Our Values & Ethos
FINE JEWELRY AS UNIQUE AND PRECIOUS AS YOU ARE
Designed, hand sculpted and responsibly crafted in the heart of Manhattan
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING: A JOURNEY TOWARD MINDFUL LUXURY
We have always used recycled gold in our castings, a choice that was not so obvious in the early days of our company, over a decade ago. By giving new life to already mined gold, we aim to reduce environmental harm and work toward a more sustainable future.
Delphine has also become deeply invested in responsible gold sourcing, aware of the challenges faced by artisanal small-scale miners (ASM) who rely on mining as their primary livelihood. While we continue to use recycled gold, we also champion responsible mining practices to provide broader environmental and social benefits. We’ve chosen to support the FAIRMINED GOLD Initiative and NGOs like PURE EARTH, which train miners in more responsible, mercury-free methods of extraction, and encourage restoring mining habitat by implementing reforestation. These practices protect both the environment and the health of mining communities, and by extension, benefit us all.
FAIRMINED GOLD: A NEW STANDARD OF LUXURY
We are proud to be Fairmined certified, offering you the option of choosing responsibly sourced gold for custom pieces and in our upcoming Holiday 2024 collection. This certification guarantees that the gold is traceable and mined under strict environmental, social, and ethical standards.
By supporting responsible mining, we not only contribute to a sustainable future but also directly impact the communities that work to unearth these precious metals.
Read more about our gold options HERE.
RECIPROCITY JEWELS: CREATING A HUMAN CONNECTION THROUGH GOLD
As a co-founder of RECIPROCITY JEWELS, Delphine has helped launch a mine-to-market initiative that connects the jewelry industry across continents and cultures. This project works with Peruvian female artisanal miners who extract gold using mercury-free methods, and practice reforestation in the Madre-de-Dios region of the Amazon. By partnering directly with these miners, we are building a tangible human connection that ensures transparency, fairness, and environmental responsibility. Through our collective purchase of their responsibly mined gold, we provide financial support for their sustainable efforts.
Reciprocity Jewels' full sourcing transparency creates a foundation of reciprocal trust between all stakeholders—from miners to designers and consumers—allowing the wearer to align their values with their jewelry purchase, knowing every step of the journey is rooted in sustained efforts toward more ethical and responsible practices.
Delphine’s first Reciprocity Jewels collection, presented during NYCJW 2022, was a groundbreaking moment: for the first time, she knew exactly where her gold came from, the miner who extracted it, and the story behind it. This level of traceability represents a transformative shift in the jewelry industry—one that connects the people who mine the gold with those who craft and wear it.
Reciprocity Jewels will return to NYCJW in November 2024, presenting our third collaborative collection. These ongoing partnerships reflect our belief that mindful, ethical collaborations are the future of the jewelry industry, not just for gold but for gemstones as well.
PARTNERING WITH PURE EARTH: A COMMITMENT TO MERCURY-FREE MINING
For the past four years, Delphine Leymarie Fine Jewelry has proudly supported Pure Earth, a global nonprofit organization working to reduce pollution and its harmful effects on human health and the environment. Pure Earth is actively involved in training artisanal miners around the world to adopt mercury-free methods of gold extraction, using gravity and shaking tables instead of toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide. This innovative approach not only safeguards the health of the miners and their communities but also protects our rivers, oceans, and ecosystems from pollution. By partnering with Pure Earth, we are helping to create a more sustainable future for gold mining, ensuring that the beauty of our jewels does not come at the expense of the planet.
LOOKING AHEAD: TRANSPARENCY AND TRACEABILITY IN JEWELRY
The journey toward responsible jewelry doesn’t end with gold. Increasing traceability across the entire supply chain is key to making the jewelry industry more sustainable and equitable. We are committed to continuously improving our practices and working with partners who share our vision for a more transparent and accountable future.
With love and gratitude,
Delphine Leymarie
Founder, Designer, and Dreamer-in-chief
DELPHINE LEYMARIE Fine Jewelry
