Are you a real jewelry store or just an online retailer?
What percentage of your profits do you donate to charity?
What experience do you have working with ethical issues and the jewelry industry?
Are all your diamonds conflict free and responsibly sourced?
Should I get rid of my current diamond jewelry if I'm not sure they're conflict free?
Do you offer pre-owned or "recycled" diamonds?
Where are your diamonds and colored gemstones cut?
What is your reclaimed gold?
How are your metals different than most?
How do I know what size ring to get?
What if I order the wrong ring size?
What is your return policy?
What is your cancellation policy on an order?
How soon will I receive my order?
Are you a real jewelry store or just an online retailer?
We are a real full service jeweler that has been in business for over 85 years as a family owned and operated company. Leber Jeweler Inc, recognized as a long-established leader in the jewelry industry, is able to work closely with trade organizations and industry members on genuine reform.
Our extensive gemological training, American Gem Society certification (of which less than 5% of jewelers qualify for nationwide), as well as decades long experience in the gem and jewelry industry, offers the guarantee that we have the technical ability to address any concerns you may have as well as the experience that only longevity can provide.
At Leber Jeweler Inc, we are trained designers and jewelers, experienced retailers and long-time political advocates with a network of global contacts to meet your jewelry needs and to provide honest, well-researched information. [top]
What percentage of your profits do you donate to charity?
In 2007 over 15% of company profits have gone towards funding a wide array of advocacy and developmental initiatives. However, the measure of a company's social commitment cannot be measured solely by a donation level. At Leber Jeweler Inc we dedicate a significant amount of time and resources towards advocacy efforts both in Washington DC and abroad in addition to directly supporting developmental projects throughout the globe. We feel it is not enough for a company to make donations alone for social responsibility. Each year, we volunteer countless hours acting as consultants for non governmental organizations, members of the United States Congress, and industry led initiatives. Simply put, if we were to boast of a fixed percentage we feel we would be setting the bar too low. [top]
What experience do you have working with ethical issues and the jewelry industry?
While we have always been involved in human rights and environmental issues, in the 1990's we became outspoken advocates for the need to address the conflict diamond issue. Leber Jeweler Inc began to work in partnership with Amnesty International to help raise public awareness of this issue. Since that time, we have become actively involved in a range of topics, including fair trade, child and labor rights in the gem cutting industry, Burma and their regimes control over the gem trade, as well as precious metals mining's impact on the environment and local communities. We continue to work with a number of well-respected non-governmental organizations globally.
Brian Leber is frequently interviewed by industry-related publications as well as periodicals including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Daily Telegraph UK. He is considered an expert in a range of human rights and environmental issues relating to the gem trade and has been interviewed by media outlets including NPR and the BBC. His writings have appeared in journals the world over. Brian frequently lectures to educate the public and fellow industry members on these issues relating to the gem and jewelry industry.
In addition to this activism, Brian Leber and his wife Joanne Aono founded the Jewelers Burma Relief Project in 2004, a humanitarian aid effort to offer assistance to the people of Burma. [top]
Are all your diamonds conflict free and responsibly sourced?
We currently offer a wide variety of Canadian diamonds which offer a guarantee of origin assuring you that the diamonds did not come from zones of conflict or offer any financial assistance to armed groups. In addition, our stones come with the assurance that miners earn a living wage and environmental issues are addressed. As one of the first jewelers in the United States with extensive contacts in the Canadian diamond industry, we are able to offer Canadian stones in a broad range of sizes and shapes normally unavailable.
As advocates for reform of the African-based diamond industry, we do not endorse a boycott of African-origin gemstones as they remain a critical component for the troubled continent to climb its way out of its current desperate state. However, because of on-going difficulties in a number of African regions we do not consider the Kimberley Process fully adequate to guarantee that a stone does not have conflict origin with 100% certainty.
In the rare cases where a customer's diamond request cannot be met with a Canadian-origin diamond, we utilize alternative sources that meet or in most cases exceed the standards of the Kimberley Process.
While we are actively involved in a wide range of developmental initiatives within the continent of Africa and have great hopes for this continent's future, we have yet to find a source for diamonds from Africa that fully meets our standards of fairly traded and responsibly sourced with a verifiable guarantee of country of origin. An increasing number of companies have been quick to embrace the fair-trade ethos as a marketing approach, however we feel working towards legitimate sustainable development in Africa with the understanding this is a long term issue, is far more important than making claims that at present, are simply unfounded. [top]
Should I get rid of my current diamond jewelry if I’m not sure they’re conflict free?
Absolutely not. The diamond jewelry we all have purchased before knowledge of conflict diamonds still retains the sentiment and memories from the occasion they were given. The person who meticulously selected your diamond engagement ring was not aware of the issue when the purchase was made. They did so with love and the best intentions — that remains. Actually, the chance that any given diamond is of conflict origin is relatively low, which peaked at around 4% during the late 80's and early 90's and has continued to drop as awareness and collective efforts to rid the system of conflict diamonds has persisted.
If you sell or trade-in your diamond, the money you would lose for the same size and quality "conflict-free" diamond could be put to better use. (With a trade in or resale, you will only receive a fraction of what you originally paid.)
We suggest making a donation to a legitimate charity (it needn't be diamond or jewelry related but we'll happy provide you with the names of groups working in these areas), volunteer your time, even plant a tree or adopt a stray animal. Remember, simply the fact that you ask this sort of question means you are an informed consumer and it's people like you that are changing the world one small step at a time. [top]
Do you offer pre-owned or "recycled" diamonds?
We do not believe in the idea that a previous owner assumes any bad karma associated with a conflict diamond so that the next owner is then purchasing a non-conflict diamond. The truth is, with the current systems of accountability related to the diamond distribution chain, the largest gap of oversight exists with the used diamond market. These diamonds, by the sake of being used and therefore having circumvented the Kimberley Process (or any other system of assuring origin), have entirely escaped any legitimate scrutiny regarding country of origin and method of trade. Since this scenario allows for the greatest chance that a used diamond may be of illicit origin, we do not offer pre-owned diamonds as part of our loose diamond selection. Keep in mind, while the issue of conflict diamonds from Africa remains in the spotlight of the illicit stone trade, used diamonds also carry the added risk of other illicit activities including being stolen or a range of other illegal (and unethical) activities.
Many used diamonds you see for sale entered the market as a result of death, divorce, or financial hardship, and while they may not be directly related to the illicit diamond trade, certainly come with a less than auspicious history that makes them (in our eyes) ill-suited for a symbol of a couple's future life together. In addition, many used diamonds show damage since a diamond, although hard, most certainly shows wear and tear after years of use and often require re-cutting to make them like new. [top]
Where are your diamonds and colored gemstones cut?
Unlike the lower tier Canadian diamond companies that source their stones from Canada but have their cutting done in China or India, our diamonds are cut in facilities that uphold the highest labor standards in the industry. A majority of our diamonds will be cut in Canada, with more esoteric or extremely small stones being cut in either Israel or in the European Union.
Because colored stones come from all corners of the globe, we work with a select list of sources that uphold fair trade standards and offer an equitable return to the local communities. Whether from privately owned mines or from village co-ops, we have a network of sources the world over than offer the most beautiful and humanely produced gemstones on the planet. [top]
What is your reclaimed gold?
Our reclaimed gold is metal that comes from recycled sources (mainly old jewelry and electronics) and is processed in an environmentally sensitive manner in the United States, separating the precious metal from the accompanying alloys and producing raw casting grain. This raw metal, whose properties are identical to newly mined metal, can than be fabricated into one of our Earthwise Jewelry pieces. [top]
How are your metals different than most?
As jewelers with experience working with some of the finest designers on the globe for the last several decades, we strive to offer the finest materials fabricated in the most ethical means possible. As a result, our work in 18k white gold is alloyed with palladium (a sister metal to platinum) rather than the more commonly used nickel. This creates an item of 100% precious metal versus the more common 58% to 75%. In addition, by alloying with palladium, our white gold is allergy free, as roughly 25% of people have skin reactions to nickel. Our platinum pieces are fabricated using a combination of 95% platinum alloyed with 5% iridium, again creating a piece of 100% precious metal. Others may use 90% or less platinum in their jewelry, which by law cannot be stamped as platinum. [top]
How do I know what size ring to get?
If you provide us with a mailing address, we'd be happy to send you a finger sizer. After selecting a size, wear it around for a day as your finger will change in size depending on your activity and the weather. Keep in mind that the wider the ring, the tighter it will fit.
If you are trying to keep this a secret from the recipient and you don't know their size, we suggest trying on one of their rings then comparing it to a finger sizer on one of your fingers. Keep in mind that all ten fingers are different sizes (most right handed people have larger ring fingers on their right hands than their left and vice versa). [top]
What if I order the wrong ring size?
We can size the ring up or down up to one full size increment for no charge within the first three months of purchase on most rings. Rings requiring more than one full size adjustment will be charged accordingly. Please note that eternity bands are very troublesome to size, so any size adjustment will entail charges.
Contact us for a Return Authorization number, then ship the ring back to us by an insured carrier. We recommend US Postal insured registered mail. Address the package to "Leber" or "LJI" (for security purposes, do not write "Jeweler" on the package). [top]
What is your return policy?
Except for special and custom orders, sale items and other merchandise which has been worn, used or damaged, purchases may be exchanged or returned within thirty days of sale, when accompanied by a receipt. Please note, all Earthwise Jewelry Rings are made custom to order and are not refundable. Before returning an item purchased through this website, a Return Authorization number must be obtained by calling 708.246.1455. The item should be returned fully insured, for the purchase price of the item. [top]
What is your cancellation policy on an order?
Each piece is hand-crafted for every order and as such is considered a non-refundable special order. After you receive your jewelry order if you are not completely satisfied we will be happy to work with you if the piece isn't exactly what you imagined. [top]
How soon will I receive my order?
Some Earthwise Jewelry items can be shipped within 24 hours, however most are made custom to order and require two to six weeks for fabrication. Custom designed orders typically take four to eight weeks after approval of the design and deposit are made. If there is a date you are targeting, please inquire as rush orders can often be accommodated. While we make every attempt to meet request dates, complications due to unforeseen factors can occur so we encourage you to allow plenty of lead time. [top]
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