Philosophy

Since 1999, we have been committed to creating value in gemstones and precious metals in a socially just and ecologically sustainable way. Our objective is to generate added value for society as a whole and across continents. To achieve this, we promote ecological balance, social justice, and economic stability throughout the entire value chain.

The following principles guide all our business decisions:

• We are committed to minimizing our environmental impact through controlled mining practices that protect soil, water, air, and landscapes.
• We strive for maximum material efficiency through targeted training and the use of by-products, while reducing waste wherever possible.
• We are dedicated to the continuous improvement of occupational safety and uphold a zero-tolerance policy towards child labour.
• We actively support the prevention of conflicts and wars.
• We place great value on long-term relationships with our suppliers, secure employment for our workforce, and the payment of living wages.

We ensure our suppliers uphold these values through long-standing partnerships, mutual trust, and annual personal on-site audits.

Additionally, we deliberately avoid intermediaries to guarantee full transparency in our supply chain and complete traceability of our products.

Story

1992
Jutta Werling-Durejka moves to La Paz, Bolivia, and begins working as a geographer at the University of La Paz. In the Limnology department, she specializes in Mining Contamination of Freshwater Lakes and Drinking Water. Through her research, she visits numerous mines and gains deep insight into the catastrophic conditions of conventional mining and the harsh living conditions of miners.

1995
First visit to the Soares family’s mine and cutting workshop in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

1998
Bolivar and Alieta Soares visit Überlingen, Germany, to learn about eco-fair mining and explore how it could be implemented in practice.

1999
First draft of the eco-fair certification criteria developed in collaboration with Dr. Hermann Wotruba, Professor of Mineral Processing at RWTH Aachen University.

Founding of BrazilGems and the concept for certifying the mine and cutting workshop according to eco-fair standards. In the following years, the certification is continuously refined by Dr. Wotruba, while the Soares family implements it in their mine and cutting workshop.

2003
The mine and cutting workshop in Água Boa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, receive official eco-fair certification. Since then, the certification verifies the origin of our gemstones and ensures compliance with the following criteria:

• Only adults are employed in the mine and grinding workshop.
• The underground mine has minimal impact on the landscape.
• Mining activities have negligible impact on soil, water, and air.
• Wages are above local standards, ensuring a dignified and secure livelihood for miners, cutters, and their families.
• Sales do not fund any acts of war or conflict.
• The gemstones are neither irradiated, chemically treated, heat-treated, nor otherwise manipulated.
  

2011
Negotiations with a new supplier in Brazil and development of an action plan to certify the new mine.

2014
Restructuring of the new mine is discontinued after its acquisition by a non-Brazilian company.

2020
Expansion of the product portfolio to include eco-fair Tahitian pearls. These pearls are sourced from Kamoka, a third-generation family business run by the Humbert family. In addition to eco-fair pearl farming, the company is deeply committed to protecting the entire Ahe Atoll in French Polynesia. (www.kamokapearls.com)

2021
Initiation of a transparent supply chain for untreated gemstones from Namibia, mined and cut by a women’s cooperative.

2022
Company succession: Jutta Werling-Durejka hands over the business to Felix Durejka.

2024
The Soares family begins developing a new mining area and prospecting in São Vítor, Brazil.