(Press Release)
NEW YORK – The Diamond Empowerment Fund has announced a new design for its 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 curated group of designers. 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, with 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 circles the wrist and is adjustable for ease of wear. The bracelet is available in two sizes.
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.”
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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.
A healthy 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 on the organization’s website by this September, and will be available at a variety of retailers across the country in fall 2016.
For more information on the Diamond Empowerment Fund, visit diamondempowerment.org.
