TANIA KOWALSKI and SYNNOVE SAELTHUN | ORIA ETHICAL JEWELLERY

Large Phoenix Ring

The rugged Scottish Highlands is a place of lore and legend that includes the popular body of water Loch Ness.  You will also find rare red squirrels that scurry about the Landmark Forest Theme Park. 

Lastly, the stately Cawdor Castle is believed to house a specter clad in a blue velvet dress.

Scotland is also home to featured jewelry design team Tania Kowalski and Synnove Saelthun.

Building a jewelry brand with ethically sourced materials is a bold move.

Since 2007 Kowalski and Saelthun have weathered the challenges that come with such a bold endeavor with their fine jewelry brand, Oria Ethical Jewellery.

Eighteen karat gold and sterling silver metals are sourced from respective mercury and cyanide free mines in Argentina, and Bolivia.  Diamonds are sourced from Canada and Australia while colored gemstones come from reputable mines in Brazil, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Their jewelry collections consisting of wedding bands, leather cuffs and gold pendants highlight whimsical forms of the natural world.  Wolves, bears, bulls and birds are immortalized in 18-karat gold vermeil, 18-karat gold, or sterling silver. 

Vegetable Tanned Leather Sun Necklace with Brass Chain

The co-founders bring a combined 35 years of experience to their brand.  Many designs highlight lasercut metal cut-outs of jumping hares, birds in flight and floral silhouettes; while designs composed of vegetable tanned leather showcase cut-out surface details of stars, and sun rays.  The aesthetic is a unique intermingling of subtlety and vitality.

“We want our pieces to be timeless and wearable—the kind of thing you can wear day-in and day-out that looks good with everything,” says Kowalski.  “There is a fun element to our pieces too. 

In addition, we feel it is important to use ethically sourced materials.  Since Synnove and I have worked in the jewelry industry for years, we became concerned with the environmental and social impact of mining and production within that industry.  We pride ourselves on being an ethical brand.”

Gold Vermeil Hare Earrings

2014 Jewelry Trend Alert:  The Oria brand offers lovely costume (fashion) jewelry, a trend this year that includes leather cuff bracelets also on trend.