My Story
My Story: The Workshop – Where Art Meets Craftsmanship
Welcome to my world of bespoke jewellery, where traditional artistry meets contemporary design. Each piece I make carries a story, blending heritage techniques with modern aesthetics to create timeless treasures.
Explore my Commissions and Remodelling services, where your ideas take shape in gold and gemstones. Whether you wish to breathe new life into an heirloom piece or commission a one-of-a-kind creation, my workshop offers endless possibilities.
Browse my Portfolio to discover the craftsmanship behind my work. And if you’re curious about the jeweller behind these designs, let me share my journey with you.
A Journey Through Design and Craftsmanship
With an international arts education and a lifelong passion for ethical jewellery, I have dedicated years to perfecting my craftsmanship. As a Brussels-based designer-goldsmith, I seamlessly blend traditional techniques with contemporary design to create jewellery that is both beautiful and meaningful.
Each piece I make is created from ethically sourced precious metals and gems. I either remodel customers’ old gold or carefully select responsibly mined materials to ensure complete traceability and sustainability. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Over the years, my commitment to these values has been recognised with the Erkend Ambacht label for certified craftsmanship, the Fairmined certification for using responsibly mined gold, and the Ecodynamic label, awarded to businesses that actively reduce their environmental impact and champion sustainable practices — reflecting my alignment with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 13: Climate Action.
Giving Back: Ethical Precious Metals and Responsible Sourcing
As a goldsmith, I believe in giving back to the communities that make ethical jewellery possible. That’s why I am a member of Ethical Metalsmiths and Fair Luxury, organisations that advocate for responsible sourcing in the industry, furthering the aims of SDG 8: decent work and economic growth and SDG 12: responsible consumption and production.
The jewellery industry has long faced environmental and ethical challenges. That’s why I am committed to responsible sourcing — choosing metals that support fair wages, community development, and environmental sustainability. This contributes to SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 8, and SDG 12.
Ethical Precious Metals: Responsible Sourcing for a Better Future
The jewellery industry has long faced environmental and ethical challenges. That’s why I am committed to responsible sourcing—choosing metals that support fair wages, community development, and environmental sustainability.
Transparency Matters
I want you to know where my materials come from and why ethical sourcing is so important. I work directly with small-scale artisanal miners, ensuring that every gram of gold and silver, and gemstones I use supports responsible practices.
This transparency and collaboration also support SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, by empowering marginalised mining communities.
Fairmined Jewellery: A Commitment to Quality
Saskia Shutt Designs is a Fairmined licensed brand, meaning my jewellery is created from Fairmined Eco gold and Fairmined silver—metals that are traceable, responsibly sourced, and environmentally sustainable.
These practices uphold SDG 8, SDG 12, and SDG 13, ensuring fairness, transparency, and care for our planet.
Why Choose Fairmined?
- Fair pay for miners
Safer working conditions
Environmental protection
Every Fairmined certified mine and Fairmined certified jeweller undergoes strict third-party audits, ensuring complete transparency from mine to market.
Fairmined Eco Gold: A Personal Journey to Peru and Colombia
My commitment to ethical jewellery goes beyond sourcing—it’s a personal journey. I’ve travelled to both Peru and Colombia to visit Fairmined-certified mines, meeting the miners who work tirelessly to extract gold responsibly.
Visiting three mining communities, in 2022, in Peru—CECOMIP, Oro Puno and Cruz Pata.
Witnessing first-hand their dedication to ethical, small-scale mining. Their efforts align with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12, and SDG 15: Life on Land, prioritising sustainability and community empowerment.
Meeting these miners reinforced my belief that jewellery should tell a story of responsibility, respect, and sustainability. Every piece I craft carries the values of fairness and transparency.
Oro Puno is the mine where my Fairmined eco gold comes from.
Travelling to Colombia, in 2023, and meeting the Chede and Iquira Fairmined miners. Sitting with them, hearing their stories, and sharing our mutual commitment to sustainability was an unforgettable experience. These miners are not just extracting gold; they are shaping the future of ethical jewellery.
Meeting these communities in person reinforced my belief that jewellery should tell a story of responsibility, respect, and sustainability. That’s why every piece I craft carries the values of fairness and transparency.
Mercury-Free Mining: A Step Towards a Cleaner Future
I support the Better Without Mercury project, which helps small-scale miners eliminate mercury use. his initiative aids the Gualconda mine in Colombia, promoting clean mining practices and environmental restoration — directly contributing to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 15: Life on Land.
Responsibly Mined Gemstones
Ethical sourcing extends beyond metals to the gemstones I use. I carefully select stones from initiatives that prioritise fair wages, sustainable mining, and community empowerment — values that uphold SDG 5, SDG 8, and SDG 12.
Moyo Gemstones
Moyo Gems is a groundbreaking initiative supporting women artisanal miners in Tanzania. By providing fair market access and training, Moyo ensures these miners receive fair pay and improved working conditions — a wonderful embodiment of SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
I proudly incorporate these ethically sourced gemstones into my designs, sharing their stories with my customers during consultations.
Ocean Diamonds: Nature’s Timeless Treasure
Ocean Diamonds are retrieved by skilled divers off the coast of Namibia and South Africa. Local fishermen diving seasonally, using sustainable and environmentally friendly techniques. Unlike traditional diamond mining, this method preserves marine ecosystems, ensuring minimal environmental impact. This practice aligns with SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 12, protecting ocean biodiversity while supporting local livelihoods.
Each Ocean Diamond comes with certified provenance and a location map, offering complete traceability and a deep connection to its natural journey.
Diamonds for Peace: Supporting Miners in Liberia
I support Diamonds for Peace, a non-profit organisation helping artisanal diamond miners in Liberia. In 2024, saw me travelling to Liberia and spending 12 days with the mining communities. Experiencing firsthand the challenges they face and the resilience they show.
These experiences strengthened my commitment to SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 8, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, ensuring that the beauty of jewellery reflects fairness and respect for those who make it possible.
If you’d like to contribute, consider making a donation to Diamonds for Peace and help create positive change in these communities.
Sustainable Studio Practices: Creating with Integrity
Sustainability is at the heart of my workshop. I continually refine my practices to minimise environmental impact, from sourcing materials to reducing waste.
- Eco-friendly chemicals: I use biodegradable citric acid instead of nitric acid.
- Sustainable polishing: I opt for Luxi water-based polishing pastes to reduce harmful fumes.
- Metal recycling: Every scrap of metal is collected, refined, and reintegrated into the industry.
These practices contribute to SDG 12 and SDG 13, reducing pollution and promoting a cleaner planet.
I am committed to sustainable packaging and ethical business operations:
- Recycled business cards: Made from 100% recycled cotton linters.
- Website hosting: Powered by renewable energy via Kualo.
- Eco-friendly jewellery packaging: FSC-certified fine cardboard boxes, ensuring elegance with minimal impact.
I continue to explore better alternatives for foam inserts and other materials, always striving to improve — in line with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 13.
Creating Jewellery with a Conscience
Jewellery is more than just adornment—it tells a story. By choosing Saskia Shutt Designs, you invest in exquisite craftsmanship, ethical sourcing, and sustainability — supporting the broader vision of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Let’s create something meaningful together. Book an appointment to discuss your ideas and be part of a movement that values beauty with integrity.
