only 5 till last posting dates for UK orders to make the most of the offer of up to 40% off CRED ethical jewellery.

Perfect for gifts, or a treat for your party season, Fairtrade is quality jewellery that will last, and which has the uniquely positive story of Fairtrade behind it. Prices start at just £24.

Start browsing the full Christmas Sale now

We've love making people happy!

2011-12-15T11:01:00.000Z

...and so a little note in the post like this makes our day...

Jo and Dave's wedding rings were a white gold wide engraved wedding band for him, and a bespoke ribbon cross for her - perfect to embrace the Princess Wrap engagement ring.

See more real weddings in our Weddings Gallery.

Creating change

2011-12-12T11:42:00.000Z

CRED founder, Greg Valerio is not resting on his laurels after winning the Observer Ethical Awards Campaigner of the Year. In fact, he is working harder than ever.

The economic climate has seen demand rise massively for gold, seen as a stable investment. In an opaque industry, bullions can be made up of gold from hundreds of small scale mines where people are working in dangerous conditions or handling murcury with their hands. Even more worryingly, gold is smuggled out of mines controlled by militia where horrific crimes take place, and this gets lost in a system which allows it to take place. It is increasingly important that the people mining this precious commodity do so safely and with rights. Read more on Mining the Truth on the Financial Times.

This week has seen Greg on TV in the USA and Sweden where he has been helping the jewellery industries work towards adopting Fairtrade gold standards similar to the UK's Fairtrade and Fairmined certified gold.

The USA will be launching their Fairtrade standard in 2012. Greg has been holding meetings with miners, refiners, industry groups and non-governmental organisations to get the ball rolling. He wants so set up a fairtrade supply chain for American consumers. Here he is on NBC:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Swedish Fairtrade organisation along with a non-profit organisation SwedWatch have recently launched a report on the Swedish jewellery industry. Here is Greg talking on Swedish channel SVT:

At CRED we receive our gold direct from the mine. It has all come from one source and hasn't been through middle-men or refined with any other gold. (Read about CRED Fairtrade gold) So we know it is possible to have a transparent and traceable supply chain - we hope the rest of the industry soon catches up.

Ultimately, the gold industry will probably only improve when consumers start demanding it. So get demanding!

Give us a Click!

2011-12-12T10:21:00.001Z

The lovely ladies at OAK need your clicks...

The beautiful OAK Fine Jewellery has been especially popular recently - not surprising really as it is stunning...

As well as taking part in Vogue's Online Fashion Week, OAK has been selected as one of the finalists to win a place at London Jewellery Week 2012. The competition is now in the hands of the public vote (fingers-crossed). The voting finishes tomorrow and it would be beyond exciting if they win as we believe OAK is the only Fairtrade Liscensee in the ten shortlisted to win. Winning the stand would help promote fairtrade jewellery to trade and consumers, and raise the profile of Fairtrade gold to go on to aid the miners.

If you love what you see at OAK could we ask you to vote for OAK. It is as simple as clicking on www.professionaljeweller.com and scrolling down to the voting panel and selecting 'OAK' then 'VOTE'

OAK are still newbies, in their first year of trading, so this would be a great achievement. We love OAK and their fine ethical jewelery inspired by nature. Each OAK ethical jewellery design holds an element of the story that inspired it as well as respecting it's materials and manufacturing.

CRED diamond experience shared on channel 4 News

2011-12-08T09:45:00.001Z

On Monday 5th December, after Global Witness announced they were pulling out of the Kimberley Process Channel 4 news asked many diamond traders for their comment of the current position on KP.
As most cannot determine the origin of their diamonds they were not ready to comment, but here at CRED we only offer traceable diamonds and gems so we can tell you exactly which mine it is from and know that it is a conflict-free diamond.
Here is the report from the 7pm news, including Christian Cheesman speaking from the CRED Chichester Boutique.

Now that gold has a Fairtrade certification we are striving to see the same for diamonds. There is a long way to go but we know it can be done. The first step needed is a new independently audited certification of conflict-free diamonds to replace the now discredited Kimberley Process.

Christian is one of the few people in the jewellery industry to have knowledge of the whole chain from mine to retail. He will be visiting one of the mines where we source our diamonds in Namibia in February. We will share pictures, videos and stories from the mine so you can see the whole background of the stone in your jewellery or engagement ring.

Alexa Chung loves Daisy Knights - you can get 25% off

2011-12-05T12:30:00.000Z

The famous skull tie cords

Alexa Chung and Daisy Lowe have long been fans of the fashion jewellery creations of Daisy Knights, and we are offering you 25% off.

Yes you did hear us right! For a limited time only we are offering 25% off one of CRED's most desired designers. With quirky charms the tie cords and pendadnts are just as popular with guys as gals. Daisy Knights is the perfect ethical Christmas gift or a pre Christmas treat for yourself.

You can get your 25% off both the online and in the Chichester boutique and with Daisy being a favourite we can't guarantee how long stock will last.

And don't forget there is free delivery from our online store and a Christmas wrapping service available in the Chichester boutique. This year we are helping you make Christmas as easy as pie, mince pie of course...

Kimberley Process Knockback

2011-12-05T11:46:00.001Z

The charity Global Witness, which played a key role in publicising the problem of blood diamonds, is pulling out of the Kimberley Process that it helped to set up in an attempt to stop the trade.

Charmian Gooch, the charity's founding director, explained why on Radio 4's Today Programme this morning. Listen at 7.12am to hear her explaination. Listen again

For more backgound on the Kimberley Process and the issue of Marange diamonds, read Greg Valerio's article.

There is meaning behind Mel

2011-12-04T12:30:00.001Z

Mel White jewellery debut collections have landed in Cred, just in time to add to your Christmas wish list.

Her inspiration from line and form clearly reflect her experience as a graphic designer. Taking this from both nature and man Mel’s pieces are truly unique and are full with meanings and symbolism.

White’s connection with nature has led her to seek out a different metal to the silver she mainly uses, by using sustainably sourced wood she has created organic pieces which still hold a modern feel. The wood also brings stunning tones to her pieces, but still complimenting the recycled silver and 24ct gold plate.

To explore the whole range and discover the meaning behind them go to the Cred website.

Calling all budding fashion designers

2011-12-01T09:10:00.001Z

Do you have a dream of having your own sustainable dress design made by Vogue.com? Well, now's your chance.

As part of Online Fashion Week next week (5-9th Dec), the Design a Dress competition will get your ideas infront of the fashion industry's big names, including Livi Firth, who knows a thing or two about sustainable fashion creations following her two years of the Green Carpet Challenge.

The winning dress will be chosen by LiviaFirth, RuthChapman and the team from Matchesfashion.com, Vogue.comeditor Dolly Jones and sustainable fashion consultant JocelynWhipple. It will be manufactured in a suitable sustainable fabricand sold alongside Matches' own label, Freda, during thespring/summer 2012 season. What an opportunity!

The announcement will be made at midday on Friday 9th, so get designing... You can enter the competition now via the British Vogue Facebook page.

Check back on our blog and twitter for details of the CRED Jewellery offers and special discounts as part of Online Fashion Week #OFW

Do these get you in the mood for Christmas?

2011-11-29T11:00:00.000Z

We are seeing the joy of Christmas all over the place at the moment, and these are no exception:

Golden Wreath - a ring of delicate golden branches made from fairtrade gold plate - Pipal filigree ring - £30
Deck the Halls with Boughs of Silver - silver chains criss-cross on this glam necklace of recycled silver - triple chain necklace - £66
Two Turtle Doves - classic coin earrings with a twist - Fairtrade gold coin studs - £250
Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star - perfect for wearing on Christmas day or as a gift to the star in your life - solid fair trade gold earrings - £514

40% off Saphara collection

2011-11-28T09:23:00.001Z

As a pre-Christmas treat CRED Jewellery have cut prices on the Saphara Collection so you get 40% off! With silver earrings and pendants starting at just £24, what better time to buy a gift to show someone how gorgeous ethical jewellery is.

40% the entire Saphara collection in recycled silver and fairtrade gold plated

UK Jewellery industry reacts to the KP decision on Marange

2011-11-23T12:41:00.000Z

UK Jewellery Industry Confused by KP Decision

The UK jewellery industry has been left baffled following the recent announcement that Zimbabwe is once again to be included in the Kimberley Process. The message from inside the UK trade has been of confusion and disappointment on the lack of effectiveness of the KP to prevent diamonds mined from the troubled Marange diamond fields from entering the supply chain.

At a meeting in Kinhasa on the 1st November 2011, the Kimberley Process agreed to allow the export of rough diamonds from two KP compliant operations in the Marange region.

A third site at Anjin will be inspected within 14 days to check for compliance. This inspection may be subject to Zimbabwean army and central intelligence approval.

Since 2009, Marange diamonds have consistently been refused KP accreditation owing to human rights abuses and alleged non-compliance with KP certification requirements.

However the diamond stockpiles accumulated by Zimbabwe in 2008 and 2009 when the bouts of violence against artisanal miners were at their height will now too enter the world market.

In a press statement Zimbabwe’s Minister of Mines Mpofu announced “We want to shock the world with our stockpiles. We are going to unleash our worth to the world and Zimbabwe will not be asking for anything from anyone. I hate begging myself and Zimbabwe will not be begging from anyone,”

The Kimberley Process was established in order to prevent the flow of conflict. In allowing the market to become flooded with Marange ‘Blood diamonds’, has the KP failed in its duty and is it now fit for purpose?

Michael Hoare of the NAG said:
“NAG members are concerned about the future of the KP and have been contacting me suggesting that it has to take a firm line; being more transparent and rigorous in pursuit of its objectives. I had sincerely hoped that the Kinshasa meeting would counter retailer’s doubts once and for all so that they could pass on credible assurances to the public about the provenance of their diamonds. I fear that it has in fact generated a ‘lot of heat but not a lot of light’ and failed to put their doubts to rest.”

One of the unintended consequences outside the remit of the KP is that the largest customers of Marange diamonds, India and China are already discounting stones owing to the abundance of new supply. This will have a serious impact on the world market particularly in the supply of cut, polished diamonds and finished jewellery.

China is a huge investor in Zimbabwe and in March of this year lent $585m to the Zimbabwean government in the biggest deal of its kind.

The owners of Marange Resources; Mbada and Anjin Field; are owned or co-owned by ZMDC which remain under US, UK and EU sanctions, therefore no trade of rough can be made in these territories
However, will it now be impossible to prevent Marange Blood diamonds from entering the UK as long as retailers continue trade with China? It looks likely that any item of diamond jewellery manufactured in the Far East will now present an open route to market for a Marange diamond on to the UK high street.

The BJA has been very close to the KP process. CEO Simon Rainer comments

’At its inception, the KP was designed to prevent the sale of rough to fund conflict against democratically elected governments. Today, the KP under the same remit struggles to prevent “democratically” elected governments from using the profits of diamond rough to sponsor political violence against its indigenous population.
Whilst Marange diamonds maybe now compliant to the KP scheme, they are not compliant with the moral and ethical standards that the majority of the world subscribes to”

On November 1st, MP Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Henry Bellingham stated in the Hansard report on the situation “This will help the Zimbabwean Finance Ministry to collect tax and royalties owed to it, and thereby ensure the financial benefits of the diamond sales can reach the Zimbabwean people”.

That view was today slammed as ‘naïve in the extreme’ by Fair Trade Jeweller and Activist Greg Valerio. He went on to say ‘I support the view that to allow Zimbabwe diamonds into the KP system is a grave mistake. It will erode consumer confidence in the diamond. It’s permanently comatosed the credibility of the KP and forces the jewellery trade back to square one in terms of integrity of the diamond supply chain. It’s a sad day for the diamond industry and a sad day for human rights’.

Vivien Johnston of Ethical Jewellery brand Fifi Bijoux agrees
“This does nothing actually to address the torture, beatings or sexual assault to miners in the Marange diamond fields. It has been alleged by BBC reporters and witnesses as recently as August of this year that miners are being held captive and subjected to brutal assaults, rape and extreme violence in Marange. Under no circumstances should the perpetrators of crimes against humanity be allowed to openly profit from their corruption. Whilst the export ban has only been lifted from two sites so far, this opens the door to middle men who will exploit any opportunity to profit from the lifting of the ban. I understand the pressure on the KP to engage with Zimbabwe but this action has only weakened its integrity and thrown the diamond industry further into disarray. We must not forget why Zimbabwe was excluded”.

Talk of the need for a ‘KP Plus’ to provide a new coherent compliance suitable for today’s political challenges give rise to further speculation that the KP in its current format is creaking under the responsibility to make itself fit for purpose.

Certainly, the feedback from the UK jewellery sector demands further assurance on the provenance of diamonds entering our market.
In the US the new Dodd Frank legislation is making strides to prevent metals from “areas of conflict” entering their supply chain. Perhaps this, with other due diligence and chain of custody initiatives to prevent the trade of conflict minerals will become vehicles to prevent cut and polished stones from entering the US market.
Simon Rainer of BJA has already noted activity:

“In Washington on November 17th, the US State department will be holding a series of informal meetings engaging with US jewellery industry representatives, UK/EU public office officials and NGO’s. The purpose of these meetings will be to invite US industry to set its own set of voluntary measures to combat the frailties of the KP in its current form. If agreement cannot be met, then expect the State department to enter the fray and impose an amended version of the Dodd Frank Act or similar that will include diamonds from “areas of conflict”.

He added
“It is a fair reflection that the worldwide jewellery industry is confused by the current situation and that those with most to gain financially from the release of Marange diamonds have been the most vociferous in their support for Marange KP compliance”.

Greg Valerio, founder of CRED Jewellery, is working with miners in Africa towards making Fairtrade Gold there a reality. He continues to campaign and work towards the creating of ethical diamond mining standards.

It's Vintage Darling

2011-11-21T12:24:00.002Z

With 40s,50s and 60s influences appearing on the catwalks again this season and films set within these eras coming to our cinemas. Is it any wonder pearls are coming out of jewellery boxes and are a must for any outfit?

Kate Middleton

With this in mind CRED would like to welcome Jersey Pearls to the Chichester Boutique and our online store. We are very excited to bring this range of CarbonNeutral pearls to you and there really is something for everyone.

If your wanting a classic look that will last forever, try the string pearls like the Duchess of Cambridge (right). The string pearls come in different lenght, colour and shapes so you still get a unquie look. Or if you fancy something a bit more fresh, have a look at the Lily and Alice collections. In these collections the pearls are set in sliver flowers and circles frames, giving a mondern twist to the classic pearl piece.

However if Vintage is what you're after, have a peek at the Twenties collection. ‘The decade that pearls came to the people’ This collection is a tribute to art deco design, the movement and the people of the 20s.

Twenties Brooks Drop Pearl Earrings

Pearls are back, but then again did they ever go out of fashion?

You can find out about CarbonNeutral pearls here.

Christmas Gift Guides: Gifts for Him

2011-11-18T15:50:00.009Z

We know that Christmas shopping can be time consuming, especially when trying to find the perfect gift for him! Because of this we have created an easy gift guide for every type of man (no matter how difficult he can be to choose for).

Does he wear his heart on his wrist? Fairtrade bangles and tie cords alike are a great accessory for men, to wear stacked up with his festival passes and chunky watch. Skull tie-cord - £43, Silver Wrap Bangle - £70, Classic silver bar bangle - £110

To flatter his animal magnetism: These fun solid silver cufflinks and pendant with a wolfs head will make him feel like he's been hunting in the woods, but without the effort... Wolf Pendant - £156, Wolf Cufflinks - £178

For your off the cuff remark-able man: From classic silver, to lustrous pearls, and cufflinks with a diamond for added bling - CRED has a range of cufflinks for the man about town. Prices start from £85

For the man with heart: If he likes gifts which give back then this tie bracelet is perfect - 30% of the profits go to fund the building of the Nelson Mandela Children's hospital in South Africa. Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund 'Peace' Charm Bracelet - £39
And for the guy who really does have everything, add silver, gold and diamonds to his collection with this understated, yet luxury pair of cufflinks - silver cufflinks set with diamonds and gold nuggets - £195.

All of these gifts for men ideas can be bought either online (with free delivery) on in our Chichester boutique.

Keep an eye out for more gift ideas coming soon.

2011-11-18T14:42:00.006Z

The approach of Christmas has got me thinking about this time last year. I remember my expectation that 2011 was going to be busy and looking back I underestimated.

When Fairtrade and Fairmined gold launched in February the first certified Fairtrade mine, Cotapata, were having difficulty navigating through the bureaucracy associated with exporting their gold. The film is from my visit to see their mine and help open the supply chain.

After we visited countless departments together we got the paperwork and agents in place and Cotapata successfully completed the first direct export of gold from a small scale mining cooprative in Bolivia.

More stories from CRED's 2011 to follow,

Christian

Up to £200 off

2011-11-17T12:20:00.006Z

Boxes of all shapes and sizes are flooding through the door at Cred, decorations are finding their place in store and staff have been caught singing the first noel. That’s right it’s most definitely the festive season.

In the run up to this Christmas we are offering you up to £200 off*! This can be reedemed in both our Chichester boutique, London studio and our online store. So why not start your Christmas shopping early? Oh and if you buy something for yourself too we won’t tell.

For full terms and conditions click here.

A Birds Eye View

2011-11-04T13:02:00.000Z

On Wednesday the weathervane at Chichester Cathedral was reinstated at the top of the spire after undergoing a golden transformation, being gilded by master craftsmen in fairtrade gold.We've shown you the before photos, and the makeover in process, and here is the final reveal.

Greg Valerio, founder of CRED Jewellery, with the Dean of Chichester Cathedral

The brave men installing the weathervane, 227ft up.
Take a look at the view they got on the video

Up Up and Away

2011-11-04T11:51:00.003Z

Climb the dizzy heights of Chichester Cathedral spire with the team erecting the newly refurbished weathervane, plated with Fairtrade and Fairmined gold. Watch the video below to get a great rooster's eye view of Chichester, 227ft up.

CRED gets another World First

2011-11-03T10:24:00.002Z

The first public display of Fairtrade gold in the world was yesterday erected on the top of Chichester Cathedral.

We all love a makeover, and aged 40, this vane customer was no different - the 40 year old, 3ft weather vane from the top of Chichester Cathedral. You can see the 'before' photos here, and now we can reveal photos of the golden makeover in progress...

The Rooster, midway through the makeover has a new surface, ready to have the top layer of Fairtrade and Fairmined gold leaf applied.

The Fairtrade and Fairmined gold leaf is prepared for work.

The craftsman, Don Hickey, hard at work on the makeover.

Yesterday the weathervane was installed on top of the Cathedral at the top of it's 85m spire. A team of steeplejacks climbed 131ft – 205 steps – to reach the base of the spire and then ascend a narrow 146ft ladder, arriving finally at a tiny scaffold platform erected especially for this project around the Spire Cap.

The fairtrade gold, sourced by CRED Jewellery from Sotrami in Peru, will ensure the small-scale miners get a fair price. The project was set up by the church, CRED and the Fairtrade Foundation, paid for by a private donor.

See a video of the weathervane being erected at the Chichester Observer

CRED on the News!

2011-11-02T15:47:00.000Z

In September we told you about the weathervane at Chichester Cathedral being covered in Fairtrade gold leaf. We are delighted to tell you that today the Rooster is back where he belongs, at the top of the tower gleaming in gold over Chichester.

See the Rooster and his journey for yourself tonight on BBC South Today and ITV Meridian at 6pm.

And if that isn’t enough for you we will being share the full story of the weathervane with you here in the next few days.

Special Offer appointments are running low!

2011-10-21T11:58:00.002+01:00

Our £100 off* appointments are going fast and it’s no wonder. We are offering you £100 discount* on your order when you book an appointment to see us on set dates in November. And the offer applies to everything in store, including engagement rings, wedding rings, all jewellery and even bespoke designs*.

The appointment dates eligible for this offer are:

London Studio - Fri 4th, Sat 5th, Fri 11th & Sat 12th Nov

Chichester Boutique - Thurs 3rd, Sat 5th, Thurs 10th & Sat 12th Nov

Appointments are getting limited so book today to avoid disappointment for this great offer.
*The £100 off applies when you spend over £1000

Click here for full details.

Thank you for making a difference

2011-10-20T11:20:00.004+01:00

We want to say thank you! Research shows that Fairtrade is growing, meaning that more miners, farmers and workers are receiving the benefit of a fair wage & good working conditions.

An international survey, in 24 countries, found that consumers are not only more aware of Fairtrade, but that they realise that it makes a difference to farmers and workers in developing countries.

Consumers are understanding that the way they shop is making a positive difference to their lives, and 59% feel empowered through their shopping choices. And despite the economic downturn, consumers feelings are as strong, or stronger in these convictions than a similar survey at the outset in 2008. In fact, people are backing their beliefs with concrete action – shoppers spent €4.36 billion on Fairtrade products in 2010, an increase of 28 percent. Consumers bought an impressive 47 percent more in Fairtrade’s largest market, the UK.

Consumers have high expectations of companies in combating poverty, and so they should! 79 percent worldwide say companies can play an important role in reducing poverty through the way they do business. Their top concerns are fair pay for farmers and workers and product safety: at CRED we pay an additional premium to our Oro Verde miners for the Gold not just to be fairtrade, but to be mined in an environmental way. Read more on our Fairtrade gold

Shoppers also recognize Fairtrade’s role in enabling them to make a difference, saying the FAIRTRADE Certification Mark makes it easier for
them to decide if products are ethically produced and 90% regard it as a trusted label.

Rob Cameron, Chief Executive of Fairtrade International says 'Consumers want to be sure that their everyday purchases reflect their values and they expect companies to reflect this need. We are taking up the challenge to grow Fairtrade still further so that even more farmers and workers can have better opportunities and more consumers can make the choices they believe in.”

So keep campaigning, as we are doing, for Fairtrade to grow into areas such as Silver and Diamonds, and to the corners of the market that are important to you. And we will continue to work towards acheiving this as we did for Fairtrade and Fairmined gold.

Going Bananas over gold

2011-10-17T14:25:00.004+01:00

We were ever so surprised when we had a call to CRED requesting we make a banana out of fairtrade gold - but never ones to shy away from a challenge, we have done just that.

The Golden Banana Project by the Fairtrade movement in the Netherlands have been raising awareness of the journey a banana takes from the plantation in Colombia to the stores in the Netherlands, with the 'banancam' tracking each stage.

From the tree in Colombia, with lizard crawling on the branch, to the port in Panama where it is shipped to Europe (by banana boat? Kind of!), from packing, store to home.

the story then twists as the banancam is confiscated at a museum and then kidnapped by a courier who drops it off her motorbike... At the final stage of the journey a family took the bananacam to a secret location, where a chimp was filmed eating the banana with the camera still attached! Watch it here...

Film 11 from fairbezig on Vimeo.

5 entrants who first guessed the correct location of the banana (or what's left of it!) will be whisked off to an awards ceremony today to find out who will win the amazing 200 gram Golden Banana necklace.

Do you have a bespoke jewellery request? As you can see, we can put our hand to anything...

£100 off your order with CRED when you book an appointment!

2011-10-07T16:42:00.000+01:00

Beacuse we like to reward our customers we are giving you an early Christmas present. Book an appointment to meet one of our friendly members of our team on the dates below and recive £100 off your order.*

The appointment dates eligible for this offer are

London Studio - Fri 4th, Sat 5th, Fri 11th & Sat 12th Nov

Chichester Boutique - Thurs 3rd, Sat 5th, Thurs 10th & Sat 12th Nov

This offer can be for anything in store! From our Fairtrade elegant engagement rings and wedding bands to our stunning designer ethical jewellery collections. Just spend £1000 and we will give you £100 back!

With a limited number of appointments available each day hurry and book now to avoid disappointment.

Click here for full terms and conditions.

Daisy Knights hits CRED's new website

2011-09-30T12:30:00.003+01:00

Not only do we have a lovely new website for you to play on but we are now offering one of our favorite brands online, Daisy Knights!
Inspired by nature with a mix of rock ‘n’ roll her collections are all made in the UK with 100% recycled silver or are available in a gold plated version. Daisy’s pieces have been seen in Vouge, Grazia, Stylist, Glamour and ELLE.com and on the likes of Daisy Lowe, it’s not wonder she is so popular in our Chichester boutique.

The simple yet unique pieces are a key accessory to every jewellery box, ours are over flowing with it. So if you would like to be an addict too, why not click on daisy’s name to have a look at the online collection.

CRED at EcoLuxe London

2011-09-21T16:19:00.000+01:00

At the start of London Fashion Week, Emily and Annabel were at Eco Luxe presenting CRED Jewellery to sytlists, press and the odd lost tourist. The Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold was again greatly recieved and with everyone wanting to try on a piece of The Penelope and Saphara Collection, as well as many comments on the stunning design. Eco Luxe show cases fashion related Eco luxury brands as well as bring awareness of ethical and Eco issues to the public. Annabel and Emily had a great time meeting people who are as passionate about Fair Trade and Ethical jewellery as they are.

Who are you calling Vane?

2011-09-15T15:20:00.000+01:00

The builder taking down the weathervain

We are not the only ones who like to be covered in gold, as part of the maintenance of Chichester Cathedral the weathervane is having a make over. After 40 years of sitting on top of the 277ft spire the Rooster is being taken down and covered in the worlds first Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold leaf.

The Fairtrade and Fairmined certificated gold was originally mined in Bolivia before being sent to Italy. Once in Italy the Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold leaf was created at one of the very last places to make gold leaf in the world, and if you think the packaging looks beautiful wait until you see what is on the inside and the finished Rooster.

The Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold leaf packaging

At CRED we are very happy that the Rooster on the weathervane, a Christian symbol of vigilance against evil, will look over Chichester with our Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold leaf shining off it for years to come.

Dispatches launch Real price of Gold pledge

2011-06-17T14:43:00.003+01:00

This pledge is related to the Dispatches programme The Real Price of Gold. Some of the biggest British high street jewellery shops are misleading you about where the gold in their jewellery comes from. Their gold jewellery could be mined by children working in deadly conditions, using mercury with their bare hands. Gold mining can cause devastating pollution. Producing an average gold ring creates more than 18 tonnes of waste rock. There is an alternative – Fairtrade and Fairmined gold and 100% recycled gold – but hardly anyone sells it.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/articles/the-real-price-of-gold-pledge

Fairtrade Campaigner Strikes Gold

2011-06-10T16:31:00.000+01:00

Greg accepts his award with miner Americos whilst Livia Firth cheers!

We are all pretty excited. 15 years after setting up CRED Jewellery, Greg Valerio has received recognition for his tireless campaigning for responsible mining. Last night at the Observer Ethical Awards he was presented with the award for Global Campaigner. It comes in an exciting year which has so far seen the launch of the Fairtrade Fairmined gold standard and the first Fairtrade gold jewellery to go down the Oscars red carpet worn by Livia Firth, wife of actor Colin Firth.

At last night’s ceremony Greg accepted his trophy together with Luis Americo Mosquera, one of the Colombian gold miners from Oro Verde who CRED invited to the UK for London Jewellery Week. It was fitting as Americo has been working with OroVerde since Greg and CRED Jewellery started working on creating the fairtrade standards at the Colombian gold mine over 10 years ago.

It was the Oro Verde mine which created the gold for Livia Firth’s Oscars pieces that she wore when husband Colin accepted his Academy Award for Best Actor so it was great to be able to introduce Americo to Livia Firth at the awards ceremony last night.

Livia & Colin Firth meet miner Americos

For more aboiut the Observer Ethical Awards and to see the other Winners, visit the website

2 for 1 Tickets to the Jewellery Event of the Year

2011-06-02T17:08:00.000+01:00

The gold has been polished and the rocks sparkle - We are getting ready for the jewellery event of the year - London Jewellery Week, including Treasure, an exhibition of the most exciting contemporary designers where jewellery will be on sale, from affordable to luxury.

Following it's sucess in 2010, once again CRED Jewellery are curating Essence, the ethical jewellery pavillion, inviting some of the amazing ethical and Fairtrade jewellery designers who are as passionate for the cause as we are. Essence is now in its second year, but this year we are even more excited about the line-up we have pulled together.

This year the big story is Gold. Fresh from the launch of Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold in February, this year will showcase the first pieces designed with this gold and marked with the Fairtrade stamp.

The Fairtrade Foundation is sponsoring the Essence exhibition and will be hosting an invitation only evening reception for an exclusive first look at the gorgeous jewellery designs on offer.

The pavillion space has been designed by the MA students at London Met, creating an space reflecting the intimate feel of an elegant and luxurious salon with an eye-catching entrance and individual diplays for each of the exhibitors.

Essence is part of Treasure, held at Victoria House near Holborn.
Tickets £5 - Fri 12 noon – 5pm, Sat/Sunday 10am – 6pm.

To get 2 tickets for the price of one, download this 2for1 voucher to show at the door for entry to Treasure and Essence. Follow us on Twitter @CredJewellery and on facebook for an exclusive competition to win weekend passes to the Treasure and Essence exhibitions.

You can pick up your 32-page guide to the full London Jewellery Week events in tomorrow's Evening Standard ES Magazine.

Fairtrade gold - A kings ransom for Oxfam

2011-04-15T14:01:00.021+01:00

The worlds first certified Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological gold jewellery recently went under the hammer at the Selfridges Old Curiosity shop and became the highest value Fairtrade product ever sold raising £25,000 for Oxfam.

Livia Firth, wife of Oscar winner Colin Firth,

wore these pieces to the Oscars in March

as part of her campaign to increase the profile of ethical fashion and designers and her Vogue.com Green Carpet Challenge.

The Juana collection, named after a Bolivian Fairtrade gold miner, was created by bespoke goldsmith Anna Loucah, in collaboration with Fairtrade gold pioneers CRED Jewellery.

18ct White gold from OroVerde, the inspirational community mines behind Fairtradegold held 35 cts of aquamarine, sourced from the Lundazi community owned mine in Zambia and diamonds from a women’s mining cooperative in Lesotho, South Africa, courtesy of the Jeweltree Foundation. The collection was confirmed by Birmingham assay office to be the first ever to receive the dual stamp of Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological gold.

Organised and hosted by Annie Lennox in aid of Oxfam’s Circle projects, Thursday evening’s ‘Old Curiosity Shop’ event saw Selfridges car park transf

ormed into a magical setting with well known faces from worlds of celebrity and big business coming together to raise funds and awareness. Films by Annie Lennox and Laura Bailey set the scene while Ruby Wax whipped the crowd into a frenzy as guest auctioneer. Livia Firth did a fine job of modelling the jewellery and Anna looked on as her designs where sold to an anonymous telephone bidder for £25,000.

‘Thank you to whoever that was for buying Fairtrade, Fairmined history,’ said Livia, ‘ we hope these pieces are the start of a new understanding in the jewellery world and thanks to Anna Loucah and CRED for earning Oxfam such big bucks!’

Claire Lewis of Oxfam said afterwards;

‘Thank you to everyone who came to the Oxfam Curiosity Shop and made it such a huge success! In such a curious venue we raised over £200,000 for Oxfam’s work with vulnerable women around the world, helping and empowering them to earn a living and so work their way out of poverty’

Oscars 2011 - Livia Firth unveils the first ever Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological jewellery – a collaboration between CRED Jewellery and Anna Loucah

2011-02-28T10:34:00.003Z

When we started CRED jewellery we had the aim of creating Fairtrade gold and the dream that one day it would be worn on the red carpet, roll on ten years and mission accomplished.

CRED is delighted that Livia Firth wore the first ever Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological gold jewellery at the Oscars 2011 ceremony, as part of her Green Carpet Challenge. Livia shows one more time that fashion can be altogether desirable and guilt free with a delightful set designed and hand made by goldsmith Anna Loucah in collaboration with CRED Jewellery.

The jewellery is the first in the world to be stamped as Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological. Created with OroVerde gold from Colombia - the world’s only source of Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological gold - and featuring 35cts of gorgeous traceable Aquamarines from a community mine in Zambia and Jeweltree diamonds from the Liqhobong Women Miners Cooperative in Lesotho.

‘We associate gold with love and beauty but there is often nothing beautiful about the way that gold is produced. Tens of millions of small-scale gold miners risk their lives in often appalling conditions and get a raw deal for their strenuous efforts. There is a real need for consumers to demand higher standards when they purchase gold and they can do this by getting behind this new and important initiative.’ Livia Firth

Fairtrade Fairmined Gold, every piece tells a story

2011-02-23T16:41:00.000Z

Fantastic video from the Fairtrade Foundation.

Come with us

2011-02-22T16:31:00.000Z

Come with us to the worlds' only source of Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological Gold and Platinum, the OroVerde miners in the Choco Rainforest, Colombia.

National Wedding show loves Fairtrade Fairmined Gold

2011-02-18T16:12:00.000Z

The CRED Jewellery pop up boutique at the National Wedding show. The brides to be are loving Fairtrade Fairmined Gold and Platinum and the chance to indulge themselves with a clean conscience.

The Worlds' first Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological Gold has arrived!

2011-02-17T11:56:00.000Z

Last week, moments after the the press launch for Fairtrade Fairmined Gold we received the gold that you see in the image above. This raw (unrefined) gold is the culmination of 10 years work for us at CRED Jewellery, it is the worlds first certifiable Fairtrade Fairmined Ecoligical gold from Oro Verde. We have big plans for this first small batch and as you read it is being crafted into jewellery for a very special occasion at the end of the month.

Emily is wearing...Daisy Knights

2011-02-05T01:00:00.001Z

It's safe to say Emily is now addicted to Daisy Knights, however she is not the only one from CRED who is. The silver feather tie charm bracelet hasn't left Emily's wrist since getting it but this week she has added another piece to her jewellery box in the shape of the feather drop earrings.

Emily in Daisy Knight's feather collection

With Daisy's pieces being seen in Vogue, ELLE.com, Grazia and on the likes of Daisy Lowe and Alexa Chung it's no surprise she is getting a large fan base. And because all of Daisy's piece are made from 100% recycled sterling silver you never have to feel bad wearing them. No wonder our wish list is so long. If you want to try these pieces for yourself pop into our Chichester boutique, we can promise you that you will not be disappointed!

Meet Sabrina

2011-02-04T12:30:00.000Z

Sabrina come to CRED in 2010 as the Chichester Boutique manger. But Sabrina is also know to meet our customers for appointments in the London Studio. She is passionate about her job and enjoys giving our customers the unique and friendly experience they have become a custom too.

When you were younger what did you want to be?

Ballerina, Air Hostes and Hairdresser

What book are you reading at the moment?

The difference a day makes by Carole Matthews

Describe your style

I love Floral!! and a Vintage edge. I like to make a lot of my own dresses from vintage Vogue designs.

What 5 things live in your bag?

iPhone,Diary, hand cream, lip balm and gloves

What is your music guilty pleasure?

Katy Perry. Oh Dear! and Mika.

What is you first jewellery memory?

Trying on my mum's necklaces and rings

If you could steal anyone’s jewellery who would it be?

Alex Chung

What piece of jewellery can’t you live without?

I would say i could live without my jewellery but not my watch.

What is piece from the shop are you wearing at the moment?

I'm another Trollbead addict, so i'm nearly always wearing them. My Hari bangle which goes with everything and a LA ring.

And lastly why Fair trade/Ethical?

Because it's the right thing to do.

CRED loves surprises

2011-02-03T19:32:00.000Z

Over the weekend we had a wonderful surprise. Tania Kowalski from Oria Ethical Jewellery popped into the Chichester Boutique on Saturday for a lovely chat and catch up. As well as telling us about exciting new ideas they are having over at Oria, we learnt more about the beautiful new Hares &Meadow and Bees collections. These new collections are available both in the Chichester Boutique and online and are defiantly worth looking at. And Emily left the shop a very happy girl with a new sleeping cat charm bracelet on her wrist which was kindly given to her from Tania. We do love surprises!

Emily's new Oria sleeping cat bracelet

Monica is wearing... Kolibri by Sophie Harley

2011-01-29T11:43:00.000Z

Monica wearing the Kolibri Triple Dropstone Pendant
and Kolibri Coin Stud Earring.

This week Monica is wearing 2 of the 15 pieces from the stunning Kolibri collection by Sophie Harley. This collection is an exclusive collaboration between Sophie and CRED. Made from Oro Verde Fair Trade 18ct Yellow Gold this unique are inspired by the rain forest, which can be seen through the motifs of leaves, vines, hummingbirds and seeds.

As well as being worn by the women of CRED Sophie has a extraordinary private following of celebrities and clients including Joss Stone, Kate Beckinsale and Jerry Hall. And Sophie exclusively designed jewellery for the 2 latest James Bond films, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. With all this on her CV we don't need any persuading. The full range of the Kolibri collection can be seen on CRED's website.

Meet Annabel

2011-01-15T14:03:00.001Z

Annabel Panes came to CRED two years ago and has been creating stunning fair trade and ethical collections since. These include the Penelope collection and Saphara collection. The Pipal bangle was recently worn by Amanda Holden. Annabel also designs various engagement rings in the Eden collection this includes the Afro Cocktail. Annabelis based in the London Studio and works mainly on Bespoke designs helping customers to create unique and one off pieces from their original ideas.

When you were younger what did you want to be?

When I was younger I think I wanted to be an artist... oh or a nurse,always loved playing doctors and nurses!

What book are you reading at the moment?

I am reading The Chronicles of Narnia, I am currently reading The Horse and His Boy.

Describe your style

Smart casual...

What 5 things live in your bag?

Mobile, lip balm, keys, wallet, book

What is your music guilty pleasure?

i've had the time of my life from Dirty Dancing!

What is you first jewellery memory?

Playing with my mum's engagement and wedding ring. My Mum has a beautiful cabochon-ruby ring, which I always loved putting on my fingers.

If you could steal anyone’s jewellery who would it be?

My Granny's

What piece of jewellery can’t you live without?

My Granny's champagne twizler.

What is piece from your own collection are you wearing at the moment?

I am wearing a locket and sliver Saphara hoops

And lastly why Fair trade/Ethical?

Fair trade because it benefits every person in the process. I love the idea of families being able to live independent, self-sustaniable lives. As a consumer we have the power to change the way business is done, which is why fair trade is the way forward!

This year its personal!

2011-01-08T14:15:00.004Z

At CRED we like to give you a personal and unique service when you visit us at our Chichester Boutique or our London Studio. So this year we are extending this experience to the world wide web. Not only will we continue to bring you the latest in what is happening in the world of Fair Trade Jewellery and at CRED. But also interviews with designers, new products that we are lusting over in the boutique, events were we will get to meet you and more.
This year its personal and we can’t wait to get to know you.

First Fairtrade gold producers pass their certification audit

2010-12-21T14:45:00.009Z

Christmas has come early!

We have just heard from the Fairtrade foundation that one of the mining communities we work with in Bolivia have successfully passed their FLOcert audit and are ready to supply us with the worlds first Fairtrade Gold in the new year.

With our key partners OroVerde set to become the world first Ecolgical Fairtrade gold in Jan next year is building to be momentous for the ethical and fairtrade jewellery movement, the culmination of CRED Jewellery's hard work over the past 10 years.

Diamonds - Did you know?

2010-12-15T12:08:00.000Z

Did you know?• All diamonds are immensely old and were formed long before dinosaurs roamed the earth. The youngest diamond is 900 million years old and the oldest is 3.2 billion years old.
• Every diamond is unique; no two are alike.
• Diamonds exist in many colours not simply ‘white’.
• The most rare diamonds are red.
• Each diamond loses, on average, more than half its original weight during the cutting and polishing process.
• The word ‘carat’ – in measurement used to describe the size of the diamond – comes from the carob tree, whose seed was used as the standard in weighing precious stones.
• Less than 5% of all the diamonds made into jewellery are larger than one carat.

http://credjewellery.com/pages/52

http://www.bja.org.uk/presspoint.php?featuredarticle=10

Britain's Got Talent Star to wear Cred Jewellery

2010-12-13T12:18:00.001Z

Beautiful Amanda Holden described Cred bracelet as 'gorgeous and ethical!'

Amanda says she will be wearing the Cred bracelet on Britain's Got Talent due to start in Jan 2011

Taken from Amandas Column in Fabulous magazine, page 15, 12th December 2010

Amanda Holden Loves Cred Pipal Bracelet

2010-12-12T21:44:00.002Z

Amanda Holden Loves Cred Jewellery. Read what she has to say on page 15 of todays Fabulous magazine. She will be wearing Annabel Panes Gold Pipal bracelet on Britain's Got Talent 2011.

You can buy the bracelet at Cred Jewellery's online shop: https://store.credjewellery.com/product/284

Rachel Entwistle Jewellery comes to Cred

2010-12-11T13:13:00.000Z

Rachel Entwistle Jewellery has nature at the theme of all her collections but her really influences come from her travels India and Mexico. But also her interest in the arts and crafts movement has played a big part in her designs.

She has created exclusive collections for the Tate Gallery and British Museum.

Her beautiful Survival Collection is made from 100% Recycled Sliver and 100% Recycled Brass which is available from Cred. The Lily and Organic Leaf design were made for Survival the international organisation campaigning for indigenous peoples rights.

Survival helped the Dongria Kondh who has won a historic battle to save their lands and forests from an open-pit bauxite mine. Vedanta Resources, a British company, intended to dig a bauxite mine on Niyamgiri Mountain in India. The mine would have destroyed the forests on which the Dongria Kondh depend and wreck the lives of thousands of other Kondh tribal people living in the area.
15% of the sale price will go direct to Survival to help towards their campaigns that protect land, community and environmental rights.

CRED Jewellery featured in the Jewellery Focus Magazine, December 2010

2010-12-07T16:09:00.000Z

New Designer in CRED... Daisy Knights

2010-12-04T12:29:00.000Z

Its love, it really is and after weeks of waiting we have just received one of our new designers in store. Daisy Knights . Women everywhere will want some of Daisy’s pieces in their stocking this Christmas. The collections are inspired by the country and her friends and family, which the ranges are named after. Her pieces are girly with a rock n’ roll twist. All Daisy’s pieces are beautifully hand made in the UK from recycled sterling sliver.

Daisy's rings at London Fashion Week

Even stars have been wearing Daisy Knights. Rebecca Ferguson was stopped wearing the gold vermeil feather ring last week on X Factor and Alexa Chung was seen wearing Daisy Knight at a Donatella Versace’s dinner for Central Saint Martins were Daisy herself graduated. As well as these stars many girls at London Fashion Week had Daisy’s skulls on their fingers.

Rebecca Ferguson on X Factor

CRED joins the BBC World Challenge debate

2010-11-22T10:55:00.000Z

Christian Cheeseman joined a BBC panel, which included Leo Johnston, to discuss Oro Verde and CRED's support for ethical sourcing.
View the debate online at http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/down-to-business.php

Oro Verde Mine Visit 2010 - Day Four

2010-11-22T09:04:00.000Z

Americo

Day Four – Tado and Americo’s mine

There are rumours of a transport strike so we leave Candoto early and catch a bus at 5am to go to Tado. I am half asleep but aware that we seem to be making good progress, until I am jolted awake as the bus stops suddenly. We discover that there has been a landslide caused by the previous nights rain and the road is impassable. From nowhere people in high visibility jackets appear and within an hour the road is cleared by hand and we get underway again.
We pull up at a small town outside Tado that I recognise from previous visits. Behind the row of houses there is a bridge that leads to Americos mine. As I get off the bus I hear “Hola Christian, com esta?” and see Americo smiling warmly. Where Candoto is political the communities in Tado are much warmer, more of an extended family and it feels like visiting friends. After fuelling up with the most incredible coffee we cross the river and head in to the forest towards Americo’s mine.

The first glimpse of Americo's mine

We pass the rush mine site that was actively being mined on my last visit, the 50 acres of land that was cleared is now covered in shrubs and grasses. I am impressed by the virulence of the forest and the speed of its recovery. I ask Alfredo, our guide and Oro Verde coordinator how long it will take for the land to recover fully. He tells me that it will become grassland quickly but will take over a generation for the trees to return and longer for them to mature. The rainforest is so majestic and important to all of our lives it is depressing that more and more of this land clearance and lack of management is being undertaken for short- term gain.

The hard work of mining

We follow the small rivers deep into the forest with Alfredo pointing out useful plants and an array of birds, bugs and spiders. The more you look in the forest the more life you see. I spot the stone terraces through the undergrowth and recognise that we are on the edge of Americos’ mine, it looks like an ancient Mayan city structure. Americo and his family are working a seam of gold, washing the soil with a new jet hose and clearing the rocks as they come across them. As the stones and rocks are cleared, they are sorted by size and used to build the terraces, which provide the beds for the saplings they plant for the reforestation programme. After talking to Americo for a while we leave him and his family to work and make our way to the community farm, where we have been invited to stay the night.

CRED launches a ring fit for a princess!

2010-11-18T15:09:00.000Z

This stunning engagement ring is set with 48 Canadian ethical diamonds, surrounding a fine 7mm by 5mm Oval Ceylon Sapphire weighing just under 1ct. Made with 18ct Oro Verde™ Eco Fair Trade White Gold. Designed by Annabel Panes.

https://store.credjewellery.com/product/322

The Fair fair

2010-11-06T10:04:00.000Z

O so charming

2010-10-27T15:44:00.000+01:00

Charm necklaces are a piece of jewellery that can never go out of fashion. So simply to wear they can be worn alone or stacked to completely change or give an outfit that little something it needed.

Treasured charms have been hanging around the necks of models and celebrities for years. And images of them have been flowing back into our magazines we thought we would show you some of Cred’s favourite pieces.

These Oria Charm necklaces are hand made in London from sterling sliver. All Oria charms are available from Cred.

The piece below is from Cred's own Penelope Collection designed by Annabel Panes. The collection is inspired by the cocktail ladies of the 1930's and specifically Annabel's Grandmother. However they have a modern twist giving the pieces timeless glamour. Each of the 13 pieces are made from Oro Verde Fair Trade white gold. You will be spoilt for choice.

Oro Verde Mine Visit 2010 - Day Three

2010-10-24T13:00:00.023+01:00

Day Three - Up River

In the morning we meet up with the Fairtrade Fairmined auditing team who were undertaking the audit of the communities for certification against the new Ecological Fairtrade Fairmined standard. One of the challenges in the region is the ongoing gorilla activity posing a risk of kidnaping. Each time we visit we have to wait for the all clear to head up river. Eventually we all get the go ahead.

Ploughing up river for two hours through little rapids in the middle of the rainforest, I am in awe of the beauty and epic scale of the rainforest.

El Paso on the Candoto River

As we arrive at El Paso we are welcomed by the children and climb up the riverbank.We walk out into the forest to find one of the small mines. The Oro Verde miners do not use chemicals, the only technology they have is a water pump to wash the soil over a mesh which catches the gold. It is extremely physical work, moving rocks by hand in the sun with a humidity level similar to a steam room. The husband and wife we meet work the concession together and find 0.5g to 1g a week. Selling to Oro Verde means that they are guaranteed a good price and an extra ecological premium for mining without chemicals and reforesting as they go.

In the evening one of the community leaders talked to me about the pressures on the communities to lease their concessions to medium and large operations. The gold rush is in full swing and various companies are in a land grab to capitalise on the high commodity prices. The communities can earn a small percentage from releasing the land, the short term gain is very attractive and even the ‘Oro Verde’ miners are tempted. They want to mine and have their lands mined in a positive way but, like all of us, they want to provide for their families as best as they can. Others argue that, although the cash is good, the mechanised mining causes devastation that lasts generations through the use of toxic chemicals and the stripping hectares of forest. As soon as the gold is gone so are the companies and with no thought of environmental management or the sustainability of the communities. They argue that the best way to provide for their children is to protect the environment for them, I hope that argument wins.

Oro Verde Mine Visit 2010 - Day Two

2010-10-23T13:00:00.184+01:00

Day two – The Choco.
The airplane takes off in the rain and climbs surrounded by clouds. The city below is in soft focus with the rain as we fly over the mountains and head towards Quibdo.

Every so often the clouds break a little and the canopy of the rainforest comes into view, it stretches from horizon to horizon. It is majestic and it is impossible not to be awestruck. The Choco is recognised as part of 34 biodiversity hotspots worldwide.
Collectively, these hotspots contain more than 50% of the world's plant species and 77% of all terrestrial vertebrate species. Our jewellery invests in protecting this biodiversity alongside paying a fair price.

We land in Quibdo and grab a taxi to the bus station. We discover there is a public holiday, one of 17 each year, and our bus is now not going to our destination, Candoto, but a near by town.

Three hours later we arrive in Istamina and set about getting transport on to Candoto. The only willing driver crammed the four of us and luggage into his moto taxi and we set off. We turned a corner and discovered the reason behind the reluctance; the fiesta had closed the main road while the towns' pageant passed.

Istamina festival

A couple of hours and beers later we were on our way. The three wheeled moto taxi lurched impossibly along the pitch black dirt road and I found myself contemplating how I could jump clear if we rolled over. We reached Candoto and the hotel late.

Oro Verde Mine Visit 2010

2010-10-22T15:36:00.000+01:00

Last month Christian went on his annual visit to see the Oro Verde miners in Colombia. We are going to post his diary here over the next couple of weeks so you can see exactly how far we travel to source our Fairtrade metals and exactly where the gold and platinum in our jewellery comes from.

Day one – Medellin.

Clara and Juango

I spent the first day catching up with some friends, Clara and Jaungo. Clara was the director of Oro Verde until she struck out as a sustainability consultant 2 months ago. We took a tour of the city in the rain, Juango giving a running commentary of the prestigious buildings and developments and ‘bad’ area’s as we criss-crossed from mountain to mountain.

We turned a corner into an area Juango tells me he calls it Sad Town because it has been left alone while the blocks next to it have been developed.

“Here you can get any mechanical work you need done, as long as you don’t want a warranty. One guy rolls up with a cart to change your tyres, while another fetches a cart with a winch to take your engine out, they are all independent but working together trying to scratch a living”

One of the Sad town mobile mechanic carts

We drove around sad town as night set in and the absence of the days’ hustle and bustle revealed the makeshift shelters of the street people. The contrast of the haves and have-nots, good area’s and bad areas is clear.

Leaving Sad town

Colombia is a country of contrasts, from mountain cities to tropical ports and, for me tomorrow, rainforest towns and gold mining communities.

The dark side of diamonds

2010-10-13T13:10:00.000+01:00

Below is a recent article from the Daily Mail, its shows just how bad the conditions around diamonds can be and what drives us at Cred to do things differently and in a more positive way.

Our aim is to have a truly ‘pure’ diamond, certified Fair Trade, from artisanal sources, that will deliver real economic justice to those involved in its production. Unfortunately this is not currently a reality, but as a step on the journey we only source Diamonds that go beyond the basic Kimberly certification of 'confict-free' and that we can trace from mine to shine.

A great example of this is our Brilliant Open Solitaire or any other ring from our Eden Engagement collection.

Mugabe's darkest secret: An £800bn blood diamond mine he's running with China's Red Army

http://www.dailymail.co.uk <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/>

By Andrew Malone <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Andrew+Malone>

18th September 2010

Dictator: Robert Mugabe

Across a remote tract of southern Africa, naturally –fortified by mountains and patrolled by hundreds of –soldiers with dogs trained to tear intruders apart, teams of mining experts are hard at work.

Yet they are not speakers of Shona, the native language of this land on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. No, thousands of miles from home, under a broiling African sun, these slim, pale-skinned figures are members of the Chinese military.

Working alongside henchmen from one of –Africa's most murderous regimes - headed by Robert Mugabe - the Chinese are here to –oversee Beijing's investment in the world's most controversial commodity: blood diamonds.

High-ranking officials of China's People's –Liberation Army, they have been striving to escape detection for their role in this blood-thirsty - but hugely lucrative - trade.

For here, carved out of the African bush, is a runway big enough for huge cargo planes. There is also sophisticated radar equipment, a fully-operational control tower and comfortable –barracks for the Chinese officials overseeing the entire operation.

And twice a week, its wings wobbling on waves of thermals rising from this scorching corner of the continent, an Antonov An-12 cargo plane can be heard droning towards the airstrip.

The Antonov - developed by the Soviets and, like so much else, copied by the Chinese and manufactured en masse - carries men and equipment from a secret military airbase –outside Zimbabwe's capital Harare, whose job is to tear the gems from the earth. It deposits between eight and ten Chinese military officials, who work overseeing members of the Zimbabwean military, as well as local labour who work at gunpoint in slave conditions.

The departing flights leave with rough, uncut diamonds worth millions.

No flight plans are filed and there are no records of these trips. Such secrecy - and sophisticated organisation - is understandable. This is the centre of diamond fever, and the scene of the biggest diamond heist in history.

Here, at the Marange diamond fields in the far southeast of Zimbabwe, where four planes bound direct for China have thundered out of the secret bush runway already this year, –astonishing natural wealth has been found in the soil. Indeed, so common are diamonds here that, for many years, local children used the 'hard stones' in catapults to hunt birds, not realising that they were firing unimaginable riches into the sky.

But stomach-gnawing poverty - life expectancy here has halved to just 35 since Mugabe came to power in 1980 - led to a local diamond rush as news spread that riches were to be found.

Professionals such as doctors, nurses, teachers and plumbers as well as other workers all descended on the fields four years ago, hoping to find enough stones in the earth to survive as the country's currency collapsed, with worthless notes blowing through the streets.

Searching for hope: Zimbabweans rummage through the dirt for diamonds before Mr Mugabe found out about mine. Now the area is considered a military zone - with people beaten to death who enter

Yet all their hopes were crushed when Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the 86-year-old Zimbabwean president, and his ruling military junta, also came to hear of the rumours of such wealth.

Mugabe's military - many of whom have been given training in torture techniques in China - reacted in characteristically brutal fashion, shooting hundreds of people, setting Alsatian dogs on others and raping women and children.

They wanted the diamonds for themselves. The carnage had the desired effect: the poor and wretched were driven from the fields, leaving the way clear for Zimbabwe's military chiefs to move in.

Today, the fields are a military zone - and anyone caught there faces being beaten to death.

The reason for the secrecy became apparent during an undercover –investigation at the fields, where I found conclusive evidence of –collusion between China and Mugabe.

In an official - but highly-confidential - agreement between the two countries, the Chinese People's –Liberation Army and Mugabe's –military chiefs are plundering this diamond find, believed to be the –biggest in the history of the world and worth an estimated £800 billion.

So vast are the riches that diamond experts believe the gems from Marange - in a country of less than ten million people - could account for more than a quarter of all –diamonds mined around the globe, and could even trigger a massive slump in diamond prices if the stones come on the market and cause a glut.

Not that the people of Zimbabwe will see any of these riches. Instead, in return for the gems, the Chinese are paying Mugabe's thugs in guns and ammunition, ensuring his regime can stay in power despite –international condemnation of his atrocities.

The two countries - both with appalling human-rights records - are involved in a vile scramble for loot at Marange, and there is clear –evidence that Mugabe and his –generals are also personally stealing millions from the trade.

Secret documents obtained by the Mail reveal that the company given the rights to the diamond fields -called Mbada Diamond Company - is fronted by Mugabe's trusted former personal helicopter pilot, with –Chinese military officials as silent partners.

The documents reveal that the pilot - Robert Mhlanga, who has no experience of mining - was personally appointed by Mugabe, with Chinese partners named as Deng Hongyan, Zhang Shibin, Zhang Hui, Jiang Zhaoyao and Cheng Qins. With military camps set up around the perimeter, and three separate fences erected to keep out smugglers and spies, local villagers told me appalling stories of how they have been driven from the land at gunpoint.

Soldiers set their dogs on one girl, who was mauled and killed in front of her parents. The military said this was a warning to others to keep away from the fields; at least seven people caught near the fields were killed by the military in the last month alone and their bodies dumped.

Lucky Sibanda, a local man, showed me the wounds on his back where he was attacked by dogs after the –military caught him by the fields. 'These Chinese men have hard hearts,' he said. 'They are taking away diamonds that could save this country. I hate them.'

The disclosures make a mockery of the decision by the Kimberley –Process - the diamond watchdog set up in the wake of the diamond war in Sierra Leone - to allow Mugabe to sell gems from Marange - which is in the –remotest, most inaccessible part of his impoverished nation.

And it comes as the issue is once again in the spotlight following –supermodel Naomi Campbell's –controversial appearance at the war-crimes trial of Charles Taylor, the cannibal warlord who funded the bloodshed and slaughter of more than 200,000 people in Sierra Leone in a battle over diamonds.

For, while Mugabe insists these –diamonds will be for benefit of his people, the truth is they are already being used to fund a war chest designed to keep him and his generals in power, while millions more are siphoned into their –personal accounts.

That much was made clear to me during a chilling conversation I had as night fell this week near the –diamond fields.

There, at a meeting in a car on deserted waste ground - set up after tortuous negotiations through a go-between - one of Mugabe's most senior intelligence chiefs rubbed his hands with glee at the deal with the Chinese, and told me the weapons were being handed out to the –military in preparation for a brutal new crackdown against opponents.

As well as paying a share of the –diamond profits to Mugabe's regime, he confirmed that China has agreed to supply military hardware to Zimbabwe.

'It is a government-to-government deal,' the official said. 'It has been signed at the highest level.

'There is a memorandum of understanding between China and –Zimbabwe - Beijing supplies –weapons to us, and we allow them to mine diamonds.'

Mocking the 'monkeys in the West' who have been outraged by Mugabe's brutality, my source - a cold-hearted killer - predicted that the diamond deal with Beijing would mean they could stay in power indefinitely.

'You can write 1,000 stories, and print them 1,000 times, but it won't make any difference,' smirked the official. 'We have all the diamonds, so we have all the weapons - and we will kill anyone who tries to take anything from us.'

During an hour-long –conversation, the intelligence source - whose identity I know, but who insisted I do not use his name or rank - also admitted that, without the Chinese pact, the ruling junta would have been driven from power. 'But now we have all the guns we need,' he said.

Of course, –Zimbabwe is not Sierra Leone, where Taylor's forces drove civilians from diamond fields there, brutally cutting off the arms of thousand of –people. Mugabe, who is reported to be in poor health, is far too clever for that.

Never killing so many, or so openly, that the West would be forced to intervene, he has become Africa's second-longest-serving leader by quietly –terrorising the –population, killing opponents and using his dreaded secret police, rather than wholesale slaughtering - with the exception of 25,000 members of the Ndebele tribe he murdered in the Eighties.

War crimes: Cannibal warlord Charles Taylor helped fund the bloodshed and slaughter of 200,000 in Sierra Leone in a battle over diamonds.

The country is run as a personal fiefdom for Mugabe and his –military junta, all of whom live in palatial homes and expect a personal cut from every aspect of the country's wealth - from road 'tolls' raising millions and going to their –personal accounts, to companies set up to capitalise on the diamond find.

'Just because they are crooks, doesn't mean they aren't clever crooks,' says one veteran –underground Zimbabwe journalist. 'These guys were trained by the North Koreans and at Nanking –Military Academy in China. They are thugs, but smart - that's why they are so scary.'

To protect their wealth and grip on power, the junta runs three –different intelligence services, –hundreds of thousands strong. Countless opposition politicians have been murdered, not to mention hundreds of white farmers.

A human rights activist was jailed and tortured last month for giving Kimberley Process officials details of abuses at the fields, including the torture and murder of gwejas - –illegal miners caught in the area.

The arms-for-diamonds deal between Zimbabwe and China was set up by General Constantine –Chiwenga, a brutal killer and one of the so-called 'dirty half-dozen' –military chiefs who run the country for Mugabe.

Believing the Chinese would be 'more disciplined' in extracting diamonds, Chiwenga struck the deal with Beijing during a trip to China last year in order to control sales for his personal benefit and that of Mugabe, who has more than £1.5 billion hidden in secret Asian bank accounts.

Already, an operation is underway to hide the bloodshed and abuses at Marange ahead of a series of –visits planned by Kimberley –Monitors to decide whether –diamond sales should continue.

Mocking those 'fools', my source - who reports directly to Chiwenga - sniggered that they would just show officials 'the good bits' and would make sure that any traces of brutality were hidden.

Harare: A port close to the city ships soil from the Marange region to China, where it is processed for diamonds

Asked if he believed these stones are 'blood diamonds', the thug laughed again. 'This is a military operation, not a civilian operation, and that means that of course they are. Are you a fool?'

Not that a worldwide ban on –Zimbabwean stones would stop the flow of diamonds out of Marange. Gripped by diamond fever, even these Chinese –communists are trying to make money on the side.

I watched as two Chinese officials approached illegal diamond –smugglers at a notorious trading point just outside the Marange perimeter. They left after –purchasing uncut gems for their own private sales.

As well as flying diamonds out directly from Marange, other shipments are taken out via a military base near Harare, while lorry loads of soil from the –diamond fields are trucked overland to a port in Mozambique, and then shipped for processing on Chinese soil.

Once the diamonds are cut, the best stones for rings and other –jewellery are sold back into the –diamond network through dealers in India and the Middle East. –Commercial grade stones are used in industry, helping fuel China's rise as a superpower.

And, at a town called Manica, just over the border in Mozambique, Chinese and Lebanese dealers run an international smuggling hub, mopping up any diamonds being sold by the few gwejas still brave enough to risk their lives at the field.

During a visit to one infamous Lebanese dealer, who was –surrounded by armed guards, I was told simply: 'I don't want to talk. If you have diamonds, show me them. If you don't have any, leave. Now.'

My gruesome military source was correct: it is impossible to police these diamonds, whatever the Kimberley Process decides.

Borders are porous; officials are corrupt. I was offered blood –diamonds within ten minutes of arriving in Manica.

Perhaps now is the time for a new ethical debate: should diamonds now forever be associated with, quite literally, having blood on one's hands?

Only consumers can decide; –Zimbabwe's dead can't.

Choosing Your Diamond - How to know the Quality of what you are buying

2010-10-06T14:11:00.003+01:00

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance knows to the man, it has the simplest chemical composition being crystallized carbon.

They are the most highly value of gemstones. This is because diamonds are found deep below the surface of the earth, approximately 250 tones of ore must be mined to produce a one carat polished gem-quality gemstone.

Diamonds are cut with great precision and delicacy, and come in various colours, many shapes, quality and prices. It takes skilled craftsmen to transform a rough diamond.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A DIAMOND: THE 4C’s.

To understand the visual appeal of Diamonds we are going to consider De Beers famous 4C’s by which the value and quality of a diamond is determined depending on the combination of these factors.

These factors are:

•    Carat – weight.
•    Colour.
•    Clarity.
•    Cut.

* Some jewelers in the Diamond industry talk about a Fifth C (5C’s) called    “Certificates”. This is a report produced by a professional describing the characteristics of the stone.

CARAT – WEIGHT:

Diamonds are weighted in metric carats:

    1 carat = 200 milligrams = 0.2 g.
    0.01 ct or carat = one hundredth of a carat

The carat is a unit of weight, not size. It is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond.

To make an assessment of the weight there are various ways do this. In theory a modern brilliant-cut Diamonds have certain standard proportions, so by measuring the diameter of the stone at the girdle an estimate of weight may be arrived at.
Of course, if you can also measure the depth of a diamond you can work out a more precise weight.

COLOUR:

Colour is the most important characteristic of a gemstone and has become much more important in day-to-day jewellery transactions. It is one of the key factors when determining the value of a diamond.
The colour of Diamond is due to the presence of nitrogen, boron and hydrogen, which causes irregularities in the crystal causes. Naturally coloured Diamonds can be very valuable.

The ideal colour is an absolute lack of colour, except in fancy colours of yellow, pink, blue, green, champagne and very rare red, where an intensive hue is an asset. A very precise scale of colour grading is in general use today in the diamond trade as defined by the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America). The grades are distinguished by letters of the alphabet, beginning with the letter D.

GIA COLOUR GRADING SCALE

    D to F: Colourless

    G to J: Near colourless

    K to M: Faint yellow

    N to R: Very light yellow

    S to Z: Light yellow

    Fancy Light yellow

    Fancy yellow

    Fancy intense yellow.

CLARITY:

Clarity describes how free the stone is from inclusions (internal objects) and blemishes (external marks) under magnification of x10. Almost all diamonds contain minute traces of non-crystalized carbon or small non-diamonds crystals, and is the Nature’s fingerprint making every diamonds unique. Their position is important as well as size and number and will affect the final prices of the diamond.

DEFINITIONS OF CLARITY GRADES ACCORDING TO INTERNAL DEFECTS

IF – Loupe clean. A diamond is termed loupe clean when an expert finds no internal defects with a x10 loupe.

VVS1 VVS2 – Very, very small internal defects which can be detected by an expert with a x10 loupe only with degrees of difficulty ranging from very considerable to great. Size, position and number determine the distinction between 1 and 2.

VS1 VS2 – Very small internal defects which can be detected by the expert with degrees of difficulty ranging from not too difficult to easy.

S1 S2 – Small internal defects which are very easy for the expert to detected with a x10 loupe.

I1 – Internal defects which are very difficult for the expert to detect with a naked a eye.

I2 – Large and /or numerous internal defects which are easily detectable by the expert with the naked eye and which slightly diminishes brilliance.

I3 – Large and /or numerous internal defects which are very easily detectable by an expert with a naked eye and which diminishes brilliance.

CUT:

The cut of a diamond, its proportions and symmetry are of extraordinary importance as they have the greatest influence on the brilliance, liveliness or sparkle of a stone. This is the one factor most directly influenced by man.
The most popular diamond shape is the round brilliant-cut which is based on specific optical calculations aiming at maximising beauty. Other shapes, such as the emerald-cut, oval pear, heart, princes-cut, and marquise, are referred to as “fancy cut”.

The cut and proportion of a stone in the diamond trade can be described as very good, good, medium or poor ‘make’.
When a diamond is ideally cut, light rays from all sides are bent towards the center of the stone and are reflected back through the top in a blaze of light.

Here at CRED all our stones are guaranteed to come from legitimate sources and not funding civil wars and internal conflicts. We present the finest traceable diamonds to our customers insisting on excellence in cut, colour and clarity as well as ensuring that they are conflict free. This is why all our stones are sold with ‘denomination of origin’ verification. At the moment we source our stones from Australia, Canada and Namibia.

The main season for engagement rings has now started in the lead up to Christmas and Valentines’ day. So start browsing the website or call the shop for any further assistance in finding that perfect ring. And don’t forget our bespoke service if you can’t find exactly what you are looking for or if you want to create a ring of your owned design.

Jewellery industry backs plans to introduce Fairtrade gold standard | News | Retail Jeweller

2010-09-24T20:04:00.000+01:00

Jewellery industry backs plans to introduce Fairtrade gold standard | News | Retail Jeweller

Jewellery industry backs plans to introduce Fairtrade gold standard

22 September 2010 | By James Knowles

The jewellery industry has backed plans to introduce certified Fairtrade gold on February 14 next year, citing rising concern among consumers over environmental and social issues leading to increased demand for Fairtrade goods.

The Fairtrade Foundation and Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) have collaborated on a joint venture to introduce certified fair-trade gold for the first time in 2011, to protect the rights of miners and maintain the environment. The new system will give mines the opportunity to apply for recognised Fairtrade status, and retailers the chance to offer consumers certified gold for the first time. Applicant mines will be visited by independent certification auditor Flo-Cert, to ensure the mine is compliant with the Fairtrade standard. The Foundation is also currently in talks with the Assay Office to develop a Fairtrade ‘jewel-stamp’ that will sit next to traditional hallmarking and prove validity.

Greg Valerio, Fairtrade Foundation business development manager said the introduction will increase transparency, and allow retailers to prove to customers that their gold comes from a Fairtrade source. He said: “This is the first time there has been a Fairtrade gold standard. Right now there isn’t any traceability, and jewellers don’t know where their gold has come from. Having a certified gold source will reassure customers and add value to retail jewellers’ businesses.”

Jewellery retailers and brands have backed the move, due to increased political awareness among the public on green issues leading to greater demand for Fairtrade products.

Christian Cheesman, director of Cred Jewellery, which has two stores in London and ten stockists, echoed this. He said: “It’s essential we take responsibility for the impact of our sourcing and as an industry the potential benefit we could deliver through ethical and Fairtrade sourcing are vast.”
He added: “We’re busier than ever and finding a lot more people who are ethically conscious and want to make a positive choice, particularly with engagement and wedding rings.”

Trend Alert - Stacking Bangles!

2010-09-15T11:10:00.000+01:00

With stacked bangles having been seen on the wrist of our favourite icons such as Diane Kruger (above) and mix and match jewellery staying for yet another season, here at CRED we wanted to show you how easy this look is to create.

As part of our own Saphara collections, designed by Annabel Panes, you have 4 different bangles to choose from. Images left from top, Hex Stacking Bangle, Pipal Bangle and the Twisted Hex Bangle. All the bangles are hand made in Nepal from 100% recycled sliver. Each bangle is designed to work with the other 3 as well as standing alone. The simple detail of these beautiful bangles means when stacking them the look isn’t over the top.

The choice between the recycled sliver or the fair trade gold plated means you can create this look no matter what skin tone you have. Or even mix it up and wear both. The choice is down to you, all I can say is I know how I will be wearing mine.

Over the last season we have seen celebrities such as Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill) and Sarah Jessica Parker wearing stacking bangles. These were seen as key parts of both formal or casual outfits.
Image via mystyle.com

Stack'em high

2010-09-14T11:40:00.000+01:00

One of the biggest trends we have seen appearing recently is for mix and match, layering and stacking. With the light chains and pendants on offer it is difficult to go over the top or make if look too heavy.

Kate Hudson shows us how it is done with her effortless style of layering pendants, bangles and stacking rings.

Image via FabSugar

The great thing about stacking jewellery is that you also have the pieces to wear individually for different or more delicate looks. Stacking rings are a great flexible accessory:

These rings are made from fair trade gold and with ethically sourced stones. The warm yellow gold stacker ring collection has Red Garnet, Tanzanian Ruby and Canadian Diamond. The white gold stacking rings have purple Amethyst, deep green Tourmaline and Canadian Diamond. Each ring is available seperately as well as part of a set of three, so you can choose the colours which best suit you, or just have two stacking for more delicate fingers.

This trend will be continuing into next season as it is not just our clothes we will be layering...

The Hot Topic: Ethics in the jewellery industry.

2010-09-09T11:36:00.016+01:00

Sunday saw the launch of International Jewellery London 2010 where Greg Valerio, founder of CRED Jewellery, led a seminar entitled ‘Making Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold a Reality’ to members across the jewellery industry. The subject of ethics in the industry continued throughout the show with further debates on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Sunday session looked at how the jewellery industry can use the Fairtrade and Fairmined gold dual standard to improve the lives of miners and their communities, exploring the issues behind dirty gold, the positive options open to the jewellery industry and the benefits to producers, retailers and consumers.

In response to the session Greg said “The session was received very well by the 50-70 people seated at the seminar. In general smaller jewellers, retailers and independents are very open to the opportunities and the end of the session saw more licensees want to come into the system. The Birmingham Assay Office, who hosted the session, has been very helpful in regard to the Fairtrade and Fairmined standard.”

There was a great quality of probing questions coming from those at the session, which is exciting to see for those who have been working for so long towards the moment where the industry embraces the ethical issues.

Some of the biggest questions were about product composition. Where jewellery is often a mix of components; gold, precious stones and even a mix of metal - how does the Fairtrade and Fairmined label for gold impact the finished product if the ring has Fairtrade and Fairmined gold but not a certified diamond...

A concern that arises whenever the Fairtrade standards are launched in a new industry is that if a retailer creates some Fairtrade products, what does it say about the other products they offer? Does it demine them? This is a genuine concern, but one that has never been realised in every other sector where Fairtrade has been introduced. Rather than driving customers away it actually reinforces customer loyalty - no-one wants to be seen as unethical.

Greg was also asked whether there would be an introduction of Fairtrade and Fairmined silver at this stage, but research has found no mines that are producing silver to the standards required. Recycled silver remains the most ethical option.

It seems that there are still some ‘jewellery fundamentalists’ who refuse to acknowledge the ethical issues are here to stay and the industry will have to change to adopt this new culture. They say it is ‘greenwashing’, or ‘impossible’. But how can it be impossible to achieve what has already been done in creating a Fairtrade and Fairmined standard that there is consumer demand for.

Taking time to look around the show Greg was encouraged, especially by the inspiring creations offered by the New Designers. There were also intentionally ethical designers showing in the main section – not hidden away in a special ethical section.

However, he found it was noticeable that there has been no development overall in jewellery branding and marketing, but that it remains very monotonous and un-original with the focus on romanticising or sexing up the products. No company was talking about source as if they are afraid of making the link between the source and product. The source and mining sounds ugly whereas the finished product is beautiful, and it could be seen that any link could demolish the mysticism that has surrounded fine jewellery.

The raising of the ethical issues is changing the terms under which jewellery is sold and marketed. For some companies to adopt this culture shift they will have to change their entire company mindset, which can take a large amount of time and money. They want the benefits without the hassle.

CRED recognised as trendsetters in HOT 100

2010-09-08T12:14:00.000+01:00

Last night, at the Professional Jeweller Hot 100 event it was announced that Christian Cheesman, designer and director at CRED is one of the jewellery designers that has inspired the industry in 2010. The Hot 100 top influencers, including trendsetters, retailers, business big-shots and emerging designers, are listed in the book published by Professional Jeweller and launched at the event.

The acheivements of CRED Jewellery have seen ethical jewellery reaching new arenas. From starting out as a lone voice calling for more ethical jewellery 15 years ago, CRED have played a major role in the creation of the Fairtrade & Fairmined gold standards and are affecting a culture shift towards the embracing of ethical issues in the jewellery industry and by consumers.

In the first half of 2010 CRED have opened a new London studio making ethical jewellery available in the nations capital, created the world's first collaborative ethical jewellery show with the Ethical Jeweller Pavillion at London Jewellery Week and launched a new generation of jewellery graduates onto the scene with the John Cass Jewellery School...and there are still months of 2010 to go, so watch this space!

CRED Jewellery is influencing the industry in a positive vein towards the adopting of ethical and ecological issues, and it is a great achevement to be recognised in the same category as trend influencers such as celebrity designer Stephen Webster and craftsman Shaun Leane.

Making Fairtrade & Fairmined Gold a reality

2010-08-27T10:54:00.000+01:00

Not long to go now...

All the hard work of monitoring CRED gold suppliers Oro Verde, and of creating the international standards will come to a head on Valentines Day 2011 at the launch of the Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold label.

To present the new standards and it's benefits to the jewellery industry, next week CRED founder Greg Valerio will be leading a seminar at International Jewellery London urging them to use Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold from it's release next Spring.

We want to see the jewellery industry embracing these standards which improves the lives of disadvantaged miners and their communities. The more jewellers who use this gold, the more positive changes we will see in the industry right down the supply chain. At CRED we personally visit the suppliers we have worked with for over 10 years and have seen the differences the fairtrade premium makes.

At the seminar on Sept 5th, entitled 'Making Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold a reality', Greg will be explaining how ethical issues are a growing concern for consumers and trade. Greg's passion for the issues will lead to interesting debate and ideas sharing, and promote action for retailers as they hear about the work that the Fairtrade Foundation and ARM (The Alliance for Responsible Mining, of whom CRED are founder members) have been doing in responding to the ethical challenges of current industry practices.

The CRED mission is to make it culturally unacceptable to buy jewellery that is not independently certified as socially and environmentally responsible, givingpeace of mind to the werarer.

Getting excited about Fairtrade Fairmined Gold

2010-08-23T11:06:00.000+01:00

Cred founder Greg Valerio here gives us a taster of being part of the groundbreaking development in the Gold Story.

The standards that CRED gold is mined under have formed the basis for the new Fairtrade Fairmined gold standards to be launched on Valentines Day 2011.

Find out about the current standards of CRED ethical gold
Read more on Greg's blog

Choosing your wedding ring

2010-08-18T14:27:00.000+01:00

The circle is an eternal shape and has been used across the centuries to represent love and commitment. A fair trade wedding ring has intrinsic values of ethical integrity and purity that fit with the celebration of a wedding.

Choosing a ring that you will wear every day of your life is no easy task. Before you start choosing colour and shape, you may want to consider:

Do you want your rings to match each others? Some couples want their rings to have the same colour and shape, as if they are part of a set. Whereas other couples have such different taste that they go for completely different looks.

Does the brides wedding ring need to coordinate with the colour and shape of the engagement ring? As they sit alongside each other on the same finger, most girls want the wedding and engagement rings to be the same colour. If the stone(s) on the engagement ring are wider than the band then a shaped wedding ring will still fit flush alongside (see below)

So now you can choose the various aspects of your rings...

Colour
Do you wear more white-gold or yellow-gold jewellery?
Platinum is even harder wearing than white gold, but has a similar look – perfect if you do more manual work.

Shape
For the groom this is sometimes the first piece of jewellery he has ever worn so it needs to be comfortable. You may find that any ring you try on feels strange at first, but once you get used to the feel of it on your finger it will stop being so obvious.

Wedding rings are shaped both inside and out to be either curved or flat.

D-shaped: As the name sounds, a cross section of this ring would look like a ‘D’ shape – it is curved on the outside but flat on the inside.
Court: This ring is curved outside (like the D-shape) but also for added comfort for the wearer it is slightly curved in the inside of the ring where it hugs the finger.
Flat court: A popular contemporary wedding ring, this is flat on the outside, but with the comfort of the curved court fit on the inside.

A close fit
Depending on the design of the engagement ring, the bride may want her wedding ring to be shaped to fit around any wide set stones. The Sweep wedding band from CRED is fitted to your engagement ring so you can be sure it will be a perfect fit.

Size
Do you want a wide or narrow ring? A wedding ring can be made from 2mm to 6mm width. Guys will generally go for a wider ring, whereas the ladies may want to match the width of the band on the engagement ring. Think about if you will ever wear the wedding ring on its own, and how you’d like it to look.

Decoration
Further detail can be added to a simple wedding ring by way of engraving or stones. A single or double line engraved around the ring is a simple but effective way of modernising a plain ring.
Why not add a diamond or two for added sparkle.

Finish
A range of matt, high polish or Dualtone finish combinations are available to emphasise the detail of the ring

Hidden message
Some couples like to make their rings more personal to them by adding an engraved message in the inside of the ring – such as the date of the wedding, or a phrase that is personal to them. Remember to allow extra time for this to be done

Remember to allow up to 4 weeks from ordering your rings for them to be made for you

Our Vintage Bash

2010-08-11T16:31:00.000+01:00

We had a great time at the vintage 50's bash on Saturday - thanks to all of you who joined us for some retro style fun, cakes and champagne. It was great to have Wayne Hemingway, founder of the Vintage at Goodwood festival, pop in for a chat in the afternoon too as we were shortlisted for the best dressed vintage shop in Chichester.

Here are some photos of the shop all decked out in vintage and hand-made decor - more to be posted on facebook soon. We will be keeping it in this style until the end of the festival this weekend, so if you are in town for the festivities, do pop in - there is still chance to enter the draw to win a piece from our Saphara collection in store too...

Vintage 50's bash - Sat 7th Aug

2010-08-06T10:40:00.001+01:00

Chichester is gearing itself up for the arrival of Vintage at Goodwood next weekend, and to celebrate CRED are holding a Vintage 50's bash at the Chichester boutique on 7th August and we'd love you to join us.

Pop in during the day to see the boutique decked out in 50's chic, and Sabrina and Emily wearing their handmade dresses. All day we will be serving champagne and homemade cupcakes (also handmade by Sabrina & Emily - these girls have talent!) and there will be the chance to enter a draw to win a piece of fair trade jewellery from our gorgeous Saphara collection presented in a vintage style handbag.

If you arrive at just the right time you may bump into festival founder Wayne Hemmingway as he pops in to judge the best dressed stores in town.

We will keep the store in it's 50's style right up until the weekend of the Vintage at Goodwood festival, 13th-15th August, so even if you can't join us for the bash itself, then pop in during the week for a peek.

Ethical Diamond Sourcing

2010-08-03T12:33:00.000+01:00

Our last few posts about the situation in Zimbabwe and the way this has affected attitudes towards the Kimberley Process certification can make the whole diamond sourcing process seem very bleak. But it is not all bad news!

In a recent article in Professional Jeweller, CRED director and designer Christian Cheesman talks about the future of sourcing ethical diamonds and the positive steps that are being made. Currently ethical diamonds are mainly sourced from Canada and Australia where they are mined under strict scrutiny from their governments regarding social and environmental impact. However, buying from these two sources will not help the progress of sustainable practices in Africa which take money to develop.

Organisations such as the Diamond Development Initiative International are making roads to addressing issues faced by artisnal diamond miners. They have developed a set of goals to achieve long term positive development moving on from the Kimberley Process's starting point.

Read the full Ethical Diamond Sourcing article in Professional Jeweller

Zimbabwe diamonds - an update

2010-07-21T17:04:00.000+01:00

In response to Mugabe’s statement that Zimbabwe will keep selling their diamonds with or without certification (see post below), the Kimberley Process (KP) have agreed to reinstate their certification of the Marange diamond fields.

KP had withdrawn their certification from Zimbabwe last year as people were kicked off the land so that the government could take possession of the mines. Since then the dictatorship has set up companies to manage the mines and so by definition there is no longer any conflict in the area.

Rather than looking at the deeper human rights abuses that are still apparent in the area, the KP position is that they are able to apply the certification as the diamonds are not being used to fund conflict, as they are in neighbouring Congo. They are, however, in this situation being used to fund a government who are using the diamonds to stay in power, rather than to secure a stable economy for the country. The narrow definition of conflict that the Kimberley Process are working from excludes basic human rights abuses.

Human rights campaigners were hoping that the previous refusal of KP to certify the diamonds would lead to the demilitarising of the mines. We feel this is a missed opportunity for KP to become an ethical mark, where they could have expanded their definition of conflict to include human rights abuses.

This situation throws into disrepute the credibility of the certification. There will be pollution of the rest of the supply chain with unethical stones which means diamonds that have been sourced with human rights abuses of the small scale miner and that fund violent undemocratic regimes are certified as ‘conflict free’ and mixed into global pipelines.

At CRED we have always seen the Kimberley Process certification of diamonds as a starting point, and as it doesn’t certify environmental and social standards we go above and beyond this basic marker to see that additional standards for planet and people are adhered to for all the precious stones that we source.

Unless you buy your diamonds from companies such as CRED which have transparent traceability back to the mine, then you have no guarentee that the diamonds were mined in a completely 'conflict-free' situation. Demand to know the source of your stone, and the social and envronmental situation it was mined under.

What are your thoughts on the actions of the Kimberly Process in this situation? Let us know by leaving us a comment below.

Blood Diamonds, the story continues.

2010-07-16T11:36:00.012+01:00

Having initially respected the Kimberly Process ban and committing to suspending diamond exports, yesterday Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe announced that the country will resume diamond sales, despite its lack of KP certification.

The Kimberley Process suspended diamond exports from Zimbabwe earlier in the year in response to allegations of atrocities committed by security forces in the Marange diamond fields in the east of the country.

Global Witness campaigner Elly Harrowell said:
"Over the past three years, the national army has visited appalling abuses on civilians in Marange's diamond fields. Nobody has been held to account for these crimes, and now it turns out that the joint venture companies nominally brought in to improve conditions are directly linked to the Zanu PF and military elite. Thanks to the impunity and violence in Zimbabwe, blood diamonds are back on the international market."

The situation bought the challenge for the Kimberly Process into sharp focus; on one-side trade lobbyists pushing for KP certification to be reinstated and on the other, human rights campaigners still concerned about the situation on the ground.

CRED Jewellery founder, Greg Valerio, stated:
“This is a test of the Kimberly Process, will it bow to the economic drivers of the invisible diamond dealers or will it up hold the values of human rights and non violence that are amongst its founding principles”

At CRED Jewellery we have been calling for greater transparency in the diamond supply chain for years. We believe that the ethical integrity of the precious materials we work with is as important as their physical qualities. We work directly with as our sources and have a warranty from mine to shine as a minimum.

With Zimbabwe now projected to potentially contribute around 25 percent of the global diamond supply the two questions I have are; who is going buy and process the rough, and how will the KP ensure that their certified goods are not polluted?

Beautiful bangles

2010-07-14T12:48:00.001+01:00

We have been enjoying beautiful weather over the last few weeks, embracing the trends for maxi dresses and bright prints. Show off your arms with our pick of our best 5 fairtrade bangles and bracelets, from stacker bangles to chunky bracelets.

Go Graphic with a group of Hex Stacking Bangles. Create a geometric maze and coordinate both the 100% recycled silver and fairtrade gold plated versions on your arms. Handmade in Nepal

Give us a wave. Be inspired by the summer surf and complete your beach babe look with the chunky silver Wave Bangle made from 100% recycled silver. The Wave Collection is the creation of new designer Laura Strand exclusively for CRED Jewellery.

Ahoy there! Embrace the nautical trend with our rope effect Twist Hex Stacking Bangle. Also available as a 100% recycled silver bracelet and fairtrade gold plated. Part of the Saphara summer collection.

African Charm. Continue the African spirit this summer has seen from the World Cup with the Mali Link Bracelet, inspired by the patterns made by a bird eye view of the Niger delta.

Classic style with a contemporary twist - the Harigni Step Bangle gives a geometric edge to the traditional celtic bangle - Made in Nepal from 100% recycled silver.

See more bangles as part of the CRED Collections and Designer Collections

Essence

2010-06-15T16:22:00.013+01:00

Essence is over and I’m shattered, but really excited. As the first ever exclusive show of ethical jewellery it was a jewel in a great London Jewellery week and helped give a full picture of all that is going on in the jewellery world. It was particularly satisfying for me to see and exhibit alongside the other designers that have taken up the ethical cause and joined us. Seven years on and it feels like we are just getting started.

The show was a great chance to meet people and share the story of

CRED jewellery. It was a surprise that many people I spoke to had not considered the ethics of gold. Diamonds yes; but not gold. Having said that the response was overwhelmingly positive with many words of encouragement and appreciation for the work we are doing. Where we used to get blank looks we now find people understand and appreciate the journey we are on and want to come with us.

The interior of the show was fantastic - the result of a cross discipline live project we ran with the MA students of The Cass. (The Sir John Cass department of Art and Design, at the London Metropolitan university). The Tree of life grew up around the Essence space with the most amazing recycled newspaper flowers blooming from it. The designs the jewellery students produced were a truly beautiful response and we are planning to make our favourites available to buy. So watch this space.

The Treasure show in general was a fantastic representation of the vibrancy of design in UK jewellery; you could not fail to be impressed by the number of designers and quality pieces adorning each display. It highlighted the creative strength and talent we have and should encourage us all. If we can harness that creativity in a positive way we can change the world for good.

Ethical jewellery on show

2010-06-09T14:11:00.001+01:00

As part of London Jewellery Week, this weekend we are hosting Essence, the new ethical jewellery show (think of it as the Esthetica of the jewellery world) - it is the first of its kind and will be showcasing a range of ethical jewellery and designers. Come along to get a taste of the exciting developments happening in the ethical jewellery sphere.

We will be showing our new Saphara collection, our recent collaborations with Sophie Harley, and our Eden wedding ring and engagement ring ranges, so it's a great opportunity to see some of the designs in the flesh and try before you buy. We have brought together other ethical jewellery designers to display alongside us, including April Doubleday, Avasarah, Choo Yilin, Fifi Bijoux, Leblas, Oria and Ute Decker.

We commissioned a live brief for students of London Met University to design the interior of the Essence pavillion, which is being built at the show venue as we type. (Check back for images soon) The brief for jewellery students was to design ethical collections for display at the show, with the aim of being chosen to have their designs put into production through CRED. As pioneers in the ethical jewellery field we are excited to be able to encourage more thinking in this area and for the new generation of designers to be creating innovative ethical designs.

For more details about Essence visit our website
The show runs from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th June at Victoria House, Southampton Row, London WC1B 4DA.
Combined tickets for Essence & Treasure (the general jewellery pavillion) cost just £5 on the door and includes seminars, talks and more.

Father Day Gifts

2010-06-04T13:21:00.003+01:00

Sunday 20th June 2010 - Fathers Day
Our gifts for men suit any style - whether he dresses for black tie event, the office, or a weekend with the family.

- For smart occasions or lightening the working day at the office, these subtle wolf cufflinks will bring a smile to his face - solid sterling silver ball cufflinks - £157
- For a casual look, the wolf pendant and chain - a 51cm chain with solid silver wolf's head pendant - £129
Oria's quirky and masculine Wolf designs are inspired by Red Wolf, and made from solid sterling silver ethically sourced from Bolivia
- A modern take on an ancient celtic design, the Harigni bar cuff is made in Nepal from 100% recycled silver - £110
- The hibiscus signet ring is a large chunky ring with Italian style in its craftsmanship and nod towards natural beauty with the carved floral detail. Available in 100% recycled silver and also gold plated - £179

Don't forget we are offering FREE standard delivery on all orders...

Tips for Choosing an Engagement Ring

2010-05-28T14:56:00.000+01:00

The engagement ring is one of the most important pieces of jewellery a girl will receive - no pressure! We know it is a difficult decision and one you want to get right. So whether you are recently engaged (Congratulations!) or are planning to pop the question, hopefully these tips will help you think about what you are looking for...

Where to start...

Style:
What style of ring do you want? A traditional diamond solitaire, traditional with a twist, or something more modern? If you have no clue where to start the browse for some ideas online and get an idea of the designs that you like, or think she may like. It may at least help rule out what you don't like.

If you are looking for something completely unique, then you can speak to a designer about a bespoke design.

Stone:
The traditional engagement ring would be a solitaire diamond. There has been a lot in the press about ‘blood diamonds’ or ‘conflict’ diamonds’. All the rings from CRED are ethically sourced and come with a certificate of origin, and are conflict free diamonds as the basic minimum. Read more about our ethical diamonds.

Or why not choose an alternative precious stone entirely? An amethyst, emerald or sapphire make just as dramatic a statement as diamond, and you will love bearing an unusual ring that is personal to the two of you.

A trilogy ring gives you the best of both worlds as you can have a central coloured stone straddled by smaller diamonds.

Cut:
For the main stone in the ring you have a few options for the cut – this makes a difference to the way the light is reflected around the stone.

Setting:
There are many settings for stones – Here are some of the options for a solitaire.

Colour:
Do you wear more white-gold or yellow-gold jewellery? You’ll want to consider this carefully and get your wedding ring made in the same quality (i.e. 18ct or 9ct) to match the engagement ring, and possible each others. Platinum is even more hard wearing than white gold, but has a similar look.
All of the precious metals from CRED are fair trade from our partners, Oro Verde, in Colombia. More about fairtrade gold.

Size:
Have your finger measured. Any jewellery shop will be able to do this for you if you have the finger to hand. Once you know your size you have the freedom to choose an engagement ring you have seen online.

If your proposal is a surprise:
If you want to propose as a surprise, then contact us to ask for a ring sizer that we will send you in the post. You can then lay onto this a ring that your girlfriend already wears on that finger to find out the size and we can get the ring you choose made in the correct size.
OR
You can buy the engagement ring that you like from our collection in a standard size. After the proposal you can then come back with your fiancé and either get her finger measured to have the same ring made to the right size, or if she prefers an alternative design you can exchange it.

CRED Celebrates the launch of the Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold Standards

2010-03-18T12:19:00.002Z

Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) have announced the long-awaited launch of the first international independent third-party certification for gold production. The new Fairtrade and Fairmined standards will mean that millions of impoverished artisanal small-scale miners around the world will be able to receive independent certification and recognition for their efforts, bringing economic security to millions of families and their communities around the world.

Here at CRED we have long recognised the value in knowing exactly where our gold comes from, the way it was mined and all the hands it has passed through. Along with our mining partners Oro Verde™ we have championed the cause of the artisanal miner and the Fair Trade approach that seeks to put control back in the hands of the producer and pay a Fair Price for their work.

CRED are founder members of ARM, and CRED Founder Greg Valerio has been instrumental in seeing this new standard completed, working closely with FLO, ARM and all other parties involved. We are delighted for him and for everyone involved, and look forward to the great benefits this standard will bring to the mining communities that form ARM, and the many more around the world that will be brought in.

Fairtrade and Fairmined gold will guarantee a minimum price, creating security for producing communities. It will include a 10% Social Premium that will support the education and development of entire communities, and a further 5% Ecological Premium will be payable to miners that extract gold without the use of chemicals. Miners like CRED partners and ecological champions Oro Verde™.

Oro Verde™ have been producing independently-certified artisanal gold for over 7 years. They have worked hard to develop gold production that uses no chemicals, protects the environment and supports the continual development of producing communities. Oro Verde’s model was the inspiration and prototype used to produce the Fairtrade and Fairmined standard. As such Oro Verde™ will be first in line to be certified.

CRED continue to produce truly ethical jewellery in Oro Verde™ Fair Trade gold. Our Eden Wedding Rings and the sumptuous Penelope Collection by Annabel Panes are the latest examples of CRED’s pioneering journey towards excellence in design and ethics. With CRED and Oro Verde™ you can buy with confidence knowing that our jewellery is the fairest attainable.

Robin Hood Tax

2010-02-23T10:16:00.001Z

The recent crisis in banking and global finance has plunged the world into recession and massively increased the national depts of countries like the UK and USA. This rather elegant solution puts a tiny tax on international transactions in order to raise billions for International Development and combatting climate change.

Bill says it best. Watch the video, then go here to pledge your support.

Fairtrade Fortnight

2010-02-22T12:28:00.000Z

Today is the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, the Fairtrade Foundation's annual celebration of everything Fairtrade. As the world's first Fair Trade jewellers we fully support the Fairtrade Foundation and FLO, their parent organisation, and would like to encourage you all to engage in this year's theme: The Big Swap.

The idea is that you use these two weeks to swap one (or more) of your usual products for their Fairtrade alternative: your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual chocolate for Fairtrade chocolate etc.

This is something we really want to encourage you in. Fair Trade is not simply an ethical brand, it is a concept that is routed in the empowerment of producers around the world. Fair Trade means paying a Fair price for your raw materials, preferably putting that directly in the hands of the farmer or miner in question. It is about paying a premium that allows communities to invest in sustainable practices and vital services that we so often take for granted, like education, healthcare and sanitation.

Yes, Fair Trade distorts the Market. But it does that deliberately, because the Market disempowers and dehumanises producers and keeps them in poverty by applying a constant downward pressure on prices. Fair Trade advocates, like CRED, FLO and the Fairtrade Foundation, believe in paying a fair price for what we buy - a price that allows producers to live decent lives, care for their environment and invest in the future of their communities.

At the moment there is no FLO-certified Fairtrade jewellery. But we believe that will change soon. And in the meantime, we believe that our Oro Verde™ gold and platinum is the closest you can get - independently certified and traded under the same founding principles. When fully-certified Fairtrade jewellery arrives, CRED's Oro Verde™ gold jewellery will be the first in line for certification.

EcoChic Competition

2010-02-15T15:14:00.000Z

Eco Chic magazine are giving away a CRED Hari Spiral bangle as part of their valentines promotion. The competition is open to anyone who can give an inspirational answer as to why they should win. Head to Eco Chic to see the details.

CRED's Hari Collection is a range of silver bangles produced by the Harigni Cooperative in Kathmandu, Nepal. Each of these bangles are designed by CRED and Haigni in partnership, and are handmade in Nepal from CRED's 100% Recycled Sterling Silver.

We're really proud of our partnership with the guys at Harigni. Greg and Christian met Hari Thapa in 2002 in the early days of CRED's journey towards ethical jewellery production and Fair Trade. Ever since then we have used Harigni to produce some of our best-selling ethical silver jewellery.

CRED's Fair Trade focus is first and foremost about people: it's about empowering producers around the world, enabling them to make a real living from their skills and use the profits of their work to invest in their communities. Our work with the Harigni Cooperative exemplifies this: our partnership employs skilled artisans in Kathmandu, and drips down money into the local community. We hope to build more partnerships like this in the future, but for now we will work closely with Harigni and champion their workmanship.

Our head of design Annabel Panes visited Harigni in Nepal over the New Year. We hope to show you the results of her visit in the coming weeks.

Mr February

2010-02-11T14:11:00.000Z

CRED Founder, provocateur, Fair Trade campaigner and antagonist Greg Valerio is Daisy Green's green god this month. Greg is his usual ebullient and vociferous self in their interview - it's well worth a read.

Great Big Green Wedding Fayre

2010-02-01T13:49:00.000Z

Back in September, CRED Founder Greg Valerio and our much-loved Boutique Manageress Monica attended the Great Big Green Wedding Fayre in Liverpool. It was a great event, highlighting some of the many businesses now working hard to enable you to have as green and as ethical a wedding as possible. Greg went down a storm, speaking on the environmental cost of the average wedding band, and CRED was awarded top-level "Forest Green" status in the Green Light Awards for business environmental credentials.

Big Green Wedding have released a brochure of event highlights, including articles on some of the key contributors. There is a great summary of the CRED story in there, along with information on all the other award winners. You can download the brochure here, and find out more about the Fayre here.

Interview with Christian Cheesman

2010-01-26T11:35:00.001Z

This month Sussex Life magazine interviewed CRED's Christian Cheesman. We thought that writer Jenny Mark-Bell did such a great job of telling our story that we asked them to let us reproduce the article here.

Christian Cheesman, right, is the Business Director of CRED Jewellery, which opened its first shop in 1999 in support of its sister organisation, the CRED Foundation. Greg Valerio, a Chichester local, founded the organisation to aid community development projects overseas. “We used to sell trinkets we had brought back to the UK to cover our flights and eventually we decided to try and open a shop to raise money for the foundation” says Christian. The most promising product they had was silver jewellery, and in embarking on retail CRED began to research the provenance of the products that they were selling to ensure the the shop’s integrity as a fundraising concern.

The company commissioned a report from Greenwich University on the jewellery supply chain, mapping out the challenges. “To be honest, we nearly ran away at that point, thinking the project was impossible, but it was through the research process that we met our mining partners, Oro Verde” says Christian. Colombian partner organisation Oro Verde was the first mining collective to comply with rigorous standards of social and environmental responsibility. “When we first met them they were desperately trying to find a company that was willing to pay a premium for that level of certification.” Delighted to find a supplier that shared their high ideals, CRED entered into what would become the core partnership of CRED Jewellery, enabling the company to become the first European retailer to sell independently certified Fair Trade gold, and the first high street boutique to sell exclusively ethical jewellery.

CRED remains a campaigning organisation, and founder Greg left the business this year to focus on work with the fair trade labelling organisation. “We are really trying to demonstrate a that our business model works, and we want to encourage designers and manufacturers to adopt fair trade metals. We are facilitating our competition in some ways” says Christian. Because gold is far more advanced in terms of certification than diamonds and gemstones, the supply chain is still a work in progress. “At the moment we offer the best diamonds we could find. They are not coming from small-scale miners, which would be our ideal, but we are able to trace them right back to the mines.” The stones come from Australian, Namibian or Canadian sources, and CRED can tell their clients where they were cut and finished. “We have a chain of custody on them but it is large-scale and not where we want to end up. For us transparency is the big overarching principle. We are very open with people about our strengths and weaknesses, and where we are on this journey.”

CRED’s two in-house designers (Head of Design Annabel Panes and Christian himself) offer a personal design service, with prices starting at £600 for a wedding band, and stone set jewellery ranging from £1250 to £1500. The first stage is an initial consultation which can be in the Chichester store or, for international customers, by telephone or email. At this point, the scope of the design and what the customer is looking for. “We are very good at working to a budget, so if somebody’s got a price that they are looking to spend we will do what we can to hit it. We then create the designs using a computer program at real size, so the client is presented with a very realistic impression of the jewellery from a few different angles. This means it is very clear what they are commissioning before they ‘push the button’”, says Christian.

The bespoke service is very popular, with commissions ranging from engagement rings to pendants, and CRED are currently exploring offering a higher end design service with more personal contact, starting at around £15,000. Most of the time people have an idea in mind but don’t have the ability to express it, which is where CRED’s design experience comes in, says Christian. “We know what you can and can’t do with jewellery, so we can prompt people to get a clear idea of what they are looking for, and then help them to create it. I don’t think there’s anything we can’t do.”

This post originally appeared in Sussex Life magazine. Reproduced with permission.

On the blogs

2010-01-25T13:35:00.000Z

The Big Boob Survey event with Daisy Green went down a storm last week. Check out the Ethical Heaven blog for the lowdown, and be sure to drop by Daisy Green for your chance to win that Annabel Panes necklace.

Also on the blogs this week, Niki at the Wedding Notebook is hoping that Livia Firth's ethical dressing challenge for the current awards season extends to ethical jewellery. We hope so too, and we're glad Niki thinks Annabel's Penelope collection would work so well on the catwalk!