Roanne Manuntag
De La Salle University Manila
Pia Manalastas
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According to Michael, they focus on SDG No. 12—responsible consumption and production—and SDG No. 15—life on land. By coming up with new ways to get valuable gemstones and gold out of the ground, they help stop environmental damage and unethical working practices in the fine jewelry industry.
As Michael said during the interview, "Our brand uses non-mined gemstones." Since Lucce only uses lab-grown gemstones, the company does not participate in any mining activities and does not cause any damage to the environment. According to Lucce, moissanite is the most brilliant and durable gem in the world. It came from a mineral found in a meteorite crater in 1893. Moissanite is so rare that it can only be made in a lab so that more people can enjoy its brilliance and shine in beautiful jewelry. Moissanite, unlike natural diamonds and other valuable gemstones, is not mined. This innovation makes them more sustainable and good for the environment, even though they are still beautiful and wearable. In the same way, getting diamonds has a lot of harmful effects on people and the environment. These effects may also be present at each stage of the diamond commodity chain. Diamonds carry with them a deep and significant social and cultural significance. They are a symbol of prosperity and love that lasts a lifetime. Likewise, it can signify a more profound love or commitment between the two. Many people love diamonds, but their production is linked to impaired social and environmental effects, such as child labor and dangerous working conditions. Lucce is working hard to ensure that none of its products come from mining or other unethical business practices.
They are also glad to use gold mined ethically and responsibly. The reason is that traditional and dirty gold mining has a history of causing civil unrest, abuse of workers, and environmental damage. Lucce's website has a section called "Ethical Sourcing." This section provides their customers with information about how mining affects the environment. Their page says that gold mining is one of the most harmful types, and millions of gold miners work in dangerous conditions for low pay. Choosing their gold reduces conflict, fossil fuel consumption, deforestation, and catastrophic health concerns for the local mining communities. Currently, Lucce is conducting research and experiments about the utilization of "upcycled gold." Michael explained, "Upcycled gold is gold used for other purposes like telephones, cars, electronics, etc." They are trying to refine this gold so that they can use it to make excellent jewelry. Michael said this is common in the U.S., and the company wants to make it a standard in the Philippines.
Presently, an increasing number of people are eco-conscious and socially responsible. They are creating more opportunities for businesses with sustainable development goals. Michael thinks their products will help the fine jewelry industry create new rules, cutting down on conflict mining and unethical practices in the industry.
One of the many customers of Lucce who proposed using a symbol of love that cause no harm to anyone or anything.
Love and values inspired the founders to adapt to the innovation, like what the brand is about.
While Michael and his then-fiance, Christine, were in Europe for their studies, they noticed that most residents used environmentally friendly brands in their daily lives and that the culture promoted the consumption of eco-conscious goods. Later, they learned about moissanite, laboratory-grown diamonds, and mining-free gold. They returned to the Philippines to teach the same morals and values they had learned in other countries.
They started Lucce because they loved the beauty, meaning, and history of the most beautiful lab-grown diamond and Moissanite bridal jewelry. They became an official partner of Moissanite International and Charles & Colvard in the Philippines, companies that also share the same values as their brand.
Michael and his wife wanted to make a brand that would get people to care more about the environment. He said, "We truly believe that using lab-grown diamonds and moissanite will help create new standards within the fine jewelry industry, and that will ultimately lessen conflict mining and environmental destruction, and that is the heart and core of our brand." He also enlightened me with his phrase, "If it's a symbol of your love, it should be something you're proud of, something that aligns with your values, and it shouldn't have caused anyone any harm."
Lucce inspiration for their innovation came from a group's dedication to the production and promotion of exquisite engagement rings, wedding bands, and other forms of fine jewelry in the Philippines that are ethical and environmentally conscious. They hope that consumers and businesses will acknowledge their values and help them with their mission by choosing socially responsible rings that show love.
According to Michael, their customers could take pleasure in these stunning and sophisticated rings in the short term. Many customers have told them that "the rings that Lucce crafted were the rings of their dreams." In addition to that, they get it at an unbeatable price that won't put a strain on their finances. Unlike buying a mined diamond that may cost roughly half a million pesos per carat, you may get a lab-grown stone for a much lower price. Purchasing lab-grown stones and upcycled jewelry is a more compatible choice if you still want to propose to your partner an elegant ring but still want to avoid worrying about future expenses.
In the long run, customers realize that they save by not purchasing expensive natural diamond rings that can be used toward other items to help them begin their life together as husband and wife. Michael expressed how much it meant to him when their customers said their gratitude for the assistance they provided. Because Michael's clients' ideals and their own are so similar, they often become friends and share their life experiences with them. He expressed how glad he was to be able to affect other people's lives and love stories. Consequently, buying Lucce rings may be more sustainable on their end in terms of both their finances and their future.
Aside from the sustainability measures they are doing, as part of their campaign, they are planting trees atop Mt. Matutum for reforestation in the Philippines. They follow this procedure when they create something new or sell an existing one. This unique idea will be helpful in the long run, and they hope their support will lead to new standards for the fine jewelry industry here in the Philippines.
Michael says that "the innovation improved the relationships between clients and staff by bringing everyone's goals into line." Because of their initiative, many customers became curious and aware of their ethical sourcing.
Because Lucce poured their love and values into the brand, their customers gained the confidence to work with them. As a result, their customers became their advertisers. They banked on their customer's "word-of-mouth," resulting in a rise in both their customer base and revenue. The year 2019 marked Lucce's first full year of operation, but in the years that followed, the company experienced explosive growth—even while the pandemic was at its height. Michael believes that the expansion of their client base is due to the ideals shared by their customers.
In addition, the company made sure that its personnel aligned their personal beliefs with the brand. They have a strong drive and a lot of enthusiasm for their work, as Michael would always remind them about their goals and principles. He would tell them that "there is an opportunity for them to transform the world somehow and that they might be a part of that change." Because of that vision and those shared principles, their employees are still the ones they started the company with, and their organization keeps growing.
There have been stories about Lucce in Manila Bulletin and Vogue because of what their brand stands for. According to British Vogue (2022), "Lucce is an award-winning Manila-based designer that crafts ethical and elegant rings for the eco-conscious bride and groom. Using the finest lab-grown diamonds and moissanite, the brand is committed to helping couples tell their love story and life values through their fine wedding jewelry."
They have also won several awards in their field, including "a top choice for premier engagement rings" and the "Business and Leadership Award."
Michael continuously works hard for their brand values and believes that "If you lessen mining, it ultimately will lead to less environmental destruction; that is environmental conservation already." They believe that the efforts that they are making will result in a reduction in mining activity on a more widespread scale. Michael emphasized that if we cut back on the amount of mining we do, it will, in the long run, result in less environmental damage. If we cut down on mining, we can preserve more natural resources, reducing the number of lands destroyed due to the process.
Michael also said that using lab-grown gemstones and recycled materials to make jewelry could help lessen the number of people who have to move. He said, "Because of mining, people in the surrounding area are forced to relocate, as mining makes it impossible for them to continue living in the same area." Reducing the act of mining reduces the need to evacuate people living in the area, another positive impact brought about by the innovation.
The mining business has a poor reputation for behaving unethically in many different parts of the world, contributing to this stigma. Part of the sector's collapse can be blamed on these things, especially if your job involves taking valuable stones out of the ground. A wide variety of gemstones, including diamonds and other precious stones, are being mined to this day.
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Lucce is a company that designs and creates elegant rings for eco-conscious brides and grooms in the Philippines. They craft their products with the finest lab-grown diamonds, moissanite, and mine-free gold. Michael and Christine del Mundo are the founders of Lucce Rings, established in 2018. Together with their team, they hope their brand could inspire many customers and businesses as a sustainable option for jewelry.
