Bill Hicks standards of Ethics and Sustainability in Jewellery.
At Bill Hicks Jewellery we understand the importance of transparency when it comes to the ethics of creating fine jewellery. As a family business we value longevity and endeavour to create pieces that are of a high quality and will last more than a lifetime. This reduces our footprint over time, as our creations are not throw away fashion, but rather, heirlooms that hold intrinsic and personal value and our standards of workmanship reflect our ethics in creating them.
Hand Making fine jewellery is a slow and labour intensive process which involves many hours of love and attention to detail. This has minimal environmental impact as it uses older technology, usually just hand tools and also creates a more durable product with minimal waste. In fact every scrap of our metal is recycled. We are also more than happy to recycle any of your old jewellery and incorporate it into your new piece or refine the metal and reuse any old stones or diamonds.
Our jewellery is also made in Sydney by highly skilled master jewellers (not overseas in factories with cheap inexperienced and unskilled labour) which enables us to work efficiently within a short time frame and also ensures that the metal is of the highest purity and meets Australian standards. Our time frame is normally 2-4 weeks from when you approve the design. We also utilize modern technology such as CAD drawing, 3D wax printing and casting, laser engraving and welding, sourced locally and then hand assembled by our team of master jewellers for the best outcome if cost is a priority. These options are always discussed and explained in detail so you can be sure of what you are purchasing.
We also understand the importance of knowing that your beautiful creations are produced ethically and that the raw materials are sourced from providers that adhere to strict standards of quality, sustainability and care for the environment and the people employed in their manufacture.
We source our metal from leading Australian precious metal companies such as Morris and Watson, PW Beck and Pallion, who are also members of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) that value transparency, integrity, and accountability in business. The RJC is an internationally recognised organisation established to advance ethical supply chain standards within the jewellery industry. The RJC strives to maintain high standards of responsible, ethical, social and environmental practices throughout the gold, silver, platinum group metals, diamond, and coloured gemstone jewellery supply chain.
When sourcing gemstones and diamonds, we endeavour to look at providence and choose gems which come from known sources.
We use GIA certified natural diamonds which are estimated to now be 99.9% conflict free, thereby creating jobs for thousands of people in developing nations.
It is also possible to purchase locally mined Argyle Diamonds, which are a favourite here at Bill Hicks. We especially love incorporating the Argyle Pink Diamonds into our designs as they are so uniquely rare and beautiful.
We are also happy to source Lab grown Diamonds and to speak to the pros and cons of natural vs synthetic diamonds. This is a personal decision so we respect your values in knowing what is right for you. If you would like to learn more about the pros and cons please read our blog on Natural v’s Synthetic Diamonds.
When sourcing coloured gems we use reliable Australian based suppliers that cut their own gemstones to the highest standard. With larger gems we also try to find the locale where they are mined, and can also have gemmologists, who understand how to best work with coloured gemstones to ensure longevity and wear ability.
We also specialise in Australian gems such as Sapphire, Opal and Zircon. These are sourced and fossicked locally and are mined at a small scale where the environmental impact is minimal. These are then hand cut by local artisan gem cutters to bring out the optimal colour and brightness of each stone.
We also provide aftercare and regular stone/claw checks to ensure your piece is being looked after and serviced regularly. This ensures it stays looking it’s best and is taken care of over time.
Overall as one of Sydney’s best jewellers with over 50 years experience, our family values have always been based on the trust we build between our family and yours, to create custom made fine jewellery of the highest quality that will last forever.
If you would like to speak to one of our designers regarding sourcing some ethical gems then please book an appointment here.
