Coloured gemstones have seen a resurgence in popularity, namely due to the mystical associations with various stones. Rose quartz to attract love, lapis lazuli for enhanced self-esteem. Instagram is home to so many gemstone jewellery shops, especially here in Singapore. An example would be @daisygems, as shown below.
@daisygems on Instagram (Source)
I myself have been drawn to this type of jewellery ever since I was a child. However, nowadays it seems all too easy for anyone to attain these stones. On AliExpress, there are so many suppliers claiming to sell these coloured gemstones at ridiculously low prices. One could dismiss these as inauthentic products, but suppose they really were authentic… What are the possible repercussions and call me cynical but who is being exploited?
AliExpress store selling coloured gemstone beads (Source)
Unfortunately, forced labour is an all too real reality in gemstone harvesting. While we often hear of child labour, adults can also be victims of the same circumstances. A worker in the mines could be threatened by the mine operators, deprived of food and drink, or have his identification documents withheld from him should he try to leave. Debt can also be used to force one to keep working. Should the owing party have a family, their whole family can end up working in the mines, including the children. It doesn’t end there. Gem cutting after extraction can cause silicosis due to the inhalation of fine dust. Now, I’m not saying that your local gemstone bracelet seller is enabling exploitation, but after reading all this, I really hope the stones are fake.
Here is a video which shows the ethical mining process in great detail.
Spoiler alert: The process is not as pretty as the end product (and this is the “ethical” version!).
That’s all I’ll leave you with for today! Stay tuned for a part 2!
♡, Qystina
Sources:
Archuleta, J. L. (2016). The Color Of Responsibility: Ethical Issues And Solutions In Colored Gemstones. Gems & Gemology, Gemological Institute of America.
Diamond Commodity Chain. (n.d.). The Ohio State University. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://u.osu.edu/diamondscarlsoncaggiano/impacts/
Mcfarlane, M., Tallontire, A., & Martin, A. (2003). Towards an Ethical Jewellery Business. Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich.