Jewellery for vegan and sustainable lifestyles

Jewellery for vegan and sustainable lifestyles. In short: Lab-grown diamonds and lab-grown gemstones (ruby, emerald, sapphire) are the most vegan and sustainable of all luxury jewellery choices. No mining, no animal breeding, no ethical compromises, and visually identical to natural stones. Manufacturing details tell you more about durability than the price tag. Fashion jewellery made of stainless steel is made for wearing, not as an investment.

As of: September 2026. By Phil Oberlaender, Corelune Jewellery, Düsseldorf.

Anyone living a vegan lifestyle also considers materials when it comes to jewellery. Pearls, coral, ivory, leather—many traditional jewellery materials are derived from animals. But a full, beautiful vegan jewellery look is easily possible. This guide shows all the options.

Which traditional materials vegans avoid

• Pearls: Produced by mussels; by vegan definition, an animal product
• Coral: Living marine organisms; ethically and ecologically problematic
• Ivory: Illegal in most countries, definitely not vegan
• Leather: From animal skin; used in leather wrap bracelets and clasps
• Tortoiseshell: From turtle shells; illegal and not vegan
• Wool and silk: Rare in jewellery, but found in some cord bracelets

What is easily vegan?

The good news: The majority of modern fashion jewellery is already vegan:

• All precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, stainless steel): Mineral-based, no animal involved
• All minerals and gemstones: Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, all semi-precious stones, completely vegan
• Zirconia and lab-grown stones: Produced in the lab, no animal, no mine
• Plastic and acrylic: Vegan, even if not always sustainable
• Glass beads: Vegan and very versatile

Vegan pearl alternatives

The biggest loss for vegan jewellery lovers is real pearls. The good news: There are very beautiful alternatives:

• Shell pearls: Made from ground mussel shell without a living mussel, very similar to pearls in appearance and luster. Strictly speaking, still animal-based; an individual choice.
• Glass beads: Matching pearl look in cream or pink made of glass. Very affordable, very versatile.
• Ceramic beads: Handmade ceramic spheres in pearl colors, very organic and beautiful.
• High-gloss plastic pearls: Most affordable, visually very convincing.

Vegan leather alternatives for bracelets

• Apple leather: Made from apple peel waste, very solid and sustainable
• Cactus leather: Obtained from cacti, very interesting and contemporary
• Cork: Natural, no animal, sustainably harvested
• Nylon cord and cotton: The simplest vegan alternative for cord bracelets

Lab-grown stones: The vegan premium statement

What can you find at Corelune regarding vegan jewellery?

Fashion jewellery made from precious metals and minerals is basically vegan; at Corelune Jewellery, you will find jewellery for every lifestyle.

Discover vegan jewellery, beautiful without compromise!

Relevant to this: How sustainable is stainless steel jewellery really? An honest assessment.

Which type of bracelet lasts in everyday life?

In detail here: What is bicolor jewellery?.

What price is realistic for jewellery pieces?

Fashion jewellery made of stainless steel ranges between fifteen and forty-five euros. A piece for twenty-five euros that you wear two hundred times is cheaper than one for ten euros in the drawer. A material value is not created in this price category, but rather a piece that holds up in everyday life.

Specifically: The price range is between €15 and €45, shipping is free from €59, the return period is 14 days.

Overview of material, dimensions, and prices

Showers, swimming, and sports do not harm stainless steel; it does not tarnish. For reference, the values from the Corelune range.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure my bracelet size?

The rule of thumb is a finger's width of room. Any less, the clasp rubs; any more, you will eventually lose the bracelet.

Which bracelet type is the most robust?

Link bracelets with a lobster clasp, because the load is distributed over many links. Elastic pearl bracelets are comfortable but more sensitive to tension.

Do you wear a bracelet and a watch on the same wrist?

Yes, provided the metal colors harmonize, it works well on the same arm. Those who do not want that wear the watch on the left and the jewellery on the right.

What does waterproof mean for jewellery specifically?

That showering, swimming, and sweat do not harm the material. For stainless steel, this applies to the core. Coated color variants also tolerate water but lose the plating faster at points of friction with frequent contact.

Two or three concrete examples: Pearl bracelet fish made of cord and Charm bracelet summer gold made of stainless steel. Further bracelets can be found in the category Bracelets.

About the author

Phil Oberlaender runs Corelune Jewellery in Düsseldorf and has been working with stainless steel jewellery daily since 2024: quality checks, complaints, wear tests in everyday life. The information in this article comes from his own range and from customer feedback. Where Corelune does not offer something, it is stated as such.

Which categories fit this topic?

Specifically, it looks like this:

• Pearl Jewellery
• Zirconia and Crystal Jewellery
• Sea and Beach Jewellery

The unit price decreases by 20% from the second piece, with five it is 35%. Free shipping from 59 euros. If you are already looking at two pieces, it is better to order them together.

View pearl jewellery at Corelune

At Corelune applies: Free shipping from €59, 14 days return, 20% discount from 2 pieces.

→ View waterproof jewellery at Corelune