Hamsas and Peace Signs and Hearts -- OM my!

Let's face it...life isn't always easy.

In fact, a lot of times it can be, well, pretty stressful.

With that being said, we here are at Real Jewels like to take the approach of small steps towards a more peaceful existence.

And that, friends, is why we created The REAL SPIRIT collection.

Whether you're into Talismans or Touchstones, this completely green collection is jewelry to ground us all. 

Every piece of the REAL SPIRIT collection is specially designed to uplift, energize, and empower the wearer.  

Like sage advice passed down through the ages, REAL SPIRIT pieces help to guide us through whatever life may throw in our direction.  We filled this collection up with things that inspire, give hope, and spread a message of goodwill without saying a word -- eco-friendly, 100% recycled materials molded into hamsas, trees of life, buddhas, oms, hearts, and peace signs.

But we didn't stop there...each Real Jewels/Real Spirit creation is shipped on its unique inspirational quotation card tucked neatly in our beautiful eco vine pattern origami-inspired envelope -- perfectly prepared to present as a gift (to yourself or someone else)!

As always, our packaging and printed materials are all made in the USA and we use only FSC-certified, 100% recycled, 100% post-consumer waste, chlorine-free paper.  Even our ink is soy-based (vegetable-based inks offer a safer work environment for production staff by reducing harmful fumes and VOC emissions).

We know that if we do right by our devoted employees and loyal customers it will come back to us in tenfold.  That's karma, baby!

Stay real,

The Real Jewels Team

Freshly PRESS-ed

REAL JEWELS was featured as a "local gem" in last week's issue of Hamptons Magazine (you know, the one with the fierce photo of Serena Williams on the cover).

In the piece, founder and CEO Ilia McCormick shares that the inspiration behind Real Jewels came from a "respect for the environment" and her "desire to create jewelry that's relevant in design and substance."

As our loyal customers know, we use only 100% certified recycled gold and sterling silver and support local economy by producing our wares exclusively in New York City!

Some of you more curious fashionistas out there may wonder who an eco brand like this is geared towards?  Ilia explains, "There's something for everyone.  Real Jewels was designed to speak to many tastes and price points."  And, of course, we also create signature pieces for charity like the pelican pendant we crafted after teaming up with Waterkeeper Alliance to raise money for Save Our Gulf.

Interested in learning more of the inside scoop?  Check out the full interview HERE. 

And don't forget to check back next week...we have a feeling we may have some more green press to share with you...

Until then...

Stay real,

The Real Jewels Team

Celebrate Earth Day in Eco Style!

Hey trendy girl, don't be so sad that fashion week is over!

The GreenShows Eco Fashion Week is going to turn that frown upside down with the launch of the ecoLUX Pop-Up Boutique in conjunction with Earth Day's 40th Anniversary -- April 19th-24th, 2010!

This totally exclusive boutique will feature sustainable designs from fashion and accessories designers around the world!  Oh, and guess who is one of those designers?  That's right, us!!

Stop by New York City's Grand Central Terminal - Vanderbilt Hall starting this coming Monday, April 19th to see, touch, feel, try on, and fall in love with our 100% recycled, fair trade Real Jewels collections!

While we know our fabulous green earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets will surely catch your eye, we'd like to give kudos to these other trendsetters who have gone green and will be sharing our limelight: Samantha Pleet, Ajna Collection, Allison Parris, STUDY by Tara St James, deux fm, c. Marchuska, Auralis Herrero Lugo, Willian, Joann Berman, .tomate d'epingles., DLC Brooklyn, Wired and more!!

With so much eco friendly cutting-edge fashion and Real Jewels accessories in one room...this event is not something you are going to want to miss!!

Oh, and, if you want a fresh face to go with all the new Real Jewels you pick up, Dex New York Cosmetics will also be on-site offering complimentary consultations and makeovers!

And, if trying on so many gorgeous recycled Real Jewels pieces whets your appetite the way it does ours, Sambazon will keep the tummy groans to a minimum with free sustainable and certified organic acai smoothies and juice!

The only bad news we can think of is that it's not April 19th yet..'cause we find it pretty hard waiting for what's sure to be an amazing eco event in honor of Mother Earth!

THE DEETS:

The GreenShows EcoLux boutique

(part of Earth Day New Work)

Monday, April 19th-Saturday, April 24th, 2010

10AM-7PM

Grand Central Station's Vanderbilt Hall

42nd Street and Park Avenue

http://www.thegreenshows.com 

We'd say "we hope to see you there," but with this line-up, we have no doubts in our mind.

See you at the Real Jewels display! 

Stay real,

The Real Jewels Team 

PS: RJ would like to give a shout out to Jen Pleasant over at http://showthelove.com/who has been keeping us on her greendar!  Check out her site today! :o)

Cool Moms Picked Us!

Mother Earth, Meet Mother...

Below article from http://www.coolmompicks.com:

Most people imagine Mother Earth being all Birkenstocky and granola eating, but me? I think Mother Earth has got it going on. And if she wore earrings, she might very well be wearing the Real Light collection from Real Jewels, a company with a conscience that designs jewelry to have minimal impact on the environment, while having maximum impact on the wearer.

The light, airy designs are made from recycled sterling silver, and gold to protect Mother Earth's precious resources, and the 18-karat gold plating is completely nickel-free. Even the gemstones in the Real Gems collection are all fair-trade, including conflict-free diamonds. 

There's a big range of prices -- some pieces are under $40, some over $400, so chances are you can find something that you love at a price you can deal with. With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, besides Mother Earth, I can think of at least one other mother who might love a pair of dangle-y new earrings. I'll give you a hint, Honey: It rhymes with "shme."--Betsy 

Check out the recycled gold and silver Real Light collection, the fair-trade precious stoneReal Gems collection, and other lines of eco-friendly, totally gorgeous jewelry at Real Jewels.

Stay real,

The Real Jewels Team 

Annual Spring Sale (just in time for Earth Day)

Whoever said having great taste wasn't a talent? Not us!

We admire you, our loyal friends and fans, so much that we want to reward you for your impeccable taste and commitment to being a responsible fashionista!

Starting tomorrow (Tuesday), when you Tell A Friend about Real Jewels (using our fancy shmancy Tell A Friend option on the home page of real-jewels.com) you will receive a discount code that entitles you to 30% off anything you purchase...oh yeah, and your friend can also get 30% off by telling a friend of theirs and so on and so on!  We're determined to create a recycled chain of eco jewelry lovers! 

Remember, this sale starts TOMORROW, Tuesday, March 9th and only lasts through Tuesday March 16th...so you've got ONE WEEK to cure those Winter blues with our fabulous eco jewelry collections featuring recycled Sterling silver and gold!

We want to make as many people aware of our beautiful Green jewelry as possible and we want to thank you for your support of a healthier, happier, and more stylish planet!

And, don't forget that Mother's Day and graduation are right around the corner...how special would a piece of Real Jewels be for Mom or your high schooler heading off to college?

Or maybe you've got a Spring 2010 wedding?

Remember, Real Sweet necklaces make an awesome Bridemaid's gift!

And, of course, what kind of an eco jewelry brand would we be if we didn't mention that EARTH DAY is coming up on April 22nd?  We can't think of a better tribute to Mother Earth than rocking some jewelry that's as responsible as you are!

There's a Real Jewel right for all the special people in your life...and a unique piece of jewelry for any occasion!

Stay real,

The Real Jewels Team

FASHION WEEK GOES GREEN (with some help from us!)

Exciting news, Real Jewels fans!  On Monday, February 15^th, we had our first press event during New York City’s world famous FASHION WEEK!

It was an amazing debut and we thank everyone who came out to be dazzled by our eco-jewelry.

Check out the pics below!

In the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about NO DIRTY GOLD and the fact that we’ve taken the NO DIRTY GOLD pledge, but, really, what does that mean?

Well, in short, we pledged to work towards sourcing precious metals that would not make them complicit in the destructive impacts of mining.

This commitment means working to ensure that our suppliers of precious metals use RESPONSIBLE practices including:

-respecting basic human rights as outlined in international conventions and laws;

-obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of affected communities;

-respecting workers’ rights and labor standards, including safe working conditions;

-not operating in areas of armed of militarized conflict;

-not forcing communities off their lands;

-not dumping mine waste into oceans, rivers, lakes, or streams;

-not operating in protected areas, fragile ecosystems, or other areas of high conservation or ecological value;

-not contaminating water, soil, or air with sulfuric acid drainage or other toxic chemicals;

-covering all costs of closing down and cleaning up mine sites;

-allowing independent verification of practices. 

In addition, we also committed to auditing our current sources, to inform our suppliers of this Golden Rules sourcing commitment, and to increase recycled content in our products.

Sounds like a big commitment, huh?

Absolutely!  But we owe it to the Earth, to the people making the jewelry, and to you, the responsible customers who have chosen to wear green jewelry! 

And…just to give you that extra little bit of assurance that your jewelry has been made in a responsible manner, Real Jewels eco jewelry comes with our signature Peridot tag.   No one else has one!  I mean, after all, we did receive an A rating for our responsible practices so why not brag with a tag? 

When you see our Peridot tag, you know your jewelry has been created in a responsible manner. Fair trade, recycled precious metals, now that’s Green Jewelry! So when you are looking for sterling silver jewelry or gold jewelry and you want it to be green, think Real Jewels! 

‘Cause really, why would anyone want to hurt another human being or Mother Earth for the sake of jewelry? 

Need more reason to shop REAL?  Well, our mailers are made from 100% recycled post consumer product...so are our gift boxes and envelopes!  And oh yeah, we use soy-based inks as well!

Listen, we know our product is good...but we want EVERYONE to know it's good!

Spread the word on GREEN -- tell your friends about Real Jewels via our Tell A Friend feature at REAL-JEWELS.COM and you'll get 10% off your first Real Jewels online order!  With free shipping on top of that, how can you say no?

REAL JEWELS. BEAUTIFUL. SUSTAINABLE . REAL.

 

Stay real,

 

The Real Jewels Team

Valentine's Day? OK!

“Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.”

-John Lennon

Love our website, but wanna see Real Jewels in print?  Your wish has been granted -- look for Real Jewels in OK! Magazine's Valentine's Day guide on newsstands tomorrow!

Speaking of Valentine's Day, you have less than two weeks to find something that special for that special someone!  Thank goodness we thought ahead to make some beautiful, Earth friendly pieces:

Mini Heart Disk Pendant made of 100% recycled sterling silver $38

Matching earrings (not shown) $42

Solid Heart Pendant on chain made of 100% recycled sterling silver $70

Looking for something else?  Well then you'll have to check out REAL-JEWELS.COM to see our entire collection of responsibly made jewelry!

Remember, no matter who your Valentine is this February 14th, don't forget to love the planet by shopping responsibly, too!

Real Jewels.  Beautiful.  Responsible.  Real.

Stay real,

The Real Jewels Team

Responsible + Chic = Real Jewels

So, you wanna accessorize responsibly, but you don't wanna look like your jewelry was crafted from old aluminum cans...?

Have no fear!  Here at Real Jewels, we know there is a common misconception of what "green jewelry" is...and we're happy to report that it's not twigs and leaves glued together!

In fact, eco jewelry can and should be chic.  No matter what your style, you can be a responsible consumer and fashionista!  It's up to you to demand sustainable jewelry of a certain standard (and, thankfully, we hold ourselves to these same high standards as well).

Every time you put on a pair of earrings or clasp a necklace, you probably don't think about where it came from or who made it, but it's our job to do just that!

Because of this, we can guarantee that any piece you choose from any of our collections (like, say, maybe the Real Light Domed Pear Earring in 100% recycled sterling silver shown below) was created under sustainable business practices and fair labor standards.  

As nice as it would be to believe that jewels are in unlimited supply, nature's resources are running out and by creating sustainable pieces, we hope to eventually assist in reversing this.

We always say, why choose between fabulous fashion and your conscience?

Stick with Real Jewels and you can have both!

Beautiful.  Sustainable.  Real.

Stay Real,

The Real Jewels Team

We've been shot by Cupid's eco-friendly, recycled arrow!

This Valentine's Day, show your sweetheart you don't only adore her, you adore this beautiful planet of ours, too!

With so many romantic, eco-friendly pieces to choose from...all of her friends will be green with envy of her totally green accessories!

Here are just a few LOVE-ly gift ideas from our collections:

Heart Charm on solid bangle bracelet made of 100% recycled Sterling Silver/$210


Real Love Heart Pendant made of 100% recycled Sterling Silver on 17" Chain/$70

Engraved Heart Pendant made of 100% recycled Sterling Silver on 17" chain/$85


Single initial Disks made of 100% recycled Sterling Silver on 17" chain/$75



Real Sweet petite Disks on made of 100% recycled Sterling Silver on 16" chain/$38
And no need to worry about presentation, all our Real Jewels come in 100% recycled paper gift packaging or in our origami-inspired green vine envelope!

It's not smart to recycle love, but it's surely smart to buy jewelry made out of recycled materials!

We know that special someone in your life will love our green pieces!

Confused about what eco piece to get this Valentine's Day? Feel free to E-mail a member of the Real Jewels team at info@real-jewels.com for some shopping advice!

There are just so many REAL ways to say I love you on February 14th...

Stay Real,
The Real Jewels Team

The Green Bride

Are you planning on getting married this Spring or Summer?

Why not get a head start on gifts for those amazing bridesmaids of yours?


The REAL ME collection of 100% recycled sterling silver initial pendants make perfect personal attendant's gifts...and at $75 each, they're perfectly priced, too! Start the recycled jewelry trend at your wedding and pretty soon all your friends will be walking down the aisle planet-friendly!






We also offer the REAL SPIRIT collection -- including the Hamsa, Heart, and Tree of Life!

The Tree of Life is a wonderful gift for the Mother of the Bride (And, if she'd prefer 14 Karat Gold, fear not! Contact us for pricing.) What better way to show Mom thanks for the support than with some green jewelry? The earth will thank you, too!

(Pendants on chain are $85/each and matching earrings are $125. Hamsa, Heart, and Tree of Life pendants and Heart earrings pictured below.)







Looking for something for yourself on your special day?

The REAL LIGHT "Y" necklace with pearls is a beautiful complement to any wedding dress. Try pairing it with the Blossom and Pearl or Organic Pod and pearl earrings! Because in 2010, no bride should enter married life without some eco jewelry!






To help you weed through the jungle of wedding websites out there, we have compiled a list of great blogs and sites to visit to inspire you and your green wedding!

THE WELL BRIDE
Yoona Hawkins' blog (of Brilliant Eco Events) that offers up great green wedding tips. Yoona is a local green wedding event planner.

ECO CHIK
A blog with some Canadian flavor. This blog features sustainability for all aspects of your life with a modern flair.


TALEN EVENTS
A Canadian event planning service with great ideas for sustainable weddings.

GREEN WEDDING SHOES
Follow Green Wedding Shoes to view spotlights on vintage, green and very creative weddings.

ERIN.EVER.AFTER.
A blog great for wedding ideas (it focuses on design). The weddings featured here are very unique and simply lovely.

BRIDE CHIC
An inspirational blog for today's bride!

ECO CHIC
This local Green Lifestyle website will not only address your wedding needs, but your day-to-day life, too!

ECO CHIC WEDDINGS
Ideas and inspirations that are ethical, thrifty, & chic!

THE GREEN BRIDE GUIDE
Check out this website for green wedding photos, stories from past prides, and tips on how to create your own green dream wedding!

INDIE WEDDING GUIDE
A guide to recycling, reusing, and reducing for today's weddings!

ONCE WED
We heart this site for the inspirational ideas we see! The Real Jewels Team is planning on showcasing a lot of DIY wedding ideas at the wedding fair! (Details to come!)

GREAT GREEN WEDDING
The name of the site says it all -- great tips for a great green wedding!

Phew!

Well, if you didn't already have wedding fever, we're pretty sure you have it now!!

Join us this week on Facebook and Twitter as we celebrate the beauty of matrimony! Yup, it's wedding week here at Real Jewels!

Stay real,
The Real Jewels Team

Let the holiday shopping season begin!

Well, the Thanksgiving spread has come and gone, the chaos of Black Friday has calmed until next year, and the holiday shopping season is officially upon us!

We hope you had a relaxing Thanksgiving, but now it’s time to figure out what you’re getting everyone! Have no fear, Real Jewels is making it easier than ever for you to shop from home in your PJs.

Because you’ve been so nice this year, we got you something a little early–-

Tell a friend about Real Jewels when you visit our Tell A Friend page and receive a code for 10% off your first purchase!

Or how about free ground shipping on all orders?

Just our way of saying, “Happy Holidays!” to you.

Here at Real Jewels, we love the planet (remember, we exclusively use 100% recycled sterling silver and 14 karat gold in our jewelry!), but we also love our customers…please feel free to call us any day from 9AM-5PM EST at 1-866-302-0409 or E-mail us at cutomercare@real-jewels.com any time!

And don’t forget to become our fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Stay real,

The Real Jewels Team

A little bit about us...

“We create the world in which we live; if that world becomes unfit for human life; it is because we tire of our responsibility.”
-Cyril Connolly

Now that the blog is up and running, we here at Real Jewels think it only fair to tell you a little bit about our company!

While one of our goals is to, of course, create unique pieces for you to enjoy, what you may not realize is that our jewels are just as beautiful “on the inside” as they are on the outside.

All of our jewelry is “responsibly made” exclusively from recycled precious metals and fair trade sustainable gems. In addition, you can have the assurance that the person who made your necklace, bracelet, or earrings was paid fairly and crafted your jewelry in a healthy, safe work environment here in the USA. We do not outsource any of our manufacturing to large, offshore factories. Instead, we manufacture our jewelry in small, family-run shops.

And, we don’t just talk about our moral, eco-friendly way of doing things…we also participate in the following organizations:

No Dirty Gold: http://www.nodirtygold.com

Green America: http://www.coopamerica.org

Madison Dialogue: http://www.madisondialogue.org

Now that you know some more about us…we’d love to get to know more about YOU! E-mail us at RealJewelsBlogger@gmail.com and let us know what you’d like to read on this very blog!

Until next time…

Stay real,

The Real Jewels Team