Transparent supply chains: Where do our crystals come from?

One of the most common questions we get in our store: Where do your stones come from and who processed them?

In short: Instead of relying on mass production, we source almost every stone from a different region, for example from Minas Gerais in Brazil, Navajun in Spain, or the northwest coast of Madagascar. This ensures that supply chains remain short and that we can offer the best possible quality, sometimes in very small quantities.

After many years in this industry, we are sourcing experts and are happy to show you how to recognize crystals that have been thoughtfully sourced.

Short supply chains vs. global transshipment hubs

Unfortunately, this is often how it works, but in our opinion, it shouldn't: Mine shares in Brazil or Madagascar are bought up from the Far East to send raw stones directly to China for further processing and from there to the rest of the world. This type of production harms the local economy because it removes a crucial part of the value chain, craftsmanship, from the stones' country of origin. It also harms the environment because crystals are transshipped and temporarily stored, and have long transport routes behind them.

Therefore, we source from dealers who cut and process the stones in their country of origin. One of the few crystals we source from China is also found there: Rainbow fluorite is predominantly sourced today from the Shangbao Mine in Hengyang, which is why we also have this crystal processed in China.

With a little practice, you can recognize mass-produced crystals yourself, because the visual difference is significant: In mass production, the main goal is to keep weight and size uniform. Crystals of many different colors, found in different parts of the world, all look quite uniform. In contrast, for artisan-processed stones, the individual shape is paramount. So, the more uniform all points, spheres, and shapes look, the more likely it is that they were sourced from mass production.

Direct contacts vs. intermediaries

Whenever possible, we use direct contacts when purchasing our crystals. We often know not only the dealers but also their families personally. In some countries, we deliberately work with an intermediary who travels to the country regularly to personally select pieces. One of our importers lives 8 months a year in Madagascar and 4 months in France – we source some of our most beautiful pieces from him and select them personally on site.

Transparent sources

When asked, reputable shops can name the origins of their crystals – sometimes they may want to protect their exact sources, so you should understand if they don't give you the precise reference point. However, they should be able to tell you a region or a mine and the processing path. For example, our celestite comes from the Sakoany mine in Madagascar via an experienced importer from Germany and was processed in the country of origin. Being able to name the origin, region, and import country is an important indicator for us of responsible sourcing.

Fair Crystals

Now a much-read marketing slogan: "100% fair" or "ethically sourced" – how much truth is behind it? If a dealer advertises with such statements, they should at least adhere to the points mentioned above, i.e., for example, not source all crystals from a single intermediary, or have Brazilian crystals processed in China. Ideally, the dealer also actively participates in re-cultivation, supports family businesses, or women-led mines. However, social commitment should not obscure individual responsibility: It is better to preserve damaged resources from the outset than to try to restore them through donations or reimbursements. Since there is no independent fair trade certificate in our industry, you as a consumer are asked to critically question advertising claims such as "fair crystals." The chances that a dealer who offers artificially treated stones, mass-produced goods from the Far East, or a completely standardized assortment has bothered to look closely at the sources are, in our opinion, vanishingly small. But: We deliberately refrain from this type of advertising claim and prefer to ask ourselves what these terms should stand for and how we act responsibly in international trade.