Signet Jewelers Becomes Sponsor’s D.E.F. ‘Diamonds in the Sky’ Gala

Signet Jewelers Ltd., the largest specialty jewelry retailer in the US and UK, has become the first “Premier Presenting Sponsor” of the “Diamonds in the Sky” Gala Event, hosted by the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F).

The event will be held on May 29th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas. D.E.F. is a global non-profit organization that raises money to fund education initiatives in diamond-producing nations. It was co-founded by business magnate Russell Simmons and leaders in the diamond industry in 2007. Signet Jewelers is best-known in the US as the owners of Kay Jewelers and Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry retail jewelry chains.

The event will bring a mix of the international diamond jewelry industry representatives, government officials from diamond producing nations, dignitaries and celebrities from fashion and entertainment. The proceeds will benefit D.E.F’s ‘Diamonds Do Good’ mission of providing higher education scholarships for youth from diamond producing countries. 

Presentation of the Diamond Empowerment Fund 2014 Global Diamond Industry Achievement Award will be made to Botswana President Ian Khama in recognition of their global leadership and contributions to democracy, sustainable economic development and the growth and expansion of the international diamond industry. 

“We are thrilled to congratulate Signet as the first Premier Presenting Sponsor for D.E.F on this occasion,” said Phyllis Bergman, president of D.E.F’s board of directors. “We encourage other industry leaders to consider sponsorship opportunities of this important event which celebrates the good diamonds do.” 

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DEF Presents GOOD Awards to Jewelry Industry Leaders

GOOD Award recipients with sponsors and DEF officials

The Diamond Empowerment Fund, a global non-profit organization that raises money to fund education initiatives in African diamond-producing nations, recently honored diamond industry leaders who are committed to corporate social responsibility and promoting education, empowerment, and prosperity in diamond-producing countries. The event was held at the Empire Penthouse Lounge in New York.

The DEF GOOD Awards were given to industry leaders Forevermark, JCK, and Fred Meyer Jewelers. Stephen Lussier, CEO of Forevermark, Peter Engel, president of Fred Meyer Jewelers, and Yancy Weinrich, JCK group vice president of events, and Mark Smelzer, publisher of JCK magazine and JCKOnline.com, accepted on behalf of their organizations. 

The event kicked off with an African ceremonial dance by native Batswana dancers. D.E.F Scholar Nadine Zoro from Cote d’Ivoire, who is attending university at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., affirmed the importance of higher education to help transform the economies of diamond producing countries, and thanked the diamond industry’s support of the Diamond Empowerment Fund. Ambassadors from Namibia and Botswana were in attendance, as well as representation by the Democratic Republic of Congo.  

“We are thrilled and encouraged by the fabulous success of the 2014 GOOD Awards,” said Phyllis Bergman, DEF board president.

DEF beneficiaries include: CIDA City Campus, South Africa’s first non-profit university offering a four-year business degree; African Leadership Academy, a university preparatory school in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded on the belief that ethical leadership is the key to sustainable development, and the Botswana Top Achievers program that provides the top high school students the opportunity to study at a university of their choice worldwide and then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic diversification and growth.

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Diamond Empowerment Fund Unveils Jewelry And Watch Collection At Donna Distefano’s Atelier

Banneker watches, Royal Asscher Pendant and Donna Distefano “Illumination” bracelets that are being sold to fund DEF charities. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Jewelry industry representatives crowded into the Donna Distefano atelier in New York recently to view new products that will be sold to raise funds for educational programs in the diamond-producing countries of Africa.

Three members of the Diamond Empowerment Fund, a diamond industry charity, unveiled the following items, which are being called "Empowerment” products: A green tsavorite and diamond pendant from Royal Asscher, the Dutch diamond company; “Illumination” bracelets from goldsmith Donna Distefano; and three watches from the Banneker watch company. About 10 percent of the retail cost of each product will be donated to DEF.

DEF was co-founded by Russell Simmons, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Benjamin Chavis, civil rights and business leader, and diamond industry leaders. It provides higher education opportunities for youth in diamond producing countries of Africa.

The crowd attending the DEF event at the Donna Distefano Atelier. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Among those in attendance to show the new products were Distefano, Lita Asscher, president of Royal Asscher America, and Derrick Holmes, CEO of Banneker, Inc. Phyllis Bergman, DEF board president, and Nancy Orem Lyman, DEF executive director, were also in attendance. 

Distefano’s line of “Illumination” bracelets (pictured above) depicts symbolic African designs in sterling silver and diamonds. Each bracelet represents core values of DEF: transformation, tranquility and strength. The collection of three bracelets is made of suede with a silver and diamond and buckle. They retail for $200 each and are available through the Donna Distefano website. For every purchase, DEF receives a $20 donation. 

 
The DEF green tsavorite and diamond pendant (pictured above) is part of the Shining Stars of Africa collection by Royal Asscher. The pendant contains green tsavorite and diamonds encased in a fluid-filled natural sapphire dome allowing the jewels to fall freely like snowflakes in a snow globe. The price is $1,250 and can be purchased through the Royal Asscher website. With every pendant purchase, a $125 donation is made to DEF.
 

Banneker DEF watches (pictured above) have a Royal Asscher diamond at 12 o’clock, green crystals on the dial and bezel, and natural Ebony wood from Indonesia or Mahogany wood from Madagascar on the dial and band. All Banneker watches contain real wood as a way of paying homage to its namesake Benjamin Banneker who, in 1753, engineered and built the first working clock in America constructed entirely from parts he carved of wood. The “Euro Face” collection (gold and silver availability) retails for $390 and a $39 donation is made to DEF. The “Large Face” collection retails for $490 and $49 donation is made to DEF. The watches, which are scheduled to be available in time for the holidays, can be purchased through the company’s website.

Empowerment jewelry will also be available in the future through a dedicated DEF e-commerce website.

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D.E.F. Supports Flaviana Matata Foundation

The Diamond Empowerment Fund has granted $10,000 to the Flaviana Matata Foundation, which empowers young orphan girls through education, skills training and micro-finance projects in Tanzania.

Founded by fashion model and former Miss Universe Tanzania, Flaviana Matata (pictured left), the FMF seeks to create a future through education and improve livelihoods among the youth in Tanzania.

“When you empower a girl, you empower an entire community,” Matata said. “Providing opportunity for these young girls will encourage others to stay in school and vastly improve their chances for employment and productive livelihoods.”

Matata received the “Face of Africa” award in recognition for her leadership and dedicated service to the African community at the African Diaspora Awards on December 8 in NYC.

The Diamond Empowerment Fund will be hosting its GOOD Awards on January 10 in New York—recognizing leaders who are making a difference in Africa.

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Diamond Empowerment Fund to Honor Tiffany & Co. and Leo Schachter

Global luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. and Leo Schachter Diamonds will be honored for global leadership in helping empower people in Africa, at the second annual GOOD Awards on January 10, 2013.

The GOOD Awards, established by the Diamond Empowerment Fund in 2012, are the highest awards to recognize individuals and corporations in the diamond and jewelry industry for outstanding leadership in the areas of good corporate citizenship, sustainability, and promoting opportunity in Africa.

Tiffany & Co. has been in the forefront of promoting business practices and programs that benefit communities in which diamonds are sourced. Tiffany’s work in Botswana and other diamond producing countries highlights one of the many ways the company demonstrates accountability through best business practices resulting in employment, infrastructure improvements, and ultimately the empowerment of people in that region.

Leo Schachter Diamonds was one of the first diamond companies to establish a cutting factory in Botswana, employing hundreds of locals. In addition, Elliot Tannenbaum, principal of Leo Schachter Diamonds, in partnership with the government of Botswana, helped to establish the Botswana Top Achievers Program, a DEF beneficiary, that funds top students from the nation to study at the university of their choice worldwide.

Additional honorees will be announced soon. For more information on tickets, journal ads and sponsorship packages please visit www.goodawards.org.

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‘Stars of Africa’ on the Runway for Charity

Royal Asscher lit up the runway Thursday night in New York with its “Stars of Africa” collection, by Toronto jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia.

Model with Stars of 
Photo: Barry J. Holmes

For each piece sold at the “Lingerie New York” event and over the next six months, 50 percent of the profits will go to the Seven Bar Foundation, an organization, through an online collaboration on Royal Asscher’s Web site. The foundation provides small loans (via micro-financing) to underprivileged women to start their own small business as an exit out of poverty.

Actress Sofia Vergara hosted the runway event at Cipriani’s 42nd Street, which attracted a number of celebrities and jewelry industry official, most notably Russell Simmons, the hip-hop entrepreneur and founder of the Diamond Empowerment Fund, and actress Minnie Driver.

From left: Actress Sofia Vergara, Renata M. Black, Seven Bar Foundation director, and Lita Asscher, president of Royal Asscher of America

The MTV produced show included eight aerialist performers; two top couture and luxury lingerie designers—Atsuko Kudo and Carine Gilson—DJ Michelle Rodriguez; and models Veronica Webb, Elsa Benitez and Crystal Renn walking the runway.

The Stars of Africa by Royal Asscher collection consists of rings, pendants, earrings and necklaces. Diamonds are encased in fluid filled sapphire dome, allowing them to fall freely, like snowflakes in a snow globe. For each piece of Stars of Africa jewelry sold, at least three women will get microfinance loans.

The scene at Cipriani's

“We are extremely proud to have the opportunity through our collections and success to provide women living in poverty with an opportunity to sustain themselves for life and create their own legacy,” said Lita Asscher, president of Amsterdam-based Royal Asscher diamond company.

D.E.F. to Host Fundraiser in London

The Diamond Empowerment Fund is hosting its first international fundraising event, DEF London: Diamonds in the Sky, to be held November 8 at Altitude 360.

Russell Simmons

The benefit and auction is designed to raise awareness and funds for D.E.F.’s mission of empowering economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource. The evening’s honorary chairman is entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Simmons, co-founder of the D.E.F.

Nicky Oppenheimer, chairman of De Beers, and Peter Sands, group chief executive of Standard Chartered, will be honored for their business leadership, commitment to corporate social responsibility and their work towards health and educational empowerment for the benefit of Africa. The program will also includes remarks by alumni from D.E.F. beneficiary schools; African Leadership Academy and CIDA City Campus, both located in Johannesburg and both models for access to higher education for African youth.

The event at Altitude 360, with its panoramic views of London’s skyline, will bring together a mixture of international leaders in the world’s diamond market, London’s business, social and philanthropic communities, and current supporters of the D.E.F. mission. It will raise money through an exclusive live auction of lots consisting of diamond jewelry, travel packages and celebrity experiences. An online fundraising auction will coincide with the London event from November 2-30 on the Charitybuzz Web site.

The event’s co-chairs are Varda Shine, CEO of the Diamond Trading Company, Anna Martin, managing director, Diamonds & Jewellery Origination & Client Coverage, Standard Chartered Bank, and Justin Etzin, chairman of Altitude London and Seychelles Capital,

The non-profit Diamond Empowerment Fund's mission is to raise funds to go towards supporting education initiatives that will change the lives of African communities based around diamond mines alongside education for Africa.

Mark Schneider’s New Bridal Designs

 Charmed

Award-winning jewelry designer Mark Schneider introduced several new bridal designs during the Couture jewelry show in Las Vegas. The collection of the diamond engagement rings is available in 14k and 18k white gold and in platinum.

 Delicate

Schneider’s bridal designs have won numerous awards over the years. The company's headquarters is in Long Beach, Calif. 

 Honey

Below are some more images of the new collection:

 Innocence                             Kindle

Orchid

New Stars of Africa Jewelry Unveiled

As reported earlier, Royal Asscher selected Toronto jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia to create five new jewelry designs to complement its Stars of Africa rings, which were released last year. The new jewelry line of pendants, necklaces and earrings was unveiled during jewelry week recently held in Las Vegas.

The diamond and 18k gold and platinum rings incorporated a clear half-sphere made of sapphire crystal filled with small diamonds. The crystal half shells are filled with a clear silicone, which allow the diamonds to float inside the ring in the same manner that paper confetti floats inside a snow globe. Of course the diamonds have a lot more sparkle.

Ahluwalia took that half-sphere concept and using what she calls a combination of mechanics and geometry (let’s not forget exceptional design) expanded it into full globes. In some cases, as with the pendants and earrings, the entire globe rotates inside the housing. The new designs incorporate diamond micro pavé in a way that appears to orbit the globes. With one of the necklaces, the orbiting ring spins around the globe. All of the pieces are substantial, in particular the earrings, and all are variations and even advancements of the design theme introduced by Royal Asscher last year.

The collection is available in pink, yellow and white 18k gold and in platinum.

The jewelry is being used to raise funds to support children’s programs in Africa through its Star of Africa initiative. Much of the world’s diamonds are mined in Africa but in many cases the local population do not benefit. A portion of all sales will go toward the Diamond Empowerment Fund, the organization founded by entrepreneur Russell Simmons, which has two beneficiaries: CIDA City Campus and ALA, both of which are based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Lita Asscher president of Royal Asscher of America Inc. was recently named an advisory board member of D.E.F.

Lita and her brother Mike Asscher, vice president of Royal Asscher in Europe and Asia (sixth generation representatives of the famed Amsterdam-based diamond company) said they wanted to show the industry how it can have a positive impact on Africa, particularly Sierra Leone, which Lita visited in 2008. They came away with a strong belief in "diamonds for development" that became the main goal of the Star of Africa initiative.

In keeping with the theme of the jewelry collection, one of Ahluwalia’s new designs includes three diamond micro pavé satellites circling the diamond globe, which she says represent education, healthcare and empowerment.