Todays mention of Jeweltree in the San Francisco Chronicle: Rock-solid gems at D&H Sustainable Jewelers Thanks Shawn!

The customer was eyeing the chrome tourmaline gemstone, but wanted assurance the mining company didn't abuse its workers.

Not only did D&H Sustainable Jewelers in the Castro explain they had consulted with third-party inspectors sent to the African mine, they handed the customer a photo of 15-year-old Malika, the Kenyan girl whose education would be funded if she bought the stone.

Sold.

As buyers are becoming increasingly aware of mining abuses through movies such as "Blood Diamond," sustainable jewelers who use recycled metals and "conflict-free" gems are pulling business away from the traditional corporate jewelry houses that gloss over their stones' origins.

"We can pass to customers that chain of custody, so they know exactly what they are buying, how it was unearthed, and whose life will benefit from its sale," said designer and gemologist Shawn Higgins, who is the H in D&H Sustainable Jewelers.

The D is co-owner Lindsay Daunell, a jewelry designer with an environmental science background.

They opened their dream store on Market Street in January 2011, after beta-testing "green jewelry" at their former workplace, Gallery of Jewels, in San Francisco.

The pair now design custom jewelry using stones from "artisanal mines" that have been certified fair and humane by a third party, such as Jeweltree Foundation from the Netherlands, or the Green Gem Foundation in Berkeley.