ESQUELETO ETHOS
ESQUELETO translates to skeleton, which symbolizes the framework that provides structure for life. Our business is both a platform for a growing community of artists and a destination for designs that reflect your own originality. Balanced by an aesthetic that is at once organic and refined, our shop is curated with integrity of design and longevity in mind.
We believe fine jewelry should be:
- Ethically made
- Responsibly sourced
- Crafted with expertise so that it lasts for generations
Through our curated selection of handcrafted and one-of-a-kind pieces, ESQUELETO is a space for jewelry made with care, worn with intention, and built to be passed on.
Craft Over Convenience
How Jewelry Is Made Matters
At ESQUELETO, we believe the most sustainable piece of jewelry is the one made by people you can name, in places you can visit, through a supply chain you can understand. That’s why in an industry ever driven by speed and profit, we do things differently - slower, and with more care. Instead of mass-produced “luxury,” our own production studio is run by a small but mighty team of jewelers who craft each piece by hand. They work locally and recycle our own in-house materials whenever they can. To curate our collection, we partner only with artists who value quality over quantity and who share our commitment to care for our communities and our environment.
Every work of art you find at ESQUELETO has been crafted through this slow, intentional process. From hand-forged metalwork to one-of-a-kind stone-setting methods, nothing here is fast or disposable. Our art requires the time and care of human touch, and that’s exactly the point. We see jewelry as an art form to be worn and lived in, and to be treasured for years to come.
Community & Accountability
Our Community of Designers
There is a real person behind everything you find at ESQUELETO. The designers, metalsmiths, and stone setters who craft your jewelry are people we know personally. Like us, the artists we partner with create in their own workshops or small-scale manufacturing spaces.
This growing community of artists brings forth a treasure trove of art and jewelry that’s as different as we all are from each other. But one thing unites us: a commitment to using ethical materials and sustainable practices. How do we know? Creating in small spaces and close-knit communities is naturally transparent. Not only is the sourcing of materials visible, but so are the working conditions, wages, and the overall human impact of everything we make.
Our partnerships are a window into how we craft and how we care for our communities. It’s a short supply chain with accountability at every step. Our relationships mean everything to us, and by valuing each other, we sustain our creative communities with care. The result is being able to offer jewelry as an art form with integrity.
Sustainable Materials & Ethical Sourcing
Sourcing Materials With Care & Transparency
Our goal is always to minimize our environmental impact while supporting ethical practices. The ESQUELETO framework supports this goal from beginning to end. Long before a ring reaches the display case, we consult with the artist or designer, learn about the metals and stones, and understand the process for creating the ring.
Recycled Metals
We work with recycled gold and silver whenever possible, and we never sacrifice the quality or beauty of the finished piece. Additionally, we recycle all material waste that we create in our own studio. When we rely on these reclaimed metals, we help reduce the demand for mining new metals, lowering the overall environmental footprint of jewelry production.
Our approach to sustainable metals:
- Use recycled gold and silver whenever we can
- Rely on local materials
- Partner with makers who match our sustainability goals
- Reduce the reliance on newly mined materials
- Craft long-lasting designs with durability and wearability for generations
Ethical Diamonds & Gemstones
The industry-standard Kimberley Process serves as a baseline for conflict-free diamonds. ESQUELETO takes this a step further by only partnering with artists and suppliers who operate at the highest level of transparency.
Our gemstone sourcing philosophy:
- Conflict-free diamonds as a minimum standard
- Ethical gemstone sourcing with traceable practices
- Recycled antique and vintage stones as a sustainable choice
By the time one of our treasures reaches its wearer, we know every part of it has been sourced ethically and crafted with the highest level of expertise, care, and sustainability.
Making Progress Every Day
Sustainability In The Details
A typical day in our studio is full of small, thoughtful choices. When meeting with other artists at workshops in our community, we use public transportation to reduce our environmental impact. We use natural liver of sulfur for metal oxidation (it can also fertilize your plants!) and citric acid for cleaning metals after heating. These are better, non-toxic choices that benefit both the local water supply and our jewelers in the studio.
When we’re packing for shipping and retail, we use post-consumer recycled and recyclable paper supplies and packaging whenever possible. We reuse materials as much as we can, and we’re committed to always thinking about lower-waste solutions in how we do things.
Deep down, we know that meaningful change happens little by little, and as better solutions evolve, we evolve with them.
Sustainability With Antique & Vintage Jewelry
Honoring the Past, Focusing on the Future
Vintage and antique jewelry sits at the heart of the ESQUELETO framework. Wearing vintage jewelry gives new life to an existing piece and honors the stories that came before. To us, that’s the ultimate form of reuse.
There’s magic in giving new life to an antique old mine-cut diamond by bringing it into someone’s story today. Part of this magic is in all the tiny details that can no longer be replicated in the modern age of mass production. From old by-hand diamond cuts that were meant to sparkle under candlelight, to intricate metal work in period-specific designs, there are so many pieces to fall in love with that already exist.
Because of its age, antique and vintage jewelry requires expert care. We seek out rare designs with historical significance, but we make sure they maintain their structural integrity. Our expert jewelers carefully vet for authenticity and condition of every piece. This lets us ensure that with the right care, our antique jewelry can be worn for more decades to come.
For us, antique jewelry is about preserving artistry, celebrating eras, and acquiring with intention. This approach reflects everything ESQUELETO stands for.
Inclusive by Design
Jewelry for Every Body, Identity, and Story
Jewelry is non-gendered. It is an artform, and art doesn’t fit into arbitrary binaries. Our collection will always reflect the endless ways jewelry can be worn and lived in.
We’re committed to inclusivity, and that means:
- Non-gendered jewelry design that moves beyond categories
- Inclusive sizing and custom options whenever possible
- Styling approaches that encourage mixing, stacking, and personalizing
- Engagement rings for all identities and relationships, including men's engagement rings and alternative and non-traditional styles
- Jewelry as self-expression: wear what resonates with you!
ESQUELETO exists to celebrate individuality without limitations.
Our Promise
Every piece of art carries with it the intentions of its artist or maker. When you shop ESQUELETO, you hold a piece of our framework of care, sustainability, and integrity. Our values are in everything from the showstopping diamond engagement ring down to the recycled metals we collect in our studio.
From the entire ESQUELETO community, our promise to you this:
- Unique and one-of-a-kind jewelry that celebrates every identity
- Handcrafted jewelry expertise that honors skill and tradition
- Ethical sourcing of every diamond, gemstone, and metal
- Real people and real accountability at every step
- Jewelry made with care for the wearer, the maker, and the planet
Thank you for being part of the ESQUELETO story: the skeleton, the structure for life, the framework we’re ever-building upon. We can’t wait to help you find (or create) a piece that becomes a part of your story!