About the Pure Gold Jewelry Auction
Since 2016, Pure Earth has collaborated with jewelry designers and others in the industry to raise awareness about the global impact of mercury pollution from gold mining. A centerpiece of this effort is the annual Pure Earth Pure Gold jewelry collection and auction, which features beautiful, unique pieces of jewelry crafted by designers who are passionate about using responsibly-sourced materials and supporting Pure Earth’s work.
Funds raised from the auction of the annual collection support Pure Earth’s pollution cleanup efforts around the world, including work directly with artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities to help them mine without mercury and restore land stripped by mining in the Amazon rainforest.
Actress and Activist Nathalie Kelley modeling her necklace, designed by Andrea Jose. Photo by Pablo Costanzo.
Featured image, right: Nathalie Kelley modeling jewelry by Dana Bronfman (Earrings); Christina Malle Jewelry (Earrings); WEND Jewelry (Studs); Brilliant Earth (2 rings); Steven Jacob (Ring); BARBOSA (Ring); Scosha (Bracelet); MERZATTA (Necklace); FUTURA (Necklace). Photo by Pablo Costanzo.
Nathalie Kelley Strikes Gold, Sustainably: Actress Designs Jewelry to Raise Awareness on Mercury-Free Gold Mining
Actress and activist Nathalie Kelley—known for her roles in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, The Vampire Diaries, Netflix’s The Baker and the Beauty, and Motorheads has designed a one-of-a-kind jewelry piece for Pure Earth’s 2025 Pure Gold Auction, which aims to raise awareness about the global impact of mercury pollution from gold mining.
To design her jewelry auction piece, Kelley collaborated with Peruvian jewelry designer Andrea José. The finished piece is an exquisite necklace featuring a jaguar pendant and precious stones. The one-of-a-kind necklace is crafted in 18k mercury-free gold from AMATAF miners trained by Pure Earth and features an Umba Sapphire from Anza Gems and 2 yellow recycled sapphires from Perpetuum Jewels. The colors of the stones depict the Amazonian sunrise, and the jaguar is a powerful symbol of nature, harmony, and the resilience of the Peruvian Amazon.
“Jewelry tells a story, and I wanted this piece to tell one of hope,” said Kelley. “Gold doesn’t have to come at the expense of poisoned rivers and lost forests. By supporting miners who are leading the way with mercury-free practices, we can transform the industry—and give people a chance to wear jewelry that reflects their values.”
Participating 2025 Pure Earth Pure Gold Jewelers
Andrea Jose, Andrea Lucille Pooler, AniFineJewelry, BARBOSA, Bliss Lau, Brilliant Earth, Christina Malle Jewelry, Dana Bronfman, Delphine Leymarie, Donna Distefano, EFG Designs, Emily Chelsea Jewelry, FUTURA, LOLiDE, MERZATTA, Mociun, Sandrine B. Jewelry, Scosha, Steven Jacob, Truss and Ore, TOBY POMEROY, Vale Jewelry, WEND, and W.R. Metalarts.
We are grateful to Hoover and Strong for donating AMATAF gold, and to Perpetuum Jewels for donating responsibly recycled diamonds and gemstones to the 2025 designers.
Pure Earth’s Global Mercury Program
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal and one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern according to the World Health Organization. The leading source of global mercury pollution is artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), which produces about 12 to 15% of the world’s gold. There are an estimated 10 to 15 million artisanal and small-scale gold miners worldwide, including 4 to 5 million women and children.
Pure Earth’s Global Mercury Program strategy focuses on decreasing mercury emissions to the environment from ASGM and reducing human exposures, with an emphasis on the most severely affected populations, namely miners and surrounding communities.
1 / MERCURY HOTSPOT IDENTIFICATION through environmental and health assessments.
2 / TRAINING MINERS IN MERCURY-FREE TECHNOLOGIES that enable safer, more efficient gold recovery.
3 / RESTORATION OF DEGRADED MINING SITES by training miners to rehabilitate ecosystems using reforestation, biochar, and phytoremediation methods.
4 / RECOVERY AND SAFE DISPOSAL OF MERCURY from gold mining waste (tailings) using innovative copper plate technology.
5 / RESPONSIBLE MINE-TO-MARKET SUPPLY CHAINS that recognize and reward miners’ commitments to protecting people and the environment.
Learn about our work:
- Global Mercury Program
- How Gold Miners In The Peruvian Amazon Are Working To Restore The Rainforest
- A Mining Association in the Amazon Learns the Art of Mercury-free Gold
- An Amazonian Mining Community Fulfilling its Obligation to the Rainforest
- Empowering Women Gold Miners in Indonesia
- Transforming Chichiqueros Gold Mining Community in Peru’s Rainforest into Mercury-Free Model
- Peru: Community-Led Reforestation and Mercury-Free Training
- Gold Mining in the Amazon Rainforest (VIDEO)
- Jeweler Meets Artisanal Gold Miner In Amazon Rainforest (VIDEO)
Special Thanks To:
- The Alliance for Responsible Mining and the many Fair-mined licenses that participated in the auction
- Ethical Metalsmiths for the support of their membership
- Hoover and Strong for donating responsibly-sourced gold to participating jewelers
- Perpetuum Jewels for donating responsibly sourced stones to participating jewelers