LONDON – British jeweler Monica Vinader is looking to set a new standard for gemstone traceability in the demi-fine category with Odyssey, its latest aquamarine collection.
Pieces in the range are made from stones sourced from Zimbaqua, Africa’s first gemstone mine that’s managed and mined by a women-only team in Zimbabwe, a rarity in the traditionally conservative and male-dominated sector.
The collection is available from Monday, Aug. 5 at select Monica Vinader boutiques in London; Nordstrom in New York City; and online.
The range features a cuff, necklace, cocktail ring, and two styles of earrings. The jewelry is made with faceted aquamarines set in recycled 18ct gold vermeil, with shapes inspired by the blue depths of the sea.
A Monica Vinader ring from the new, traceable Aquamarine range
Courtesy of Monica Vinader
Odyssey is Monica Vinader’s latest effort to showcase its commitment to a transparent supply chain, ensuring that it is sourcing responsibly in every respect. The company is looking at the conditions of workers, the effect on communities, and the environmental impacts of its suppliers.
The brand launched Product Passport in 2022, a consumer-facing traceability document that offers details on the people who make the jewelry, the material origin of the rocks and metals, and the sustainability credentials of suppliers.
The brand said the gemstone supply chain, which takes up 77 percent of the company’s carbon footprint, has historically had the least visibility compared to metals such as gold, silver, and lab-grown diamonds.
The Monica Vinader team visited Zimbaqua in 2023, and believes the Zimbabwe-based company could help it achieve total supply chain traceability and transparency one day.
To quantify the impact of the partnership, Monica Vinader has also teamed with a third party, Société Générale de Surveillance, to create a bespoke gemstone mine audit that will assess Zimbaqua’s environmental and social credentials.
Aquamarine mined at Zimbaqua, Africa’s first gemstone mine managed and mined by a women-only team
Courtesy of Monica Vinader
Monica Vinader added that it has traced 47 percent of gemstone styles back to their mines to date, including green onyx and turquoise, in addition to aquamarine. By the end of 2025, the jeweler is aiming for more than 75 percent of designs to be fully traceable.
“Our ultimate goal is to make traceability the norm, not the exception,” said brand founder Monica Vinader. “By giving our customers insights into where their gemstones have come from, they can trust that they have been sourced in conditions they would be proud of as it relates to social and environmental impacts.”
