Diamond Empowerment Fund Introduces Their New Green Bracelet – Sure To Become Iconic
by Robyn Hawk on May 18, 2016
From Press Release
Diamond Empowerment Fund’s New Green Bracelet
Designer Mark Patterson Wins Competition
To Create Bracelet For Diamonds Do Good
The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F) introduces a new design for its iconic Green Bracelet. The original Green Bracelet, with its malachite beads and rough diamond charm accent, was designed in 2007 as a symbol of support for the many good works the diamond industry does around the world.
To develop the updated bracelet, D.E.F. held a competition among the designers of The COUTURE Show – a highly curated group of designers each with a distinctive point of view.
Design entries were required to be unisex in style, “give a nod” to the first D.E.F bracelet, contain both a diamond and the color green, and have a retail price point of approximately $125 to allow for a portion of proceeds to be donated to D.E.F. Most important to the organization’s mission, designs must be Kimberley Process compliant.
Aside from showing support for D.E.F, the new bracelet will help draw attention to the good works being done around the world by the diamond industry and by the purchase of diamond jewelry. The message is poignant and simple: “Diamonds Do Good.”
The winning design was created by renowned designer Mark Patterson of Corona Del Mar, CA. The ‘Diamonds Do Good’ message will be underscored by his design, which is centered by a reversible, silhouetted diamond profile cast in sterling silver and plated with gold. A slice of chrysoprase sandwiched between front and back pays homage to the original malachite bracelet, and adds a splash of green below the precious metal overlay of diamond facets. The front is accented with a genuine diamond, while the back contains an artistic graphic of the Diamond Empowerment Fund’s ‘Diamonds Do Good’ message. An updated leather “rope” band encircles the wrist and is adjustable for ease of wear. The bracelet is available in two sizes to accommodate almost any consumer.
Designer Mark Patterson said, “My wife Josette Patterson and I, as always, collaborated on the design. We knew that a key element that we wanted to incorporate was making it reversible so that the inspirational message could be either a private reminder to the wearer, or a public statement to “do good”. We inscribed the message in a graffiti-like way to give it a young, hip feel. Since Josette is also a sculptor and ceramic artist, and the bracelet was being made in China, we used the Chrysoprase as a slice or “shard”, inspired by the city of Jingdizhen, China, the town where porcelain was discovered 2000 years ago.
Two other notable designers whose bracelets were competition finalists were Julie Romanenko of Just Jules, and Bibi Van der Velden, who designs jewelry under her own name.
An impressive number of entries were gathered from some of The COUTURE Show’s top designers and judged by an exclusive panel of jewelry industry notables and D.E.F supporters. Industry giant Chow Tai Fook agreed to manufacture the winning design, and part of Patterson’s prize is a trip to China with the opportunity to meet Chow Tai Fook’s managing director and visit jewelry stores in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
The new Diamonds Do Good bracelets will be available for a suggested donation of $125.00 on the organization’s website by this September, and will be available at a variety of retailers across the country in fall 2016.
To read some of the stories about how diamonds are doing good around the world visit www.diamondsdogood.com.
For more information on the Diamond Empowerment Fund and to learn how you can support good works visit www.diamondempowerment.org.
About Diamonds Do Good: an initiative of The Diamond Empowerment Fund, celebrating how diamonds do good by highlighting the social impact of programs jewelers everywhere embrace every day. The Diamonds Do Good initiative provides jewelers with online and in-store tools to help communicate these programs to customers and complement the Green Bracelet initiative.
About Diamond Empowerment Fund: The DEF is a global non-profit based in New York City and co-founded by Russell Simmons and leaders in the diamond industry in 2007 to empower diamond communities around the world. Its beneficiaries include: the African Leadership Academy, a university preparatory school in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded on the belief that ethical leadership is the key to sustainable development on the continent and drawing students from all 54 countries in Africa, the Botswana Top Achievers program that provides the top high school students countrywide the opportunity to study at a university of their choice worldwide. Graduates then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development; Veerayatan, a model for encouraging development of responsible citizens who are educated, have strong integrity and a motivation to give back to their community. D.E.F supports students attending its colleges of Pharmacy, Business Administration and Engineering. D.E.F also supports the Diamond Development Initiative’s mobile school program in the Democratic Republic of Congo and high school scholars in Tanzania through the Flaviana Matata Foundation. www.diamondempowerment.org.
About COUTURE: the most exclusive fine jewelry and timepiece event in North America,
bringing together heritage brands and renowned designers in the luxurious setting of The Wynn and Encore, Las Vegas. Catering to the world’s top retailers and most prominent media outlets, COUTURE sets itself apart with its highly curated selection of brands and distinguished attendees. http://www.thecoutureshow.com/
