FAQ about our jewelry
FAQ about our jewelry
What is ethical jewelry?
Ethical jewelry refers to ornaments made using fair and sustainable practices while sourcing materials from environmentally-friendly and socially responsible mines. It’s about supporting responsible mining and creating new opportunities.
For us, it means going to isolated mining communities, helping local cooperatives improve mining techniques, and discovering and enabling talented artisans. We seek to give them visibility and recognition for their mining practices and handicraft. The ethical movement is fostered by the increasing awareness of sustainable consumption for minerals and jewelry. As a consequence, buying Amalena’s ethical jewelry contributes to the improvement of local communities by reducing poverty and promoting peace. Ethical consumption is a growth market with the potential to address sustainability issues and to improve business practices in favour of the actors at the bottom of the supply chain. We are proud to be part of the ethical and sustainable trend!
I have heard that chains in ethical or eco-gold are not available and are made out of conventional gold, is that right?
We are proud to be the only brand so far providing necklaces and chains including the closure system made out of 100% eco-gold. Other brands might use eco-gold, fairmined gold or fairtrade gold for the charms but use conventional gold for the chains and findings. We don’t.
What do the butterfly and the 750 hallmarks in the jewelry mean?
The butterfly is Amalena’s trademark and it symbolizes our guarantee of authentically ethical and eco-friendly jewelry. The 750 stamp signified the purity of our gold (75% in the alloy), which also refers to 18-carat gold. We import our products to Austria for the European market. By hallmarking the jewelry we not only allow our consumer to recognize our brand and purity of the gold but also we fulfill with the Austrian hallmark regulation.
How to take care of your ethical jewelry
Although the filigree in our pieces look fragile, our skilled artisans create lasting and durable metalwork. Following the Colombian goldsmith tradition, our products are made to be preserved in time. Nevertheless, to keep your jewelry looking like new, you should consider the following recommendations: We recommend not wearing your jewelry in hot tubs or swimming pools. The chlorine or other chemicals in the water can damage the gold.
Also, remove your jewelry before taking a shower as the soap can leave a matte layer on the gold that diminishes its sparkle. We advise you to store your eco-gold jewelry in its original packaging. By keeping your pieces separate, you avoid scratches or damage from friction with other pieces. When the jewelry is well cared for and properly stored, you may not need to clean it. Since our jewelry boxes are made from recycled cardboard and paper and contains water-based glue, we recommend keeping the eco-friendly package in a dry place.
How to clean your eco-friendly jewelry
Over time, your jewelry might lose some shine. Gold jewelry doesn’t tarnish like other metals, but it does get dirty from the products you put on your skin like oil and body lotions, perfumes, and make-up.
You can clean your piece by putting it into warm sudsy water containing just a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid. Let it soak for 15 minutes, then gently rub it with your fingers or a cotton swab. You could also use a very soft brush for a more abrasive cleaning but keep in mind to be very gentle to avoid scratches. Rinse the piece thoroughly with warm water and dry with a cotton cloth. We do not recommend drying it with paper products, as they contain rough particles that can scratch the surface of your jewelry. Before storing, let it lie flat and air dry completely.