Montreal-based fine jewelry brand Ecksand was recently granted the Canadian National Mark, a prestigious government-regulated designation for precious-metal products that confirms they are entirely made in Canada, with traceable materials, following stringent quality standards.
The Canadian government has issued fewer than 110 National Mark certificates to date, and it is rare in the fine jewelry industry, says Ecksand cofounder and creative director Erica Bianchini. The hallmark consists of a maple leaf with a C surrounding it.
“I see it as more than certification. We’ve been granted the privilege of putting that maple leaf on our products,” Bianchini says. “At the end of the day, so many companies are trying to be socially conscious. We did it to remind ourselves and clients that for us it is not an afterthought. It is part of our blueprint.”
Receiving the Canadian National Mark, she says, affirms what Ecksand has stood for since it was founded in 2009: transparency, artistry, and craftsmanship rooted in Canada. Bianchini hopes her current and future clients take it as her promise that Ecksand jewelry is both luxurious and responsible.
Ecksand’s Duel Wrap ring is available in 14k or 18k yellow gold, with natural or lab-grown pavé diamonds (from $1,331).
“We said to ourselves, we could be humble and quiet. But we wanted to show the world what it means to walk the walk and talk the talk,” Bianchini says. “We had to open up our underwear drawer, so to speak, which we were really excited to do. We’re proud of the fact that we’ve been investing in really good underwear.”
The Canadian National Mark is awarded under the country’s Precious Metals Marking Act, which certifies a jewelry piece was entirely manufactured in Canada with verified traceability and quality.
“They come in and check everything—how you do your casting, how you design, where you get your stones from, what goes into your recycled gold, the customer process, your distribution. Everything,” Bianchini says. “It reinforced why we do what we do.”
Ecksand is “fully vertical,” she says—every step of the jewelry-making process takes place in-house, from the gemstone sourcing to the manufacturing to the polishing.
Erica Bianchini at work in Ecksand’s Montreal atelier
“We have about 35 members of our staff, and we have a low turnover rate, something they ask about and that we feel is really cool,” Bianchini says. “They want to make sure it’s a process that’s artisanal, and we love that. We design and build our jewelry for permanence.”
She says the Ecksand atelier in Montreal is considered green, as the workshop has state-of-the-art equipment that’s optimized to avoid a negative impact on the environment. The brand uses 100% recycled gold and sustainable platinum, as well as natural and lab-grown diamonds that are GIA- and IGI- certified, respectively, if above half a carat.
As Ecksand expands its fine jewelry selection outside bridal (an area it had concentrated on for years), the Canadian National Mark comes into play for clients, along with the jeweler’s design prowess, high standards, and “French-Canadian finesse,” says Bianchini.
“It’s part of our team dynamic—half of our team speaks English, half speaks French. Many of them are from Europe, and we can recruit them from the top jewelry houses,” she says.
“Expanding into fine is a major turning point for us, but we realized our staff was ready for it. It’s a conscious decision to not just sell bridal, but we know we are capable of making incredible signature jewelry.”
Top: Ecksand has been awarded the right to put the Canadian National Mark—that maple leaf within a C—on its jewelry. (Photos courtesy of Ecksand)