Sustainability at Noa Sharon Designs

"Noa Sharon Designs" is a handmade fine artistic jewelry brand focused on smart, stylish, rustic alternative designs, primarily created in solid gold and Sterling silver.

Established in 2009 and based in south Tel Aviv, the brand draws from a long history of craftsmanship in metalsmithing and features a diverse portfolio of collections and styles. Our creations are inspired by and stem from Noa's education and fields of interest (find out more here).

Noa, the designer and maker of your tiny treasures (and essentially the heart and hands behind "Noa Sharon Designs"), has been passionate about sustainability for as long as she can recall. She aims to implement sustainable practices in all aspects of the brand.

Sustainable Design & Materials

From day one, Noa has focused on designing and crafting sustainable jewelry that will last forever and can be passed on to the next generation as a form of enduring heritage. This is why our jewelry will never be coated or plated with gold. We use only solid materials.

The rationale is twofold:

1. The process of making plated gold jewelry involves harmful chemicals that are typically washed away in sink drain systems and may contaminate local drinking water. These chemicals are also harmful to workers in coating factories.
2. The solid gold alloys used in our studio (9K, 14K, 18K, 24K etc.,) are all recyclable. All solid gold pieces can undergo a cupellation process (for refining and recycling) to obtain pure gold, which can then be reused to create new jewelry. Silver jewelry undergoes the same recycling process.

We source ready-made items like chains from local suppliers who have confirmed they are made from recycled gold. As a result, all the gold and silver we use in our studio is 100% recycled.

Noa regularly collects small pieces of gold scraps left on the workbench and either melts them down or cuts and polishes them to create new shapes. These repurposed materials are incorporated into pieces in the collection, such as the nails earrings and components of the mobile earring.

Timeless Design Philosophy

The design approach is also an important aspect of durability and sustainability. We create jewelry that is timeless and stylish with contemporary elements. You will enjoy our pieces for many years because the designs are based on material characteristics, careful size and proportion planning, and enduring shapes—not momentary trends.

We believe in the durability of our jewelry, which is why we offer a lifetime warranty.

As Vivienne Westwood famously said: "Buy less, choose well, make it last."

Eco-Friendly Packaging

To minimize environmental impact, we package our jewelry in reusable natural cotton drawstring pouches, hand-stamped in our studio using water-based ink. Our stamps are designed by a local artist and crafted exclusively for us at BlossomStamps.

These versatile pouches can be repurposed for travel, carrying small essentials in your day bag, storing gym or pool necessities, or even as scented sachets for your wardrobe. Many of our customers have become enthusiastic about reusing them!

We also minimize paper usage by printing only one postcard (locally on recycled paper). One side features a beautiful peacock image suitable for display, while the reverse contains your exclusive 10% off coupon code, our personal thank-you note, and QR codes linking to our club membership and jewelry care instructions.

We've made a conscious decision to avoid stickers of all kinds as promotional materials because they are extremely polluting.

Reducing Carbon Footprint

We typically use bicycles or public transportation for daily studio activities. By avoiding cars or motorcycles, we eliminate extra fuel consumption, resulting in the lowest possible carbon footprint.

Additionally, 95% of the tools and materials used in the studio are purchased locally, which reduces the transportation of heavy goods.

Custom & Heirloom Services

As a sustainable brand, we encourage our customers to repurpose their pre-owned, heirloom, and unworn jewelry by transforming them into unique fresh treasures made to their specifications.

We are happy to schedule an online or in-studio appointment to examine your old gold and evaluate what can best be done with it. You might want a new ring incorporating heirloom diamonds or gemstones, or you may prefer to refine the gold and apply its value toward new jewelry.

The evaluation consultation is a complimentary service offered to all our customers.

We welcome creative challenges and believe they drive innovation. We specialize in creating custom designs based on your ideas, thoughts, style, and preferences.

Contact us to arrange an appointment (online or in-person) for project assessment. Noa will collaborate closely with you throughout this enjoyable process.

Sustainable Studio Practices

Tool Maintenance

For many years, Noa has been committed to repairing and reusing items, and studio maintenance follows the same principle. Tool maintenance is essential for extending the lifespan of studio equipment and also enhances work routines and professional practices.

Noa uses the environmentally friendly process of electrolysis to remove rust from studio tools and has repaired hammers following online DIY tutorials.

Recently, Noa visited a colleague's blacksmith workshop to create custom tools for implementing a new technique in the studio: Repoussé (a metalworking technique where designs are hammered into relief from the reverse side).

Handcrafted Process

We strive to complete as much work as possible by hand and in-house. Almost 90% of the production is handcrafted by Noa in the studio. A few specialized processes—such as stone settings and engraving—are performed by local professional craftsmen who are leaders in their fields.

Ethical Sourcing

Diamonds & Gemstones

All our natural diamonds and gemstones are conflict-free and fair trade, and undergo rigorous quality assurance. We personally select the finest gemstones available and purchase only from certified local gemologist traders.

We also offer more environmentally and socially responsible alternatives: man-made/lab-grown diamonds and gems, available upon request.

As an advocate in this field, Noa delivers lectures (including pro bono presentations) on the history of the diamond industry and particularly on man-made/lab diamonds.

An interview in Hebrew podcast "On Fashion and Sensibility."

Community Engagement & Activism

In September 2016, following extensive research and development for her sharing economy initiative (an online marketplace for renting jewelry and accessories directly from designers), Noa co-founded the "Sustainable Fashion Forum" in Israel, which she continues to manage. Through this voluntary independent organization, the leadership team works to expand knowledge about how garments and adornments are produced throughout the supply chain, with particular focus on social and environmental impacts.

As a member of the local metalsmith and jewelry makers' community, Noa recognizes her significant responsibility. For the past 6 years, she has concentrated on sharing information and expanding knowledge about the diamond industry—from its early history to current developments, including new technologies that enable the creation of lab diamonds and other man-made gemstones. Noa actively advocates for a more sustainable jewelry industry.

We offer a selection of man-made diamonds and gemstones that can be set in our handmade jewelry collection upon request.

Collaborations

Any jewelry maker will confirm that bench work can be solitary. Therefore, we always welcome opportunities to work with other craftspeople and artists.

We believe that creating alongside other artistic individuals can lead to technical advancement, artistic evolution, and maturity—benefiting all involved parties.

For more information on collaborations, see the Collabs I / II / III / IV highlights on our Instagram account.

A recent collaboration involves a tandem collection with fashion designer Jenny Agasandian, featuring themed work inspired by the naturalism era, with flora and fauna meticulously detailed by artists, and by the books "Amazing Rare Things" and "Last Chance to See."

We also offer exclusive modern ceramic plates that Noa co-designed with "Color and Clay" studio recently, available only in our studio.

We're always happy to recommend excellent suppliers!

Martina creates wonderful hand-printing stamps. We have an exclusive offer of 10% off your orders at BlossomStamps with our coupon code: NoaSharon

Giving Back

Has a section of its own, right here.