Affiliate Disclosure

Last updated: 14 May 2026

The short version

Some articles on The Gem contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission from the retailer at no additional cost to you. Affiliate relationships never influence which pieces, makers, or brands we cover.

How we choose what to feature

Editorial decisions on The Gem are made independently. We choose pieces, makers, and stories based on craft, design, history, and what we think our readers will find interesting — not based on whether a retailer offers an affiliate programme. A piece is not more likely to be featured because there is a commission attached, and a piece is not excluded because there is not.

Where an affiliate link is available, we use it. Where one is not, we link to the maker or retailer directly. The reader experience and the recommendation are the same either way.

Which articles contain affiliate links

Articles that contain affiliate links carry a brief disclosure near the top of the page. We do not bury this — if there is a commercial relationship in play, you will see it before you click.

Editorial features, interviews, and essays generally do not contain affiliate links. Shopping guides, gift edits, and round-ups are the most likely to.

Affiliate networks we work with

We work with a small number of established affiliate networks, including Awin, Skimlinks, and direct partnerships with selected retailers. When you click an affiliate link, the retailer may set their own cookies to attribute the referral. We do not receive any personal data about you from these transactions — only an aggregate commission report.

Sponsored content

Sponsored content is a different thing entirely. Where a piece has been paid for by a brand or maker, it is clearly labelled as Sponsored or Partner content at the top of the article. Sponsored content is rare on The Gem and is always editorially reviewed.

Gifts and press samples

From time to time, makers and brands send pieces for review or photography. Receiving a sample does not guarantee coverage, and we disclose when a piece featured in an article was provided by the maker. We do not accept paid placement disguised as editorial.

Questions

If you have any questions about affiliate links, sponsored content, or our editorial independence, please use the contact page. We are happy to answer.