The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2021 - Issue 30

bitejewellery diamonds, mined in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa from the DeBeers mines instead. Clients can choose recycled diamonds as an option that do not come with origin assurance but minimise the need for further mining. All reclaimed diamonds used by the studio come with quality assurance from their supplier and are thoroughly checked by their in-house gemologist. Pre-loved diamonds are chosen from a pool of round brilliant-cut which is characterised by 58 symmetri- cal facets and old-cut stones that refer to an antique cut characterised by slightly chunkier and more organic facets. Lab-grown diamonds allow you to choose from a fantastic spectrum of colours at a fraction of the traditional price. Whilst they require energy to grow including CO2 emissions, they are somewhat ecological in the sense they do not require further mining. Salt and pepper diamonds have a high volume of black and white inclusions that develop through the diamond formation process in the form of spots, feathers, cracks, clouds or chips. They also occur in several different colours, shapes and sizes. Salt and pepper diamonds are the tra- ditional diamond’s more sustainable sister. Whilst tonnes and tonnes of the earth must be shifted to extract a small handful of gem-quality diamonds, these stones are more readily available. Their extraction still has an impact on the Earth - like any material that must be mined from the ground - but the journey to a beautiful salt and pepper stone is far shorter, gentler and less consuming than the endeavour to land upon a high- grade one. Lebrusán Studio’s fair-traded coloured gemstones are mined using best practice principles, with minimal environ- mental impact, fair labour conditions and community benefit of the utmost impor- tance. In 2019, Arabel spent a month in Sri Lanka, sourcing and researching by visiting the sustainable mine that some of their ethical sapphires originate from. Becoming acquainted with the skilled stone-cutter behind their beautiful facets, she hand-picked some glorious coloured sapphire to bring back to the studio. One of their classic collections is the vintage-inspired Daisy engagement