From the wedding ring that punctuates a love story to the stunning necklace that captures a room, every jewellery item's backstory presents its own unique set of responsible business challenges and sustainability achievements. They are made with metals and gemstones sourced across value chains that cross many countries and contexts, including regions where governance challenges lead to heightened human rights and environmental risks. At the same time, luxury brands face increasing pressure from consumers and stakeholders to demonstrate their transparent and ethical business practices while upholding the quality and provenance stories they are renowned for.
Drawing from over 20 years of working with the sector, the Levin Sources team supports jewellery companies in developing robust responsible sourcing strategies that balance commercial objectives with meaningful impact, helping clients navigate everything from country-level risk assessments to supplier capacity building. Our approach enables companies to build resilient supply chains that create positive change in producing regions whilst strengthening their competitive position.
Our work is anchored in a deep understanding of gemstone and precious metals value chains, whether from recyclers, artisanal or industrial miners to luxury retailers. We tailor our proposals to the specific ecological, political and commercial realities of each sourcing context. We always focus on practical solutions that integrate responsible sourcing into business operations and decision-making.
Whether you're exploring new sourcing regions, strengthening existing supplier relationships, or pursuing programmes with positive impact on producing communities, we support jewellery brands, labs and jewellery associations to make informed decisions that deliver on both business objectives and responsible sourcing commitments.
Examples of Levin Sources' work in the jewellery sector include:
Coloured gemstone supply chains risk and opportunity profile of Tanzania
Levin Sources provided a major luxury brand with an up-to-date, holistic overview of the coloured gemstone sector in Tanzania to support their risk management decision-making. The study incorporated primary data collected from in-country experts, civil society and miners' representatives, prior research and fieldwork carried out by Levin Sources, and already available data. Our report outlined the operating context, supply chain structure and an overview of the most salient human rights and environmental risks associated with coloured gemstone mining, immediate processing and trade in Tanzania.
Responsible business systems advisory to a US-based wholesale distributor of gold jewellery
Levin Sources supported a US-based wholesale distributor of gold jewellery to improve their responsible sourcing strategy and management systems and prepare them for evolving compliance regimes and stakeholders' expectations. We established their corporate exposure to supply chain risks and their ambition and capacity for driving positive impact. We assessed gaps in existing policies and procedures and interviewed the core teams, suppliers, and customers to identify other improvements. We supported the client to complete a large retailer’s digital supplier self-assessment and establish priority actions for implementation, including traceability systems and tracking progress.
Embedding responsible sourcing in an Indian jewellery manufacturer's business model and supply chains
Levin Sources supported a jewellery manufacturer in defining a sustainability commitment and framework for delivery, with a focus on its responsible sourcing policies and practices. We helped the client become best-in-class for sustainability in the Indian jewellery manufacturing sector and embed improved practices into their business model and supply chains. Activities included conducting a baseline and situational analysis of the company's current responsible sourcing policies and culture, including research to establish the learning needs across business departments, devising supplier and customer engagement programmes, implementing an internal capacity-building programme on the relevant responsible sourcing frameworks, and developing a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy and Responsible Sourcing Programme.
Semi-precious coloured gemstone sourcing risk assessment for Zambia and the DRC
Levin Sources delivered a risk assessment for a jewellery company exploring the sourcing of a semi-precious coloured gemstone from Zambia and the DRC. We conducted a high-level desk-based study complemented by expert and stakeholder interviews. The assessment examined key ESG risks associated with the mining, processing, and trade of the gemstone. We also analysed the structure of the gemstone's value chain, the degree of formalisation, and risks of mineral laundering and smuggling. We synthesised findings into a concise report outlining the key risks and impacts, traceability challenges, and potential mitigation measures. The assessment enabled the jewellery company to make an informed decision on its sourcing strategy, ensuring alignment with responsible sourcing principles and its broader ESG commitments.
Supporting a jeweller's gemstones strategy: Prioritisation and scoping of three gemstone-producing countries and identification of projects
Levin Sources scoped nine producing regions to shortlist three projects to improve the social and environmental impacts of gemstones in three producing regions in line with the brand’s values and strategic priorities, and the expressed preferences of in-country rightsholders and stakeholders. We recommended candidate partners to support implementation, and developed high-level roadmaps, work plans and budgets for each project. Activities included gathering commercial priorities through an extensive scoping exercise; conducting desk- and field-based needs assessments in several coloured gemstone-producing countries to determine country- and rightsholder- specific needs and opportunities; designing and carrying out due diligence on candidate countries, projects and implementing partners; organising a workshop with internal staff to guide the selection of countries, projects and partners; and designing the project roadmap. We then supported the brand in implementing and overseeing the local partner’s activities.
Supporting responsible sourcing decisions in Angola and Zimbabwe
Levin Sources leveraged our cross-value-chain and responsible-sourcing expertise to advise a jewellery company on responsible-sourcing decision-making in Angola and Zimbabwe for diamonds and coloured gems. The client had previously disengaged from these two diamond provenances and approached Levin Sources to assess the current situation against their responsible sourcing standards, to ascertain whether they could re-engage in Angola and whether they should avoid Zimbabwean coloured gems. Levin Sources analysed the operating environments of both countries, as well as the management of governance, human rights, and environmental risks and impacts in the diamond and coloured gemstones sectors and supply chains, as the basis for recommending what action to take.
