about the brand
Automic Gold, founded by Al Sandimirova, is a queer and trans-owned fine jewelry company based in New York City. The brand specializes in creating timeless, genderless pieces crafted from sustainable materials.
certifications
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Automic Gold
Brand Rating & Evaluation
Overall Rating:
Top Choice
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (Avoid) to 5 (Top Choice). See How We Rate
The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. These are a few factors influencing this brand's score:
sustainability practices
Automic Gold utilizes 100% recycled solid 14k gold and platinum in its jewelry, significantly reducing the demand for newly mined metals and minimizing environmental degradation. By sourcing reclaimed gold from old jewelry and electronics, Automic Gold effectively lessens the ecological footprint associated with traditional mining practices.
The brand also practices local manufacturing, with all products handcrafted in-house by skilled goldsmiths in their New York City studio. This approach better ensures high-quality craftsmanship and reduces the carbon emissions associated with long-distance shipping. Additionally, Automic Gold reuses some of its metal scraps to minimize waste and utilizes recyclable packaging materials.
However, while Automic Gold's use of recycled materials and local production is commendable, the company provides limited publicly available information regarding its overall carbon footprint, energy consumption, or specific measures taken to achieve carbon neutrality. Greater transparency in these areas would enhance the credibility of their environmental claims.
ingredients & materials
Ingredients & materials as they pertain to consumer health are not evaluated in brands that produce only jewelry. Learn more about how we rate.
social responsibility
All jewelry is made in-house by a small team of skilled artisans in New York City, allowing the company to maintain control over working conditions and ensure fair labor practices. The brand ensures that workers in the final production stage are paid a living wage, though it is unclear if this extends throughout the entire supply chain.
The company fosters an inclusive and equitable workplace, capping the CEO's salary at three times that of the lowest-paid employee and sharing annual profits with all staff members. This equitable approach reflects Automic Gold's values of fairness and community.
However, there is limited information regarding labor practices in the earlier stages of the supply chain, particularly concerning the sourcing of reclaimed gold and ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones. Greater transparency and third-party verification of labor conditions throughout the entire supply chain would strengthen the brand's commitment to social responsibility.
certifications
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