Header image

Fairmined Gold

Alliance for Responsible Mining

We are delighted to be working with Fairmined as part of our ongoing mission to improve our environmental and social responsibility within our business and the wider jewellery industry.Fairmined is an accredited assurance label that certifies gold from small-scale mining organisations in line with the UN standards for responsible environmental, social and economic mining practices. Their mission is to transform mining into an active force for good and provide the world with a source of gold to be proud of.

Left right text and image

About Fairmined Gold

The Fairmined initiative was first developed between 2006 and 2008 by the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM): a non profit organisation globally recognized as a leader and pioneer of responsible artisanal and small-scale mining. The Fairmined accreditation has been recognised by global miners, the gold industry and national governments as a robust and credible standard, ensuring responsibility, transparency, safety, and empowerment in a historically dangerous and damaging industry.

Fairmined is an assurance label that certifies gold from small-scale mining organisations who are essentially going against the grain and embracing responsible practices.

Media grid item image
Media grid item image
Media grid item image
Media grid item image

"As a company, Alex Monroe has always tried to be as responsible as possible. We love what we do, but jewellery making has a notoriously complicated history when it comes to ethical practice and sustainability - particularly in regard to the mining of metals and gemstones. Fairmined is doing incredible work to address and rebalance this."

Alex Monroe - Founder & Creative Director

Left right text and image

Raising Awareness

Approximately 20 million people worldwide are engaged in artisanal and small-scale gold mining with over 150 million people, miners, and their families, depending on this activity to make a living.

However, irresponsible practices in the past have created a negative reputation for small-scale miners. Gold mining in particular tends to be associated with unsafe working conditions, gender inequality, unfair labour practices, organised crime, and environmental damage.

Fairmined are working tirelessly to raise awareness of the vital need to regulate the artisanal and small-scale mining sector to mitigate against these issues - and highlight to the global gold industry how their support of this important accreditation can generate a positive reverberation spanning continents and benefit the lives of millions.

Left right text and image

Our Mission

Since September 2021 every piece of Gold-plated Alex Monroe jewellery made, is done so with licensed Fairmined Gold. Fairmined’s strict accreditation process and absolute transparency, means that we can trace the gold used on our pieces all the way back to its original source - the Iquira Mine in the Huila region of Colombia.

Our original aim was that over time, every piece of plated jewellery we sell will use Fairmined Gold - ensuring that we are sourcing from empowered, small-scale mining organisations with responsible social, economic and environmental practices.

Our Metals

Silver beetle jewellery castings on a wooden workbench with tools.

Sterling Silver

Silver is durable yet easy to work with, meaning that we can achieve our signature texture and detail. Alex Monroe silver jewellery is made from 100% recycled, 925 solid sterling silver.

Gold necklace held between two hands with a blurred background

22ct Gold-Plated Silver

Although gold-plate is not measured in carats as solid gold is, we refer to our yellow gold plated pieces as 22ct to reflect the rich colour used to bring out the detail of our pieces. All our plated jewellery is made from solid silver plated with 2 microns of Fairmined Gold.

Gold bee earrings on a white stone with a natural background

18ct Solid Gold

Fine Jewellery by Alex Monroe is made from 18ct solid gold, with a yellow, white or rose colour. Our gold consists of a minimum of 70% recycled metal, with certain styles in certified Fairmined Gold.

Three Platinum wedding rings on a white stone with a natural background

Platinum

Our Platinum is 95% pure with a mix of iridium, palladium and ruthenium making up the remaining 5% the incredible purity of this metal makes it hypoallergenic and ideal for anyone with very sensitive skin.

Alex Monroe was established as a business in 1987 - with the intention of creating originally designed jewellery, which was made by hand and well priced. Jewellery made to be worn, loved and treasured. All of these values remain unchanged to this day.

Alongside this, we are committed to working ethically and sourcing materials with as little impact on the environment as possible. To us, sustainability is taking a genuinely proactive approach to responsible business practices, working ethically and sourcing materials with as little impact on the environment as possible - encouraging others to follow suit and establishing positive change.