From the beautiful province of Bali in the Indonesian Islands, Jesús Zabala crafts distinctive rings that will make you feel special. Using his artistic eye and his knowledge of natural minerals, he crafts and creates more than just jewelry. He creates a story you can wear and share for years to come. The original designs of these rings are inspired by a diverse range of influences, from nature and spirituality to fashion and design. You’ll find rings with moons, pop culture references, waves, inscriptions, animals, and many more. The quality of the jewelry is guaranteed as Jesús and his team of Balinese artists use only the best precious metals known for their strength, durability, and quality. Buy these cute rings for a loved one or yourself, and you’re guaranteed to be supporting an ethical production studio.
Jewel Labs are a great example of a new way of making accessories. They manage to bring together their aesthetic and ethical views with every item they make. They challenge us to ask where our pieces of jewelry come from. What materials make earrings, necklaces, or rings? What responsibilities do we have as consumers? Because we love them and we buy them or inherit them, we should want and need to know.
Jewels are made, when well-made, by crafting gemstones and minerals with minutiae and skill. These minerals are found underground, and those beautiful diamonds we’re all so fond of are far deeper still. They were formed at the Earth’s core, somewhere between 1 and 3 billion years ago by a combination of pressure and heat. They are then sent toward the surface over long periods by volcanic eruptions and the gradual movement of tectonic plates. Different stones are found in different regions of the world; some in multiple locations, while others more sought-after are only found in one region. Over time, we’ve associated different stones with different meanings and symbols. Gems have positive spiritual effects and are often used in the design of rings. Ruby, for example, is known for its protective properties, diamond for its purification qualities, and pearls for their radiations of happiness and calmness. To access these materials, we build and dig gigantic pits and mines where people go down to forage them. Over the centuries, this has become a huge industry, and lately, we have access to information as to how these crafted metals (turned into beauty) get to us. In a time of climate emergency, we should be thinking about the effects and repercussions on the planet and its communities when we click ‘buy’ on our browser at home.
Having developed a new sense of ethical and conscious buying, we’re confronted with a new challenge: where to shop and what should be looking out for when buying a jewel. Although this can seem challenging, because high-street shops struggle to guarantee the origin of our garments, and high-end boutiques can often be out of price range, there are many emerging smaller producers and businesses fighting this. Things to look out for are the origin of the products, and the way the makers’ source and craft the jewels.
Even if we’re very ethically aware of the industry and source out sustainable products, this doesn’t mean we aren’t tempted by aesthetics and trends. Our aim is to find a piece of jewelry that’s both trendy and sustainable. Seeing the amount of smart new businesses that are flourishing with that exact goal is great. It’s possible to get a ring that’s made with an environmentally low impact. Although you might pay a little more for these products, they will last so much longer. That piece of jewel will have a story of its own, a uniqueness, and in general, will make you feel better and proud. Jewelry that’s 100% handcrafted tends to fit with a wide range of trends. As is often seen in businesses that support these values, designs are simple and discreet, which seems to morph to fit into many styles or trends. That’s what makes them timeless and a welcomed accessory.
When buying a handmade item, there’s a guarantee of quality. This is because artisans have to stand out compared to the bigger producers. They need to be able to assure their customers of the quality of the product. That’s why they spend so much time researching their craft, sourcing their raw materials, and understanding your needs. Yes, they are more expensive, but you can build a relationship with the maker, converse with them, and make them understand what you’re after. Ultimately, they will create a jewel so personal and meaningful that the cost is comparatively very low. You’re going to develop so much more than just a consumer/seller relationship. The artist brings you into their world, and you share a bit of you to make a unique piece of jewel that will, therefore, be charged with meaning and a story.
There isn’t a much better way to show your feelings for a loved one or yourself than to buy the gift of handmade jewelry. As the most ancient form of body ornamentation, it symbolizes health, wealth, and love.
The most important thing is that you find a piece of jewelry that speaks to you personally while supporting ethical businesses who craft their jewelry with love, originality, and feeling. It’s because wearing jewelry has a substantial spiritual impact on us. Whether it be the type of metal, the different gem, the finger we choose for this particular ring, or the activation of certain chakras through wearing them, we need to be sure that our aesthetic choices match our ethical ones.
