Our Materials

As we continue to work with new materials, we continually learn how to deepen our impact and create lasting relationships in those communities. We see this work as a never-ending project and adapt our practices as the world around us develops.

  • Opal
  • Diamond
  • Gold

OPAL - 100% of WWAKE opals are natural, untreated, and mined in Australia. Most of the crystal opals we use come from Queensland, directly from the miner himself. Over the last several years, we have worked directly with his small family-run business to buy parcels of rough. The rough is sent to a cutting facility in China, that specializes in cutting opals and has proper ventilations and responsible health standards. Working directly with the cutting facility allows us to ensure that the rough is being kept separate from other origins and that there will be minimal wastage. Leftover scrap rough is sent back to us and used to make other art objects. 

OPAL - 100% of WWAKE opals are natural, untreated, and mined in Australia. Most of the crystal opals we use come from Queensland, directly from the miner himself. Over the last several years, we have worked directly with his small family-run business to buy parcels of rough. The rough is sent to a cutting facility in China, that specializes in cutting opals and has proper ventilations and responsible health standards. Working directly with the cutting facility allows us to ensure that the rough is being kept separate from other origins and that there will be minimal wastage. Leftover scrap rough is sent back to us and used to make other art objects. 

RECYCLED DIAMONDS - WWAKE’s focus is on recycled diamonds to reduce our participation in large scale commercial mining. Our passion is bringing value to the many diamonds that are already circulating in the secondary market and are often overlooked or seen as less valuable by traditional standards. Our recycled diamond program includes recycled modern diamonds, recycled antique diamonds, and recycled heirloom diamonds for custom clients. 

RECYCLED DIAMONDS - WWAKE’s focus is on recycled diamonds to reduce our participation in large scale commercial mining. Our passion is bringing value to the many diamonds that are already circulating in the secondary market and are often overlooked or seen as less valuable by traditional standards. Our recycled diamond program includes recycled modern diamonds, recycled antique diamonds, and recycled heirloom diamonds for custom clients. 

RECYCLED DIAMONDS - WWAKE’s focus is on recycled diamonds to reduce our participation in large scale commercial mining. Our passion is bringing value to the many diamonds that are already circulating in the secondary market and are often overlooked or seen as less valuable by traditional standards. Our recycled diamond program includes recycled modern diamonds, recycled antique diamonds, and recycled heirloom diamonds for custom clients. 

RECYCLED DIAMONDS - WWAKE’s focus is on recycled diamonds to reduce our participation in large scale commercial mining. Our passion is bringing value to the many diamonds that are already circulating in the secondary market and are often overlooked or seen as less valuable by traditional standards. Our recycled diamond program includes recycled modern diamonds, recycled antique diamonds, and recycled heirloom diamonds for custom clients. 

RECYCLED GOLD - WWAKE uses recycled gold certified by SCS standards which ensure our supply chains meet international labor standards, and don’t include destructive environmental practices. We also repurpose pre-consumer gold scraps from our studio as a way to maximize the life cycles of these precious metals and maintain a low environmental impact. 

WWAKE uses recycled gold, which we view as a low impact material because no new mining is involved. This means that the gold is sourced from previously used objects (either jewelry, electronics, dental fillings, etc.) which are then refined in an SCS Certified Green facility and manufactured into sheet, wire, and casting grain that we then use to make jewelry. 

FAIRMINED GOLD - Fairmined is a responsible mining model which ensures that artisanal and small-scale mining organizations certified against the Fairmined standard meet strict requirements for responsible practices. These practices include guaranteeing a minimum price for materials, safe and legal working conditions, workers’ right to organize, and minimal environmental impact at mining operations. Using this framework of high-level standards, Fairmined certified organizations provide WWAKE with gold that is fully traceable and supports education, health initiatives, and social causes in communities at the source. WWAKE Futures collection features rings made with Fairmined gold from Iquira, Colombia.

RECYCLED GOLD - WWAKE uses recycled gold certified by SCS standards which ensure our supply chains meet international labor standards, and don’t include destructive environmental practices. We also repurpose pre-consumer gold scraps from our studio as a way to maximize the life cycles of these precious metals and maintain a low environmental impact. 

WWAKE uses recycled gold, which we view as a low impact material because no new mining is involved. This means that the gold is sourced from previously used objects (either jewelry, electronics, dental fillings, etc.) which are then refined in an SCS Certified Green facility and manufactured into sheet, wire, and casting grain that we then use to make jewelry. 

FAIRMINED GOLD - Fairmined is a responsible mining model which ensures that artisanal and small-scale mining organizations certified against the Fairmined standard meet strict requirements for responsible practices. These practices include guaranteeing a minimum price for materials, safe and legal working conditions, workers’ right to organize, and minimal environmental impact at mining operations. Using this framework of high-level standards, Fairmined certified organizations provide WWAKE with gold that is fully traceable and supports education, health initiatives, and social causes in communities at the source. WWAKE Futures collection features rings made with Fairmined gold from Iquira, Colombia.