Monarc Jewellery

Founded by New Zealand-born Ella Drake in 2017, Monarc began as a concept that Ella worked on part-time from her London home between modelling across Europe, studying at Gemological Institute of America in Florence, and managing design and production for a portfolio of European brands.

Before founding Monarc, Ella had made up her mind that if she were to create a brand, she had to create it in the friendliest way possible. Her purpose for Monarc has always been to tread lightly and kindly; to be transparent and circular; and to put the planet and its inhabitants first. She and her team remain inquisitive to learn and adjust their best practices according to new technologies and methods that can enable them to do better.

When selecting its precious metals and stones, Monarc implements strict criteria, taking into consideration land and water usage, environmental and human impact, and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the material’s quality and durability. All of its materials are from aboveground sources, meaning the company does not actively support the extractive and exploitative practices of the mining industry. Monarc’s diamonds are created by Diamond Foundry, a zero-emission foundry based in Washington, USA, using hydro-power to create sustainable, fully traceable diamonds.

Monarc’s coloured gemstones are either recycled or repurposed from vintage jewellery or from alluvial sources, meaning they have been released from rock by weathering and washed downstream, where they are then deposited in river beds or beach sands. Raw metals are from 100% recycled sources that are certified for their quality by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). Monarc uses carbon-neutral shipping options and to further offset its emissions, it plants a minimum of 20 trees per month through Treeapp.

Ensuring that each piece of Monarc jewellery is produced under safe, fair, legal and humane working conditions is of utmost importance to Monarc. The brand holds itself and its suppliers and workshops to the highest social and environmental standards, and only partners with those who share its values. It works closely with its partners, monitoring their adherence to globally recognised labour and human rights standards, to provide and maintain safe workplaces.

Monarc acts with integrity, compassion and respect, and recognises the need for ongoing education. The brand has zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind and actively works towards ensuring equal representation and diversity across its content, collaborations and partnerships. Monarc also supports a number of organisations doing meaningful work, including Oceana – an ocean conservation organisation.