The Philosophy behind Maison Butterfly
Harriet...
Harriet, goldsmith, gemmologist (FGA DGA) writer, linguist,adventurer and alchemist. Her passion: creating jewellery for over 30 years, designing arresting and often unique pieces, always made with integrity. Inspired by jewellery as an expression of our unique story, of our individuality.
Starting her journey; obsessed with gemstones and natural materials, she made and sold jewellery in South America, an Artesana, then successfully studied Jewellery Design at Plymouth Art College, perfecting her Stone-setting at Arte Orafe in Florence, Italy, and her fascination in gems led her to studying her Gemmology Diploma FGA and Diamonds Diploma DGA with the Association of Gemmology in Hatton Gardens, London, receiving Distinctions with each, due to innovation and flair. She went on to work in the business, reaching Head Jeweller- Designer.
Harriet is also a member of The Guild of Jewellery designers and The British Jewellers Association, another reassurance for you as a purchaser of Fine Jewellery.
Harriet's designs are influenced by her love of nature, ancient tribal patternings, her influences from living abroad, and awesome endless wonder of gemstones.
It is her aim to make exciting ethical and everlasting pieces for endless pleasure.
Gemmology & Quality
Being a fanatic gemmologist, all stones are reassuringly assessed and verified: Harriet is FGA, DGA certified: a Fellow of the Gemmology Association of Great Britain and Diamond Fellow of the Association of Great Britain, and will do her best to bring you stones of integrity, something becoming hard to find due to such synthetics and treatments flooding the market.
Harriet uses real, natural Diamonds, Kimberly Conflict Free Certified, over man-made. The mining industry having changed drastically for the better in recent years, these diamond-bearing countries, some of the poorest in the world, rely deeply upon their diamonds to support their welfare, hospitals and schooling, without which there would be extreme poverty. The diamond industry in these countries employ thousands, and spreads the accredited profits far and wide, where-as "Lab-grown" use extreme amounts of carbon-coal and profits fall into the hands of very few.
A special occasion marks the use of a special, rare stone.
Harriet is also a member of The British Jewellers Association, another reassurance for you as a purchaser of Fine Jewellery.
Ethics
Sustainability is very important to
Maison Butterfly.
All pieces use Recycled Gold and Silver, or reliable ECO SMO-Single Mine Origin or Fair Mine sources, and her gem stones are sourced from reputable dealers, sourcing ethically mined stones, and always Kimberly Certified diamonds, for our eternal pleasure.
Harriet will also source stones from mines of integrity around the world.
Maison Butterfly will not use gold plating, believing the gold is lost forever, and can never be recycled: causing yet more mining.
Also, importantly believing in sourcing stones from small mine communities, some of which families have mined for centuries alongside nature; and without this income, would surely starve, often coming from countries with only these resources to rely on.
All Diamonds are real, natural and Conflict Free, believing in the force of nature to create these brilliant gems, rather than horrific amounts of carbon for the energy to manufacture one lab-grown/synthetic.
Almost all Maison Butterfly packaging is made from recycled, recyclable, Eco or FSC sourced materials.
Vision
Having lived in South America and beyond, Harriet became very concerned for the Amazon, particularly for the Yanomami Indians she was able to meet in the 90's. Ever aware of the dangerous situation they faced with illegal loggers and goldminers invading their lands, poisoning their rivers, wiping out 2/3 of their tribe.
Believing in their wisdom and ancient knowledge of the Amazons, it is in their hands the future of the Forest lies.
So, Maison Butterfly will donate a percentage to contribute to their legal fees so they can fight for their lands. If there's anything you can do too...
Please do.
Survival International can guide you.
Also MB will help the Dartmoor Preservation Association, here in Devon, where all these pieces are lovingly made.
Stronger Together
Harriet wishes Maison Butterfly not just to be about herself, but to help others, using MB to gradually bring other talented exciting Artesans from across the world to this platform, from countries in difficult political or economic situations, so giving these artists a chance they would otherwise find difficult.
Learn More
Particulary Artesanos from Venezuela, and South America.
She is also a member of Artansa, a group of talented Artists in West Devon, check out their work at Artansa.org
Returns & Terms
Maison Butterfly
makes with your satisfaction in mind, hoping each piece brings pleasure to the beholder. RETURNS: If something is not right, there is a 14 day window from arrival, to return, refund or exchange your item, if unworn and undamaged (Except for earrings).
Please use a secure postal method as returns are your responsibility.
BESPOKE -Refunds for Bespoke -custom made items will not be possible.
RINGS
-Please size your rings carefully before purchase, I recommend going to your local jeweller, but contact me and I will send you a ring-sizer. If the ring doesn't fit, as I'm unable to personally size your finger, you will most-likely have to have your piece re-sized at your local jeweller at your own expense.
Some of my rings are not re-sizable.
TERMS & CONDITIONS : Please read full T's& C's before purchasing.
Do Contact
with any queries, and I'm sure we can work something out.
Almost all Maison Butterfly packaging is made from recycled, recyclable, Eco or FSC sourced materials.
