5 Stunning Jewelry Designs That Give Back (2024)

Luxury jewelry brands are often known for their beautifully made, one-of-a-kind pieces—and these designers are pushing that notion with new designs and collections that benefit wonderful causes. Breast cancer research, conservation efforts, and providing access to necessary things we may take for granted (such as clean water and schooling) in remote areas are top of mind for these brands this fall. Here, five stunning jewelry designs that give back to communities—and are worth the investment.

Temple St. Clair's Arcadia Collection

The New York-based jeweler Temple St. Clair is a woman of passionate interests: her love affair with Florence and its jewelry legacy, her affection for her home city, and now, her dedication to preservation in East Africa. Her new Arcadia collection directly benefits the Big Life Foundation, which supports conservation efforts in the Kilimanjaro-Amboseli-Tsavo area.

These designs, which recently launched this fall, take their inspiration from the animals that Temple has encountered in the Kenyan landscape. Their Swahilian names adorn the piece—Twiga (giraffe), Kifaru (rhinoceros), Tembo (elephant), and Simba (lion)—and the carvings and details that decorate the pendants show the breadth of talent at the brand's workbench. 20 percent of all proceeds from the New York flagship boutique and the website will be donated to the Big Life Foundation.

"I have been involved in conservation for decades and am motivated to show my support through my work in fine jewelry," says St. Clair. "Creating a world where conservation supports people, and people support conservation is at the core of what this remarkable organization does. I spend time regularly in Kenya and was inspired by individual creatures that “I’ve met” to create portraits in the form of golden pendants—elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and lions."

Heavenly Vices's Love Locks

This beautifully crafted lock and key necklace from Heavenly Vices is the most stylish way to support breast cancer research (it's studded with pink sapphires, need we say more?). During October, 50 percent of the sales from the Love Locks will be given to BCRF, which raises money for clinical and translational research within the United States and beyond.

The Love Lock features three different languages (the Roman alphabet, Victorian symbols, and Braille), all sharing the same message. When the letters are scrambled, piece is locked on the wearer, similar to a traditional lock. When the letters and symbols are aligned, the three-sided combination lock will open.

Le Vian's Good Karma Collection

The Good Karma collection from Le Vian is a nod to the ethos "what goes around, comes around." The jewelry takes cues from the turning of the galaxies and universe, and that comes through in the collection's designs. Swirls of yellow gold in the settings, dazzling color in the stone selection (like with this blue topaz ring), and an interesting mix of white and chocolate diamonds mimic the light of the constellations and the movement of the planets around the sun.

The initial designs are ring-focused but also includes bangles, necklaces, and earrings. The proceeds from the collection are given to St. Jude's Children Hospital, which provides medical care to children, and Diamonds Do Good, a global nonprofit organization that helps build schools in diamond-producing regions across the world. The collection is also meant to encourage collectors to pass along simple acts of kindness, using their jewelry as a reminder of that each time they wear it.

"The Good Karma collection goes to the heart of the LeVian family’s passion to do good and our commitment to philanthropy," says Eddie LeVian, CEO of Le Vian. "The LeVians are advocating a movement to spread positivity and acts of kindness by leveraging our five million strong collectors, and the Good Karma jewelry becomes the symbol of those who adhere to this movement."

Kwiat's Tiara Diamond Collection

Around 771 million people around the world live without access to clean water. Charity: water works to bring clean drinking water to areas that don't have it, and thus far, have funded 120,784 water projects to help achieve that goal. Kwiat has partnered with Charity: water to help push this project forward by donating each time a piece from the Tiara Diamond collection is sold. We're partial to the classic diamond studs or diamond necklace—both of these pieces are perfect for everyday layering when getting dressed for the day.

Mason and Books's Med Bouquet Pendant

Jamie Books, the founder and designer behind Mason and Books, is giving 100 percent of the proceeds from her pink tourmaline Med Bouquet pendant to Susan G. Komen throughout the month of October. The bouquet's design pays homage to special moments in life (birth, milestone achievements, celebrations of love) with the flowers set with the pink tourmalines representing the past, present, and future. Books's designs are playful and a little bit tongue-in-cheek, and this pendant, while supporting a great cause, also remains true to the brand's DNA and sense of whimsy.

"Wearing the pink tourmaline Bouquet pendant is a way for individuals to express their personal style while standing in solidarity with a cause that touches many lives," says Books. "It represents the intersection of elegance and purpose, reminding us that jewelry can be more than an accessory—it can be a powerful statement for good."