In conversation with Chopard

Ethics and High Jewelry can and must coexist. Simona Zito, general manager of Chopard Italia, a company on the front lines in promoting eco-sustainable luxury tells us all about it

Simona Zito, general manager of Chopard Italia

Chopard Italia is a leader in eco-sustainable luxury, which is why they received the prestigious Andrea Palladio Jewellery Corporate Social Responsibility Award at VICENZAORO January...

We are very proud of this award: to be recognized for the important path Chopard Italia has taken and that will continue to take over the next few months with many new projects. Our aim is to demonstrate that beauty and ethics can be on the same page and that it is just and possible to extract certified gold and produce precious jewels that are in line with projects that protect the environment and improve local communities.

Chopard has always been a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council. In recent years though, this commitment to ethical luxury has truly grown...

Everything started in 2013 when, thanks to Caroline Scheufele and her personal relationship with Livia Firth, a collaboration began with Livia’s company, called Eco-Age, and with the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), which through the realization of a few early pieces, has grown into a true ethical jewelry collection. It is an offering we are continually increasing – just consider the watches made with Fairmined gold we recently presented. Sustainability is a fundamental concept of today’s luxury and it will be even more so in the future. And because of this, I have to thank Livia, who, with her skill and experience, has supported us and continues to support us on this journey.

Simona Zito and Livia Firth at the Andrea Palladio Jewellery Corporate Social Responsibility Award, VICENZAORO January 2017

What are your upcoming projects?

We have many things in the works, but they are still top secret. Our focus is still sustaining mining communities in various parts of the world, improving their working conditions, and promoting their identity, traditions and environmental consciousness. We are convinced that when someone buys a jewel, they are buying an idea, a project, a story. Knowing the item they are buying is the result of an ethical, integrated, respectful and responsible product allows clients to enjoy it even more and allows them to draw on the social as well as material value.

Green Carpet Collection earrings by Chopard