SUSTAINABILITY AND ETHICS

Our primary casting supplier is Responsible Jewellery Council accredited and Australia based, their metal is from Australian mines or reputable bullion dealers in Australia or Europe that are also accredited. Pieces not cast or hand crafted are sourced from our trusted suppliers in Melbourne and Italy.*

We use 18 karat gold and platinum along with 14 and 9 karat for fine jewellery pieces, for its beauty and longevity. This allows us to repair or reuse your jewellery to retain its value over time. Wherever possible, we use recycled precious metals and recycle or refine our studio scrap.

*Our Continuum collection is made from silver and gold vermeil.

Antique diamonds are repurposed, as opposed to newly mined, making them a more environmentally conscious choice.

Each antique diamond is selected by our Gemologist, Hamish, at the Antwerp diamond bourse, the world centre for buying and selling antique diamonds.

The ethics surrounding diamond sourcing has had its fair share of scrutiny in the last 20 years. This has led to it being the most regulated commodity in the jewellery world. It is a legal requirement for all diamonds entering Australia to be Kimberley certified conflict-free.

Going one step further, at CW we source all of our modern cut diamonds directly from the global diamond sightholder companies which cut around 90% of the world's diamonds. Through buying directly from a Global Sightholder we can ensure that the diamond rough has come from one of the big reputable diamond mining operations, and not an unregulated “downstream” operation.

These Global Sightholder companies are carefully selected by the big mining companies (De Beers, Rio Tinto and Diavik) for upholding industry-leading standards of professionalism, and ethical and sustainable practices. The big diamond mines are located in Botswana, Namibia, Canada and South Africa.

Sourcing of gemstones from developing countries can significantly support the livelihoods and economies of local communities, where independent artisanal mining provides an additional source of income to traditional farming.

For instance in Nigeria, where the majority of miners are farmers who mine sapphires during the dry season. The profits they make from selling sapphires go directly back into their families, farms and local community.

Our Gemologist, Hamish Whiting has a special connection to Colombia, having lived there for 4 years, forming invaluable connections in the emerald industry.

We are lucky enough to have a small selection of emeralds ethically sourced directly from the legendary Muzo mine in Boyaca, Colombia. Muzo emeralds are completely mine to market, with the rough being extracted, cut and polished internally.

Muzo is an industry leader in its commitment to social, ethical and environmental responsibility.

By manufacturing locally, we are supporting independent jewellers who have dedicated their lives to the craft.

The majority of our pieces are handcrafted or finished in our Melbourne workshop and are set locally by our trusted Master Setter. We have a carefully selected group of jewellers within walking distance of our Melbourne showroom for engraving, plating and stone polishing.

We also have a selection of fine jewellery pieces set and finished by our Italian supplier and our Continuum range is made in Thailand.

We are an inclusive business and celebrate love of all forms.

CUSHLA WHITING acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we work. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their connection to the land.

We are working on updating our diversity and inclusion policy as a priority.

We are working on updating our supplier code of conduct as a priority.

We are working on updating our modern slavery agreement as a priority.

We offer both made-to-order (existing designs) and bespoke (entirely new designs), tailored to your budget and design preferences. We hold a limited number of ready-to-wear rings and fine jewellery in our Melbourne and Sydney showrooms.

We have a collection of gemstones which our founder and GIA gemologist, Hamish Whiting. has meticulously curated over many years and we continue to source new stones only when they meet Hamish’s strict parameters.

With limited waste, we rarely go on sale as we do not need to get rid of old stock.

LAB DIAMONDS: The majority of lab diamonds are made using large amounts of fossil fuel energy, with on average three times as many greenhouse emissions than natural diamonds.
NATURAL DIAMONDS: On average, 160 kg of CO2e per polished carat (a third of the average of CO2e emitted for lab diamonds currently. The environmental cost of producing a diamond is 37% of a single one way airline ticket from New York to Los Angeles. The DPA (Diamond Producer Association) collectively protects three times the land they use for mining globally as well as implementing long term biodiversity conservation programs. The DPA is working towards achieving UN Sustainability Development Goals.
ANTIQUE DIAMONDS: Antique diamonds are fully repurposed, removed from vintage jewellery once worn and recycled back into the diamond market.

Our environmental concern extends to how our jewellery is packaged and shipped. We have recently developed minimal, organic tote bags for our engagement ring and ceremonial bands, with a button closure and internal pocket, making it a functional bag for your shopping. We prioritise compostable mailers for interstate and international orders, along with carbon-offset shipping.

In 2023, we are committed to improving the remainder of our packaging to be less wasteful and from accredited sources.

Almost as important as the creation process itself, all well-made jewellery needs to be maintained over its lifetime.

Fine jewellery, no matter how well crafted, is not invincible, so we cannot stress enough the importance of maintaining your precious piece. Think of it like a car. You can purchase the very best car that money can buy, but you still need to take it in for its regular service every year. The same with your jewellery. The better your jewellery is looked after and maintained, the longer it will last.

By following our jewellery care guide you should be able to minimise maintenance work on your jewellery. To ensure your jewellery is always in top condition we recommend to book an annual check up/service for your ring with our experienced jewellers.

We encourage our customers to bring in their jewellery at least once annually for a complimentary inspection and professional clean. Our experienced jewellers will professionally inspect your ring and advise if any work is required.

To arrange an inspection and service of your jewellery, please book an appointment.

Timeworn prongs, and wear and tear can result in the loss of a stone. If you notice any signs of damage or loosening/lifting of the prongs on your jewellery, please bring it straight back to us and we will have our jeweller assess it. We offer complimentary claw tightening in the first year of wear and following this, our experienced team will assess any future maintenance requirements as these may incur a fee.

We also strongly advise all of our customers to insure their jewellery so that they will be covered in the event of loss or damage.

We are always happy to give further information about our repair policies, so please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions at INFO@CUSHLAWHITING.COM.AU.

We’ve partnered with Carbon Positive Australia to take positive climate action and reduce our carbon footprint. For every sale, one tree or shrub will be planted.

Carbon Positive Australia is an Australian charity that has restored over 5,000 ha of land with over 6 million trees & captured almost 650,000 tonnes of carbon, working with landholders, communities & organisations. We empower all Australians to take positive climate action.

RJC is the world’s leading sustainability standard setting organisation for the jewellery and watch industry. Their vision is a responsible world-wide supply chain that promotes trust in the global jewellery and watch industry.

Starting in 2023, CW has embarked on meeting the extensive criteria to become an active and engaged RJC member.