About Us

Oria Ethical Jewellery was founded in 2007 by creative duo Tania Kowalska and Synnove Saelthun. Having worked within the jewellery industry for a combined 35 years, they became increasingly concerned with the environmental and social impact of mining and production within the jewellery industry. They created Oria Ethical Jewellery to put their concerns into practice. Oria takes its name from the Latin girl's name meaning 'golden'.


Today Oria Jewellery is run by Synnove. Born in Norway, she spent most of her childhood close to nature. Inspired by her travels in India, she developed a passion for jewellery. She graduated as a qualified goldsmith from the Plus College in Fredrikstad in 1996. On graduating, she co-founded the AIDA-jewellery studio in Oslo. After several years at AIDA, Synnove studied advanced jewellery design & techniques at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and worked for a prominent New York jewellery designer. In 2002, Synnove moved to London and went back to working on her own designs. She now lives in Reigate, Surrey, were all our ethical jewellery and Fairtrade Gold Jewellery is designed and made.