Monica Vinader has teamed up with Zimbaqua, Africa’s first gemstone mine operated exclusively by women, to introduce its inaugural fully traceable aquamarine collection called Odyssey.
Gemstone sourcing is often unclear due to the convoluted network of intermediaries involved in their extraction and transport worldwide.
Traceability has been central to Monica Vinader’s sustainability efforts, prompting the launch of its Product Passport in 2022. This tool allows customers to easily access information about the origin and sustainability credentials of their jewelry through blockchain technology when making online purchases.
Gemstones constitute the company’s most impactful area, contributing approximately 77% of its carbon footprint, but historically, Monica Vinader has had limited visibility into this supply chain beyond metals and lab-grown diamonds.
The collaboration with Zimbaqua, launching this month, represents a significant stride towards achieving complete transparency in the supply chain. Monica Vinader hopes this initiative will set a precedent for the industry.
Monica Vinader, the brand’s founder, stated, “Our goal is to normalize traceability so customers can trust the social and environmental conditions under which their gemstones are sourced.”
The Odyssey collection features aquamarine stones cut in bold styles and set in 100% recycled 18k gold vermeil. It includes five distinct designs: a cuff, necklace, cocktail ring, and two styles of earrings, all inspired by the ocean’s depths and its striking blue hues.
Named after the Latin word for seawater, aquamarine ranges from nearly transparent to vivid greenish-blue, echoing the colors of the ocean.
Monica Vinader sources its aquamarines exclusively from the Zimbaqua mine in Karoi, Zimbabwe, where efforts are focused on creating positive impacts for the community, particularly through education and child welfare.
In 2023, the Monica Vinader team visited Zimbaqua to select and purchase rough stones for use in the Odyssey collection. Additionally, in partnership with Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), a bespoke audit has been developed to evaluate Zimbaqua’s environmental and social practices, with plans to extend this assessment to other mines in the future.
The Odyssey collection debuts today (Monday, August 5) at select boutiques in London and New York, Nordstrom stores, and on the Monica Vinader website.
