Our editors and their partners have worn and loved sustainable jewelry for years — these are our favorite brands for ethical & conflict-free men’s wedding bands, commitment rings, and promise jewelry at a range of price points.
You’ve found your life partner, your tux, and your venue…but what about the ring? Shopping for jewelry can be overwhelming, and looking for men’s wedding bands — let alone ethical men’s wedding bands — is no exception. Most men’s wedding rings are sold at an upcharge and without transparency about brand ethics or sustainability. Why settle for that when celebrating your love? That’s why we look to sustainably-made and conflict-free wedding bands made with recycled or fair trade materials to symbolize the start of married life!
Why choose ethical wedding bands?
Unfortunately, the diamond and gold industry has a history of fueling conflict, harming our environment, and violating human rights when mining precious metals. Rather than settling for a piece of jewelry that’s untraceable and unethically sourced, an ethical wedding band crafted with materials like conflict-free diamonds, recycled metals, and even carbon fiber ensures it won’t contribute to environmental harm or human rights abuses. You’ll also be supporting jewellers that employ ethical and fair trade practices in their production, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and sustainable sourcing. Plus, knowing your wedding band has a positive backstory adds even more sentimental value — it’s a symbol of love and commitment, not just to your partner but also to a better world. It’s a small choice that makes a big impact! 💍
Additionally, pre-loved wedding bands from auction sites like eBay and Etsy, as well as online or local consignment shops are a great choice for reducing your carbon footprint and giving new meaning to an already existing piece of jewelry!
Our criteria:
Our editors and their partners have adorned their own sustainable and ethical wedding jewelry for years. Below we’ve compiled our favorite thoughtful jewelers so your engagement or wedding band can be both ethical and eco-friendly. Lot’s of these brands also tout affordable options! We continually update this guide, and add new favorites to the list that meet the following criteria.
- SUSTAINABLE | These responsible jewelry brands are committed to crafting jewelry made with eco-friendly materials like recycled gold and gemstones.
- ETHICAL & CONFLICT-FREE | Each one of these ethical jewelry brands strictly uses only conflict-free diamonds and gemstones in their pieces. Some are also certified by the Kimberly process or offer lab-grown options.
- AFFORDABLE | We’ve made sure to include lots of affordable jewelry options on this list that don’t sacrifice on quality and ethics.
Looking for more engagement rings and wedding jewelry? Check out our guide to conscious and conflict-free engagement rings.
Best Overall | Most Affordable | Best Silicone
1. Kinn Studio
Best For | Modern heirloom pieces
Features & Materials | Conflict-free & Fair Trade gemstones, recycled 14k gold, repurpose program, transparent sourcing, labor, production & quality standards
Price | $$ — $$$
Kinn Studio delivers on its promise of high quality and modern heirloom jewelry—that feels like second skin and is sustainably crafted. Their rings use recycled 14k solid gold and ethical gemstones that comply with The Kimberly Process. What makes Kinn stand out from other jewelers is their recycling process, KinnCycle. Simply collect your solid 14k gold pieces you don’t wear anymore and send it in — it’ll then be melted down to its purest form and repurposed for new jewelry. You’ll receive $30 back per gram of melted gold, which can be used on any Kinn piece or a custom request. The result is a circular system that’s gentle on the planet and the core of these lifetime investment pieces.
2. RING BEAR
Best For | Sustainable men’s wedding bands
Features & Materials | Certified carbon-neutral, ethically sourced & recycled metals, recyclable packaging
Price | $$ — $$$
RING BEAR is one of the world’s first carbon-neutral wedding band companies, specifically for men. This small family-owned business upcycles existing metals to eliminate waste and leave only a minimal footprint behind. Not only are these rings sustainable and carbon-neutral, but they’re also affordable. It’s never been easier to say yes…to a RING BEAR band, that is.
Customer Review | “I’m very happy that I chose the Ring Bear Classic Gold Wedding Band! It’s such a comfortable fit, and I can tell there is craftsmanship in this ring. It just feels well made and feels like it will last a lifetime! Just like my marriage! The engraving came out beautifully also! It was super affordable too! Highly recommend this company!” – Daniel P. (Read all reviews.)
3. Etsy
Best For | Unconventional & unique rings
Features & Materials | Sustainable & natural materials, made-to-order, carbon-neutral shipping
Price | $ — $$$$
Etsy is an essential stop for vintage, reclaimed and custom jewelry at every price point. You’ll find rings made from various sustainable and natural materials like steel, tungsten and gold, all with carbon neutral shipping from artisans, craft makers and entrepreneurs. Two of our favorite shops are OriginHG and Rings By Lux. OriginHG is a family-owned business handcrafting made-to-order rings in Stonewall, Canada, while North Carolina-based Rings By Lux builds stunning hammered rings from one of a kind materials like meteorite and guitar strings!
Customer Review | “The rings arrived exactly as we expected. They are beautiful and suit us very well!! Thank you 🙏🏻“ – Jessica (Read all reviews.)
4. Taylor & Heart
Best For | Custom designed bands
Features & Materials | Recycled & conflict-free materials, ethical production
Price | $$ — $$$$
Expect that “forever feeling” once you see Taylor & Hart’s line of commitment, promise, and wedding rings. Each one is customizable down to the engraving, and the T&H team ethically sources sustainable metals, gemstones, and lab-grown diamonds to ensure your piece is the best of the best. Based in London but with a showroom in NYC, you can pop in for a consultation or schedule one online — enjoy a design consultant for questions and a 90-day return policy.
5. Mejuri
Best For | Everyday fine jewelry
Features & Materials | Recycled & responsibly sourced metals, recycling program, gives back to BIPOC women
Price | $$ — $$$
Did you know Mejuri creates men’s fine jewelry, too? Maybe you prefer simple, smooth bands, or maybe domed edges and signets are your style. Good news: This brand has it all. Traceability and sustainability are two of Mejuri’s core tenets, so most rings are made with recycled gold or responsibly sourced titanium or sterling silver. These wedding bands come with free expedited shipping, 60-day returns, and a two-year warranty — the only thing that’ll last longer is your love.
Customer Review | “Bought this ring for my boyfriend and he loves it! It’s very versatile since you can technically wear it with the flat part facing out or facing in.” – Jordan L. (Read all reviews.)
6. QALO
Best For | Durable silicone rings
Features & Materials | Gender-inclusive, recycling program, pledge to diversity across the company
Price | $
Founded by two devotees of the great outdoors, QALO makes silicone rings that can withstand all your biggest adventures. Made from 100% medical-grade silicone, their rings are naturally resistant to salt, moisture, corrosion, extreme temperatures, and pressure. More inert than plastic, silicone won’t leach harmful chemicals into water or the environment and is ocean-safe and not toxic to wildlife. While silicone is recyclable, most curbside surfaces don’t typically take it, so QALO will! Send them any silicone-based product – one of theirs or otherwise – and they will recycle it for you. Love that!
Customer Review | “Great light-weight flexible ring that I can wear without concern for damage that I feel when wearing my gold wedding band. Plus it matches the band on my Apple Watch! Word of advice, however. Because the ring is flexible I recommend sizing down on ring size as compared to a rigid gold ring since my Qalo ring is a bit loose.” – Michael S. (Read all reviews.)
7. Holden
Best For | Custom wedding bands
Features & Materials | Made-to-order, conflict-free & recycled metals, Climate Neutral Certified, recycled returns
Price | $$ — $$$
Avoid pushy salespeople, overpriced markups, and generic styles by shopping for your wedding band at Holden. Each ring is custom-made to your exact specifications, right in the heart of NYC, using only conflict-free stones and recycled metals. Choose your width, metal, finish, and even a free custom engraving — and resizes are free, too. If you return your ring at any time, Holden will even recycle it into new pieces. An eternity band that keeps on giving.
Customer Review | “My husband fell in love with this ring because he wanted to match my emerald engagement ring, it is a small but so meaningful and beautiful detail <3 The quality is amazing and we also love the matte finish, highly recommend!!!” – Kylie R. (Read all reviews.)
8. Aether
Best For | Carbon-captured diamond rings
Features & Materials | Certified B Corp, inclusive sizing, positive-impact diamonds, fair-mined metals
Price | $$ — $$$
Aether creates diamonds out of thin air — yes, really. Using carbon extracted from the atmosphere, each diamond is made under pressure but without the negative impact—and the metals are responsibly sourced. Aether’s collection of masculine bands, commitment and promise rings, and signets are uniquely designed to play off of angles and parallel lines. (If you don’t find an option you love, the B Corp does positive-impact custom work, too.) It’s no surprise why we love this fine jewelry brand.
9. Catbird
Best For | Artisan-designed wedding bands
Features & Materials | Sustainably sourced & recycled metals, artisan-made, gives back via Catbird Giving Fund
Price | $$ — $$$
For bands that’ll make anyone dance, we love Catbird’s collection. There are nearly 50 different unisex and men’s styles to choose from, including rings made in Brooklyn by the Catbird team and rings from artisan designers like Satomi Kawakita, Sofia Zakia, and Bittersweets NY. Catbird’s pieces are all crafted with recycled gold, and the team ensures ethical and responsible production for its partners as well. A percentage of every sale supports various causes, so your band will make more than one impact.
10. Apse
Best For | Out-of-box designs
Features & Materials | Handcrafted to order, responsibly sourced materials, repairable & recyclable, semi-custom options available
Price | $$
Apse creates one-of-a-kind jewelry with genuine gemstones and precious metals, designed for those who embrace life’s transitions and explore new dimensions of self-expression. Founded by artists Hayley Boyd and Jarod Faw in 2016, each piece is sustainably handcrafted to order in their Pacific Northwest studio, blending sculptural artistry with genderless, thoughtful designs. Apse jewelry captures life’s meaningful moments and connections while offering semi-custom options, repairable craftsmanship, and a recycling program for a sustainable future. Perfect for anyone unafraid to step beyond the ordinary, these pieces inspire creativity, connection, and self-discovery.
11. Anna Sheffield
Best For | Gender neutral wedding bands
Features & Materials | Recycled & conflict-free materials, ethical production in NYC & LA, gives back to causes in the US Southwest
Price | $$ — $$$$
Anna Sheffield is a jewelry designer from the Southwest, using that gorgeous landscape and architecture to influence her work. With vintage designs, a gender-neutral philosophy, and a unique combination of reclaimed metals and stones, we like how one-of-a-kind many of these bands are. The Cigar Band, for example, is an elevated take on the casual round band. Anna Sheffield also takes custom inquiries, and you can stop by the team’s stores in NYC and LA to try pieces on in person (or book a virtual appointment!).
Featured image by Kinn Studio
