SAPPHIRE "FAIR" BLUE 4,0 MM

Worth knowing about the origin of our FairTrade sapphires:

The following information was provided to us by our supplier:

Fair Sapphires - Ethical mining principles

• Natural Ceylon sapphires & gems from the mines in the highlands of Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
• We know about origin of our gems and sustainable framework conditions
• "Mine to market" – we as producer offer all from a single source without any middleman
• Rough gemstones are sourced directly from our mines for further internal processing
• Environmentally friendly "small scale pit mining" in manual work, no machines
• Renaturation of nature after mine closure, minimal impact on landscape
• Long-term cooperation with miners from the region, no child labor
• "Ethical processing" – fair process steps from rough to faceted gemstone
• Fair share and comprehensive health and safety working conditions for miners and cutters
• Good working conditions and organization, attractive and sustainable local employer
• Direct involvement of the local community and strengthening of female empowerment

Small-scale Mining in Sri Lanka
We operate small-scale pit and shallow mining in cooperation with local partners. Child labor in all its forms is strictly prohibited in Sri Lanka, and is especially so for the mining industry. Gemstones are conflict free from Sri Lanka. The artisanal mining practise in Sri Lanka is done by hand without the use of machines. It is a result of a physically intensive work ethic that is firmly rooted in the Sri Lankan tradition. Over the generations, mining has been perfected ever further for efficient sapphire seeking.
In recent decades, mining in Sri Lanka has taken a very positive turn and uncontrolled mining is virtually non-existent. This is due to the strict government rules and controls in mining and the process of  obtaining mining licenses; a system that is possibly the best model for sustainable mining worldwide.

Traditional and Responsible Mining
Our gem mining follows traditional Sri Lankan methods by hand, a method that has been proven for centuries. Tradition is very important for the mining families, who are proud of their work and pass on their knowledge to the coming generations. Believing and praying before proceeding to each subsequent layer of the mine is an age-old ritual, and with each major gemstone find it is celebrated extensively.
Only natural materials such as wood and ferns from the region are used to build and secure the mine tunnels. The resulting impact on soil, water and air is therefore negligible. Once mining has ended, the mine will be re-naturalized to ensure minimal impact on the landscape.
Of course every mining operation is an intervention of nature, but the question is how to keep the impact on the environment and local people to a minimum. So far, we and our partners have been very successful in doing this, even though further efforts are always needed to implement further changes and improvements – the path is the goal.

Responsibility for People & Nature
We work exclusively with miners from the region on a long-term basis. The direct involvement of the local community is very important for the people and the social cohesion in the various mining regions. A fair remuneration of our workers and participation in gemstone discoveries is essential for our values. We also guarantee this by attaching value to all gemstone qualities and selling them through partners. Even if we do not process them ourselves, our workers receive a share of the profits.
We have have introduced extensive health and safety regulations for our mine workers. Safety takes main priority when going down into the mine galleries. The wearing of protective clothing in the mine and technical solutions that make work safer and easier at the same time ensure every miner’s well-being. We have created good working conditions through work structures and clear organization. This makes us an attractive and sustainable local employer for young people who choose to work in the mining industry and for our highly motivated employees.  We work closely together with our mine workers to consider what we can improve next, in line with Sri Lanka’s traditional mining and national rules.

Fair and Sustainable Local Employer
The search and processing of gemstones in Sri Lanka has a very long and colorful history that continues to this day and determines the daily lives of many people. Entrepreneurial responsibility begins on a small scale, but here you can actively change and improve things. Through our green mining practices we contribute to the local empowerment of the communities. We are proud to leave the entire value creation of this rare natural resources in the country of origin and secure jobs locally. Our employees appreciate their steady job and pay us back with great motivation and gratefulness.