Durham Rose Ethos and Ethical Standards

The Durham Rose Ethos

YOU ARE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO

Creating future heirlooms is the most personal creative process.
Talk us through your story and your ideas and your designer will work with you to create the most personal and unique fine jewellery

EXCELLENCE AND QUALITY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

We were established with a passion for uniting technology with traditional craftsmanship and best quality materials available.
We proudly create each piece of your fine jewellery knowing it will be loved for generations to come. Durham Rose Warranty

IF IT FOLLOWS THE LAWS OF PHYSICS, WE CAN MAKE IT

We believe that the best thing about bespoke jewellery is pushing the boundaries of design!
While drawing on our wealth of experience and your unique story, every design is created with a perfect balance innovation and design integrity.

WE LEAVE THE SURPRISES TO YOU!

We are always transparent about the price of each element of your ring throughout the design process, we share educational resources for the precious materials in your jewellery,
so that you know what you are buying and we use screen sharing and a specialist modelling program to give you a 3D experience of your ring before committing to your design.

Our Promise

The jewellery we create is designed to be loved not only for a lifetime, but for future generations to come. For this reason, it’s important to us as Durham Rose that we operate in a way which minimises harm to people and planet, both in our sourcing and supply chain. In alignment with our core beliefs, we are proud members of The British Jewellers’ Association, Jewelers of America and The Responsible Jewellery Council. We promise:

To maintain the highest level of personal integrity, honesty and business ethics
To comply with all Governmental laws and regulations relating to the jewellery, watch and related industries
To use conflict free diamonds in compliance with the Kimberley Process and The World Diamond Council System Of Warranties
To support and abide by the Jewellery Ethics and objectives of the National Jewellers’ Association
To provide a standard of product and service of the highest possible quality commensurate with price
To establish clearly the guarantee or service policy regarding all merchandise and to fulfil that policy
To provide knowledgeable and competent expertise and clearly indicate the true quality of products offered for sale
To adhere to sound business practices and thus ensure continuing service to customers and suppliers alike
To refrain from all forms of design copyright and trademark infringement

Durham Rose Ethical Sourcing Standards

All of our mined diamonds are supplied in compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification System and The World Diamond Council System of Warranties. Both systems were established to eliminate the trade in Conflict Diamonds with rules on importing and exporting diamonds as well as providing paper trails accompanying diamond shipments. A large proportion of the gold and platinum used in creating our jewellery comes from recycled material.

As a bespoke company, every piece that we make is highly personal to each client. For this reason, we source a wide and vast number of specialist diamonds and gemstones in creating each unique design. While all of the diamonds and gemstones are sourced to provide the best possible quality, many of our suppliers also provide ethical reassurance, such as Canada Mark Diamonds, Chatham Gemstones and Charles and Colvard Moissanite.

Our jewellery is manufactured by experienced and diligent jewellers. We work with two large specialist jewellery manufacturers in the US and India both of whom are, like us, registered with the Responsible Jewellery Council. We also work with a select number of independent jewellers in the UK. How your jewellery is made means a lot to us, and to share this passion we like to include manufacturing photos of your ring in your custom ring book that accompanies every commission.

The Kimberley Process

At Durham Rose, we buy with confidence knowing that our diamonds are conflict-free.

All rough and polished diamonds sold by us comply with the Kimberley Process which ensures that rough diamonds are:

Exported and imported with a Government-validated Kimberley Process certificate stating that the diamonds are conflict-free
Transported between signatory countries in a sealed and tamper-proof container
Sold with a statement from the seller (known as a warranty) on all invoices guaranteeing that the diamonds being sold are conflict-free
This same warranty appears on all memos and invoices for the products purchased from Durham Rose

The Responsible Jewellery Council

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) is a not- for-profit organisation that sets industry wide standards and awards certification to those companies who achieve those standards and requirements. The RJC covers every aspect of the supply chain; from the mine through to the jewellery retailer.

Since it’s inception in 2005, the RJC has developed key standards for the jewellery sector, became a full Member of the ISEAL Alliance, a global association for credible sustainability standards and works in partnership with a range of organisations and stakeholders on responsible sourcing issues, and has also sought to raise awareness of what is considered ‘best practice’ in the industry.

The RJC are also harmonising with other highly regarded International organisations to push industry standards higher and ensure continued and improved responsible and sustainable sourcing, these include;

OECD: Due Diligence Guidance

US Securities and Exchange Commission: Conflict Minerals

United Nations: Global Compact

Gold Refiner Audit Cross-Recognition

As a member of the RJC we are independently audited against the RJC’s ‘Code of Practices’ –which addresses issues such as; working conditions, human rights, labour rights, health and safety, environmental impact, mining practices, product disclosure and various other vital topics within the jewellery supply chain.

What is The System Of Warranties?

The diamond industry also adopted a ‘System of Warranties’ to further assure consumers of their diamonds. Once imported and ready to be traded, a written statement must accompany all invoices, guaranteeing that the diamonds or diamond jewellery being sold are from legitimate sources.

Each time that a diamond changes hands, the seller must attest to the diamond’s legitimacy by means of a warranty. The document’s content as agreed to by the International Diamond Manufacturers Association and the World Federation of Diamond Courses, is:

“The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations Resolutions. The seller hereby guarantees that these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds.”

Diamond traders and diamond jewellery manufacturers are required to keep records of their invoices and have them audited on an annual basis.

What are Canadian Diamonds?

Mined in the stunning yet hostile landscapes of Canada’s Northwest territories these diamonds have a wholly ethical reputation of having transparent supply chains from mine to finished jewellery.

Certified diamonds (above 0.30ct) from these Canadian mines have guaranteed provenance, in addition to an identification card that comes with your diamond the stone itself will have a laser inscription on the girdle of it’s unique reference number.

Canada has strict environmental laws to protect the ecological landscape of the mine sites, with safeguarding of local wildlife, environments and communities in mind. Canadian mines are also managed in line with strict Canadian employment laws to ensure against the risk of modern slavery and child labour.