Close up of someone wearing fairmined gold rings and earrings ethically made by FUTURA Jewelry. They have dark curly hair and look blissful.
01 Feb
Close up of someone wearing fairmined gold rings and earrings ethically made by FUTURA Jewelry. They have dark curly hair and look blissful.

The Future of Jewellery is Compassionate with ‘Great’ Brand FUTURA

Meet FUTURA Jewelry, a luxury jewellery brand with modern values at its core, crafted from 18kt certified Fairmined eco-friendly, mercury-free gold.

Embracing responsible luxury with mercury-free mined gold

After 30 years in the luxury jewellery industry, FUTURA’s founder Bob Donofrio discovered the harsh reality of the environmental impact of mining gold for jewellery production: 99% of the world’s gold supply is produced by emitting toxic chemicals, including mercury and cyanide, into the ecosystem, and 38% of the world’s mercury emissions come from unregulated gold mining.

As most of this gold is used in jewellery production, Donofrio’s mission was to create a brand that would lead to change within the luxury jewellery industry and directly impact the reduction of mercury emissions. In New York in 2017, FUTURA was born, a conscious luxury jewellery brand that is leading the industry to adopt clean gold mining practices that will lead to a global reduction in mercury emissions.

As a jewellery industry leader, once I discovered the truth about mercury emissions and small-scale gold mining, I was overcome with an overwhelming desire to get involved and contribute to solving the problem.

Robert Donofrio – Founder

Read on to discover how this “Great” brand is working to provide consumers with an ethical, sustainable, and traceable fine jewellery option that gives them the power to positively improve the future of our planet.

Planet: Mercury-free

FUTURA Jewelry receives our highest score of “Great” for the environment. Its stunning pieces are handcrafted with mercury-free mined 18kt certified Fairmined Ecological gold, significantly reducing their climate impact and helping to bolster a less damaging jewellery industry overall. The brand ensures wastewater is treated and discharged properly in its supply chain, uses plastic-free packaging, and makes products to-order to further minimise waste.

“Our gold comes from the three certified Fairmined mines in the world that mine for gold without the use of toxic chemicals including mercury and cyanide,” the team tells us. “Our gold is setting the standard for the future—for the jewellery industry and for the planet. By eliminating the use of toxic mercury in mining, we eliminate the impact of harmful mercury emissions to our planet to create a safer future for everyone.”

Close up of sustainable wooden packaging by luxury brand FUTURA Jewelry.

People: Fairmined

Fairmined gold isn’t just beneficial for the planet: it ensures that the health and safety of workers, surrounding communities, and consumers are given the utmost priority. The use of mercury in mining leads to widespread contamination of the ecosystem, including soil, waterways, and wildlife. It can cause dire health effects, with inhaled mercury leading to neurological damage and other health issues, so avoiding it is crucial.

FUTURA Jewelry ensures that everyone along the supply chain has safe working conditions, stability, and gender equality. It traces its entire supply chain and provides living wages, well-deserving a “Great” rating for people.

Note: This brand makes products that are generally free of animal materials so it is not applicable to rate its impact on animals. We calculate the overall rating from environment and labour scores only.

Overall rating: Great

Thanks to its essential work in mercury-emissions reduction, transparency, and ethical practices along the supply chain, FUTURA Jewelry receives our highest score of “Great” overall.

FUTURA is about offering consumers the ability to make a personal choice that aligns with their beliefs around humanity, and collectively collaborating for the future of the planet and for human rights through making smarter, more compassionate choices.

Robert Donofrio – Founder

Our 10 favourite handcrafted pieces by FUTURA Jewelry

FUTURA Jewelry pieces not only do great, they look and feel great. The impeccable craftsmanship is evident in the design, weight, balance, and feel that goes into making each piece. The master artisans who create the jewellery have been in the industry for decades, so “there is a bit of history, centuries of craft, and ingenuity in every piece of FUTURA jewellery.”

This is jewellery you can wear with pride, as each piece of FUTURA jewellery sold directly reduces mercury emissions that emanate from small-scale gold mining and supports the United Nations’ mission to eliminate the harmful threat of mercury emissions to the planet. Here are our 10 favourites from the collection, all handcrafted in NYC with 18kt certified Fairmined Ecological gold that is toxic chemical free, sustainable, ethical, and clean.

Astrid Ring

The eco gold Astrid Ring designed by FUTURA Jewelry.

This stunning hand woven ethically-sourced gold ring hails from the Viking era and was a popular style worn and treasured by both men and women.

800BC Ring

An 800BC style fairmined gold ring by FUTURA Jewelry.

Originally hailing from its namesake, the 800BC ring is a true unique work. Ancient Greeks would wear gold spirals in their hair, and FUTURA has modernised the design by crafting a unique sustainable gold ring you can wear and treasure forever.

Le Trou Ring

A holden ring with a telescoping hole designed into the top by ethical brand FUTURA Jewelry.

Le Trou from “the hole” in French is an iconic ring originally designed by artist Man Ray. The wearer of this ring would look through the telescoping hole which is meant to alter the viewer’s perception of reality, making this a true Surrealist work of art.

Orbit Hoops

Orbit ethical gold hoop earrings by FUTURA Jewelry.

The Orbit gold hoops are a legendary twist on the classic hoop, designed by Renowned Jeweller Art Smith in Greenwich Village.

Adeia Necklace

A close up of a sustainable gold necklace handcrafted by artisans for FUTURA Jewelry.

Handcrafted link-by-link, this classic Roman style is one of the oldest known styles of chain found across the globe dating back as far as 2500BC. Featuring beechnut pendants or “leaf” shape motifs that symbolise the Greek goddess Diana who reigned over forests and woodlands.

Eterna Chain Necklace

A simple handcrafted luxury gold necklace by FUTURA Jewelry.

Another classic Roman-style chain handcrafted link-by-link, the Eterna is a simple yet timeless design crafted ethically from Fairmined gold.

Endure Ring

A belt-style eco gold ring by FUTURA Jewelry.

The belt is a 300 year old motif that was mostly popular in 19th Century England for its strong symbolism of loyalty, strength, and eternity. Today, the Endure ring is a truly modern design that has just as much meaning and beauty as it did when it was originally made in 1840.

Puzzle Earrings

Swirly puzzle earrings in fairmined gold designed by FUTURA Jewelry.

Release 07 originates from California, and was designed in the 1950’s by jeweller and artist Milton Cavagnaro who was inspired by the surrounding Bay Area landscape and the Bauhaus and Surrealists movements.

Love Locket

A Mother Earth designed locket necklace by FUTURA Jewelry.

The striking gold Love Locket was designed to keep your loved ones close. Handmade in the brand’s 18kt Fairmined Ecological gold, the Love Locket features a beautiful embossing of Mother Earth on both sides, wrapped in a closed belt to represent what we hold to be most precious.

Ethereal Ring

An ethereal style eco gold ring by FUTURA Jewelry.

This stunning laurel wreath design was Inspired by the ancient Greeks, symbolising peace and victory. The Ethereal wedding ring is a timeless symbol of your love and will be treasured forever.

Finally, the Forever FUTURA collection is perfect if you love elegant stacking rings.

FUTURA Jewelry

Rated: Great

FUTURA Jewelry is a New-York based ethical jewellery brand. Each piece of FUTURA jewelry is handcrafted with mercury-free 18kt Certified Fairmined Ecological gold. The brand's gold comes from the three certified Fairmined mines in the world that mine for gold without the use of toxic chemicals including mercury and cyanide.

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Editor's note

All images courtesy of FUTURA Jewelry. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands. This is a sponsored article. We collaborate with brands that are rated "Good" or "Great" to celebrate their work, and help us fund ours. We may earn a commission on sales made using our offer codes or affiliate links.

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