Date: 19 October 2015.

Announcing the launch of Valerio Jewellery.

www.valeriojewellery.com

Valerio Jewellery is being launched today as a part of the growing ethical jewellery movement across the UK and the jewellery world by Greg Valerio, the pioneering ethical jeweller and activist  behind such jewellery revolutions as Fairtrade gold, and campaigns for an indigenous ethical Greenland ruby.

The Valerio online ethical fair trade jewellery brand, it will offer classic, primal and contemporary designed luxury jewellery made from the most socially conscious, environmentally responsible and desirable metals and gems on the planet. Valerio aims to create a harmonious and elegant union between the land, the miner, the jeweller and the final customer. Valerio Jewellery provides people with an opportunity to mark some of the most important occasions of their lives without the needless exploitation of other people and the planet.

Since leaving CRED Jewellery in 2009, Greg Valerio  has worked alongside Fairtrade International, The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), 16 August Union (Greenland) and with numerous community based mining groups from the eastern D.R. Congo (gold), Greenland (ruby), Kenya (gold), Sierra Leone (gold & diamonds) and further afield. This extended break from being a retail jeweller, has afforded him time to witness first hand the progress, as well as the scale of the moral and ethical challenge that still faces the jewellery profession.

Valerio’s reason behind starting an eponymous brand is straight forward:

“Jewellery is exciting for me, and I want to start over. Having crisscrossed the globe over the last twenty years, I have learned so much about ethical jewellery and I want to discover more. I have only begun to scratch the surface of the ethical transformation of the jewellery world. I want to explore the beauty of gemstones, redeem the diamond and invest all over again into the resources of the land benefiting the people of the land. Jewellery is far more than the perpetuation of the cult of beauty, it is about true beauty, an external reflection of an inner radiance. I remain dedicated to being a jeweller and activist and I want my brand to reflect this commitment”.

The radiance of the tulip setting allows light to refract beautifully throughout this ring. A balanced tapered daylight court setting enables the 1/2 carat of diamonds to show off their natural beauty. A joy to wear and a joy to behold. Set in certified Fairtrade 18ct white, yellow or rose gold. £1800 –£2000.

The radiance of the tulip setting allows light to refract beautifully throughout this ring. A balanced tapered daylight court setting enables the 1/2 carat of diamonds to show off their natural beauty. A joy to wear and a joy to behold. Set in certified Fairtrade 18ct white, yellow or rose gold.
£1800 –£2000.

Launching with a classic bridal range, created from certified Fairtrade gold & silver, traceable diamonds and gemstones, Valerio aims to speak directly to the jewellery buying public offering greater choice to consumers as to the design, value and source of their jewellery purchase.

A stylish Fairtrade Court wedding ring created from white and yellow 18ct gold. An iconic symbol of matrimonial love. £1000

A stylish Fairtrade Court wedding ring created from white and yellow 18ct gold. An iconic symbol of matrimonial love.
£1000

“Consumers should be told where the materials in their jewellery comes from. This is not an optional extra, full disclosure should be systemic across jewellery, and consumers should think carefully about the jewellery they are buying if the retailer cannot or will not disclose source. How can I claim to be acting responsibly if I cannot look my customer in the eye and tell them where the metal and stones come from. True Love always knows it source and I am delighted to work with the best suppliers in the business to offer customers the purest jewellery anyone can aspire to give”.

The Valerio Jewellery inaugural ethical bridal collection can be viewed at www.valeriojewellery.com from 19 October 2015.

ENDS.

Notes to editors.

For interviews please contact enquiries@valeriojewellery.com

Founded by Greg Valerio the original fair trade pioneering British jeweller. His auto-biography Making Trouble – Fighting for Fairtrade Jewellery tells his story as a pioneer in the jewellery trade. Greg won The Observer Campaigner of the Year 2011 Ethical Award for his work in securing  Fairtrade Gold.

Valerio Jewellery is a Fairtrade Gold license holder, and only uses conflict free and fully traceable diamonds. Link to gold standard http://www.fairtrade.net/fileadmin/user_upload/content/2009/standards/documents/2015-04-15_EN_Gold-and-Precious_Metals.pdf

In the absence of any credible global gemstone certification, all Valerio Jewellery gemstones are sourced from communities and companies that provide full disclosure from mine to retail.