Sarah Graham Metalsmithing

Fingerprint Jewelry

2012-01-30T09:11:00.002-08:00

Created in 18K gold and Sterling Silver, Sarah began offering this idea over ten years ago when a friend requested a ring with her new baby's prints as a 'push' present. Since then, Sarah has made countless wedding sets for couples who imprint their fingers in each other's bands as a way to make the most extraordinarily sentimental and personal wedding rings ever. Several prints can be combined on the same piece of jewelry, so when a couple already has children, those can be included on the rings as well. She even once took a paw print from a canine 'family member' who served as the ring bearer in the couple’s wedding!But because the prints are pressed directly into the wax, rather than taken from an ink impression, the process must be done in person, and until now has only been offered to friends and family in Sarah's San Francisco studio. This differentiates Sarah's jewelry from the fingerprint offerings you see online, and most importantly highlights what makes her designs so unique – the rich, natural texture. It also facilitates a way for the designer to connect directly with her customers – stores advertise the event in advance and Sarah comes with her wax impression kit, often customizing the designs even further.So why is Sarah finally taking this beyond her local studio and offering it to the public? Probably that little life changing event she encountered recently when she became a first time mom herself. When her son was four weeks old, she made a gold and oxidized silver necklace with her his prints and it wasn't long before everyone in her mommy group had one. While she knew the bridal market for fingerprint jewelry was big, she was blown away by the demand for jewelry by moms searching for something that captures the fleeting moment when children, and their little prints, are young - in a more sophisticated style than one usually finds in mom jewelry.Her calendar for fingerprint shows is filling up quickly as stores get in line to schedule their own in time to help customers celebrate all of life's most important occasions with this truly one of a kind jewelry.

2012-01-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

The Three ‘R’s

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle….You have heard it a thousand times; testament of a strongslogan. And by now we should all be practicing these three dictums without thoughtas we go about our daily lives. But how to reconcile our love of fashion, andjewelry in particular, with this environmental triad? Well, turns out we don’tneed to stretch our moral boundaries too far to justify a fine jewelrypurchase:

Reduce - By choosing fine jewelry, rather than costume, costalone will necessitate a reduction in the amount of pieces you purchase.

Reuse – Take your time, consider your lifestyle, and find apiece you absolutely love. Wear it daily, build your signature style around it,and value it accordingly. Then pass it on to your children!

Recycle - The vast majority of all fine jewelry on themarket is made from recycled precious metals. With the exception of the Mint orvery large manufacturers, jewelers are casting and fabricating from refined metalsthat were mined previously. Be discriminating- the smaller the designer, the more likely it is they are taking extra stepsto identify the origin of their materials, and the more easily you can obtainthis information. The same holds true for the store you buy it from.

Use discretion and be thoughtful in all your purchases,and treasure the act of treating yourself!

Last Two Trunkshows of 2011...

2011-11-28T15:13:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is over, and Christmas is around the corner. Before we know it, we'll be ringing in the new year. But we have two more shows before the year is over, representing two more opportunities to see more of our jewelry than ever, including a sneak preview of our 2012 designs! Sarah will be at Manika Jewelry on Maiden Lane in San Francisco December 1st and 3rd, and at French Designer Jeweler in Scottsdale December 9th and 10th. Visit our events page for details. Hope to see you there!

Sonoma and Claremont...We are Back!

2011-11-10T09:23:00.001-08:00

To all my friends and collectors in the Sonoma and Claremont Neighborhoods, we have missed you! But Terra Firma Gallery is due to receive a shipment of our latest designs tomorrow, and we are bringing even more to our trunk show at the Gallery in the Claremont Hotel Resort, November 18th and 19th. We hope you will come say hello - there is so much to catch up on, and I can't wait to show you all my latest creations, including pictures of my finest - my little baby boy!

Terra Firma Gallery

Jewelista - where fashion finds jewelry...online!

2011-10-25T11:55:00.001-07:00

Your passion for jewelry is indulged with Jewelista - a brand new website devoted to those of you who make jewelry the centerpiece of your wardrobe!
Jewelista has a broad collection of our designs, so now you can shop from the comfort of your own home, office or anywhere you are wired. Next time you find a few extra moments and want to indulge, visit Jewelista, where you will see our latest designs, as well as an interview with Sarah that explores her background, inspiration and style influences. Also, don't miss their style guide, a great resource for all the latest trends and style news.

We've added a new show - NY Gift!

2011-06-30T11:02:00.001-07:00

This August we will be debuting our latest collection in the Hand Made section, booth 9150, at the New York Gift Fair. The show runs August 13 - 17 at the Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The NY Gift Fair is held twice a year, in August and January - ideal times for stores to see their artist's newest designs and place orders for their busiest seasons. The Fair hosts 2,800 exhibiting companies showcasing the very best lines across the home, lifestyle and gift spectrum, presenting a fantastic opportunity to discover talented new designers.

Drop us an e-mail to schedule your appointment. Open to the trade only.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

New York International Gift Fair

Springtime in New York has never Sparkled this Bright!

2011-03-22T15:55:00.000-07:00

In artistic collaboration, Sarah Graham and llyn strong gallery will be introducing their latest creations at New York’s Annual Sculptural Objects & Functional Art Fair (SOFA), April 14^th -17^th. The fair is being held at the Park Avenue Armory and will offer a VIP opening night preview on April 13^th for first selection of all artwork.

Sarah will be featuring her Shadow Dome Collection and llyn will be offering her “Modullyn” jewelry as well as sculptured flatware and jeweled boxes. The artistry of sixteen other incredibly talented jewelry and glass artists will also be a presented as part of this magnificent collection.

Hailed as the World’s Foremost Fair of Contemporary Decorative Arts & Design SOFA includes more than 50 galleries from around the world.

For further details please visit llynstrong.com/upcomingshows or sofaexpo.com/NY/2011.

Springtime in New York has never sparkled so bright!

JQ Retailer's Choice Designer of the Year: Sarah Graham

2010-05-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to announce our designation as 'Designer of the Year' by JQ International Jewelry Magazine! Now in it's 6th year, the JQ Retailer's Choice Designer Awards recognize design excellence within the fine jewelry industry. Winners in nine distinct design categories are selected by JQ International's retailer readers through an online voting ballot on their website, JQIntl.com. Nominations for each category are based strictly on the retailer's choice for their favorites from among all fine jewelry designers and are not based on submitted entries. Each year, this exclusive group of nine winners, including Designer of the Year, is honored at a special awards ceremony held during the June Las Vegas trade shows.

The Designer Jewelry Opportunity: How to Transform a Mainstream Retailer into the Most Unique Jewelry Store in Town

2010-04-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

You know what you need to do, but you’re not sure how. Join a panel discussion dedicated to giving a jewelry store the confidence and answers it needs to make the changes that will help them differentiate, stay competitive and revolutionize the way their store is perceived by their customers forever.

Stores that embrace change and strive to innovate are stores that survive, and many have flourished in an unsteady economy by incorporating designer jewelry into their product mix. AJDC president Todd Reed and Vice President Sarah Graham lead a discussion with the owners of two top retailers who have over 50 years of combined experience in the jewelry business. Both stores turned to designer jewelry when times got tough, and have relied on this product mix to see them through the inevitable ups and downs of our ever changing, but never boring, industry.

I. Gorman, a family owned business since 1981, began experimenting with designers in the early 80s, and by the time the recession of the early 90s hit, they were glad the had – they found themselves well positioned to survive what would otherwise have been a crippling economy had they not set themselves apart from the crowd by offering their customers jewelry they couldn’t find anywhere else. As competition grew and the designer ‘gems’ they had discovered became more mainstream. I. Gorman saw a need to differentiate themselves again and altered course in mid 90s by introducing newer jewelers as well as international designers. Today, Nicole and Adam Gorman are witnessing yet another evolution in their customer’s tastes and are adjusting their product mix to suit – and still find the designer pool to be their best source for filling their cases with the newest and most innovative jewelry.

Babs Noelle of Alara Jewelry began her career as a bench jeweler in 1988 and sold her designs through her retail store. Her success reached a ceiling in 1998 when, tired of watching business walk out the door and unable to find enough time to make everything herself, she realized that if she were going to grow, she needed to offer diversity to her customers, and so turned to the designers that she respected and appreciated. Babs has been committed to designer jewelry ever since, and has developed an astute sense for choosing new designers and evaluating their success. She also has an exceptional skill for marketing that grabs her customer’s attention and builds their trust in one of the most entertaining campaigns in the industry.

Adam, Nicole and Babs will talk about how they choose designers, how they evaluate a line’s success, and how they formulate marketing strategies that capitalize on the clout of the brands they carry while still building their store’s own brand. They will turn the tables by asking Todd and Sarah their take on certain aspects of the business as well, and finally the audience will have full reign to pose questions to the entire panel. Under the auspice of the American Jewelry Design Council, whose purpose it is to bring understanding to the public about the value and craftsmanship of designer jewelry, Todd and Sarah, along with these hugely successful store owners and the Smart Show, promise a value packed seminar that will layout exactly why and how designer jewelry could be just the change a mainstream store needs to differentiate and excel in any market.

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The panel discussion Designer Jeweler Opportunity begins at 11:15 am Monday, April 26^th during the Smart Show on Chicago’s Navy Pier. Visit www.smartjewelryshow.com for more details.

Total Immersion

2010-01-13T23:21:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday we held our second annual fund raising event for Namaste
Direct, a non-profit organization that provides micro loans, mentorship and
business and vocational training to women entrepreneurs in Central America.
At Namaste's annual fundraiser, tickets to the event are bid on by Namaste
supporters, and the winners get to spend an afternoon in our studio seeing
the jewelry making process from start to finish. We began at 11am with
cocktails and an introduction to the studio and our jewelry design
philosophy. Guests saw samples from our newest collection and learned about
what we do to overcome the various challenges that always occur with a new
design. I demonstrated the wax carving process by making a link for our
newest bracelet design. Then everyone made their way to the kiln and donned
sunglasses in preparation to watch the casting process.
After knocking out the cast pieces from the flask, the group watched
Rose and Kristen as they attached the links into a bracelet using a laser
welder. Everyone took a turn at the welder by trying to melt the eye of a
president on various coins with the laser beam!
We then sat down to an elegant Central American themed lunch, expertly
prepared by Onie Burge of Alchemy Catering. Lastly, everyone had a chance to
enjoy, try on and purchase our jewelry, and 20% of the sales were donated to
Namaste Direct. All in all we raised over $6000 for the organization, which
will help over 100 women start businesses, and everyone left informed,
inspired and well adorned!
To reserve your spot at next year's event contact Sarah@sarahgraham.com, and
to learn more about Namaste Direct, go to www.namaste-direct.org.

Meet Mr. Graham

2009-07-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

We have a new man in our life!

This week we travel to New York to introduce our collection for the other half of the population at the upcoming JANY 2009 jewelry show.

‘Spear’ is the name of the introductory collection of jewelry for men, and the inspiration is a radiolarian - a single celled marine organism with a form that is graphic, masculine, and, of course, organic. Mr. Graham combines our signature blackened Cobalt Chrome with sterling accents. Edgier than its feminine counterpoint, the center piece of Mr. Graham is a carabineer type key chain/hold all that embodies the future of men’s jewelry.

Mr. Graham is functional ornamentation for modern men living in the spirit of Ernst Haeckel, George Washington Carver, and Nicolai Tesla. Futurists of their time, all of these men were intellectually multi-dimensional while being deeply seated in the arts. They also set life style trends, not only for their time but for future generations up until the present. Mr. Graham modifies male ornamentation from the traditional standards of men’s jewelry into inventive, elegant design that speaks to the values, technology, altruism and entrepreneurship of the modern gentleman. The designs are organic in nature and expand the established men’s accessory category beyond jewelry into stylish functional gear that improves the client’s ability to organize practical accessories while exuding true fashion proficiency.

The new collection will be available at the JANY show, Booth 1256 Couture Pavilion, and at select locations in the coming months.

To find a retailer that carries Mr. Graham, e-mail us at info@mrgraham.com

mrgraham.com

Mr. Graham in Modern Jeweler

See you tomorrow!

2009-03-17T22:15:00.000-07:00

It is quite possible - indeed probable - that we will look back at this last year and marvel at the innovation that sprang from this extraordinary year - innovations that will make those of us who embrace them the few who actually prosper during a recession. I know this, so I have on my list of things to do: ‘Embrace innovation’ and ‘Embrace Change’. But you know how the big ones always linger at the bottom of list…the ones that you copy over and over from list to list, the ones that never get done. But today I am proud to say, I have finally embraced an innovation!

We are always looking for new ways to communicate - communication is a vital part of my every day. Did you know, my studio and business office are in different places – different cities in fact? if you didn’t, it is probably because Denise and I communicate incessantly. In fact, it is only a slight exaggeration to say we are on the phone more than not. It is astonishing, there for, that it has taken me this long to embrace the innovation that is Skype. After putting it off for, oh, two years, I finally spent the, oh, five minutes it takes to download the free software. I did it while I was at the airport on my way to a trunk show at Muse Gallery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and that night from my hotel room I spoke to my husband via Skype with live video and drove my kitties crazy as they ran around the back of the computer screen wondering where the rest of me was.

Back in the studio on Monday, I put James and Denise to the task of comparing our current phone bills with the projected expense of switching all our phone calls to Skype (skype to skype calls are free, but you can Skype to and from regular phones, and even cell phones for a fee) and ordering me a video camera and cordless headset so I can roam the studio freely while talking on Skype. Denise, down in the desert, prepared her office to Skype as well.

Another weekend, another trunk show (this one at I. Gorman in Washington D.C.), another Monday back in the studio…and my Skype equipment arrived! Alas, it took me until Tuesday at 7pm to finally get it all set up, and by then Denise was long gone (one of our generous employee benefits – you get to leave work at a reasonable hour). But, it IS set up, and tomorrow morning Denise and I will be able to communicate all day long for absolutely free…and we will be able to see each other. “Is this the one they want ?” I will ask Denise as I hold up a pair of earrings to my video camera. “Is this the order you want these postcards in?” Denise will ask me, as she holds our latest mailing up to her camera. And, as soon as my stores and customers hook themselves up to Skype, I expect a lot of “Show me the one in steel…the one with a cognac diamond…the one with the bigger diamond!” as we enjoy the next best thing to a personal meeting! (Did I mention it is FREE???!!!! Can you imagine it? Employee trainings…live meetings with your customers…A visual to go along with your/my/their idea to customize the Caged Coral Locket using grandma’s gold and grandpa’s old ring and a diamond that desperately needs to be liberated from a ring that in its current form only brings up bad memories. The possibilities are dizzying!)

So, tonight, as I wrote my last e-mail to Denise to say goodnight, I embraced change once again by altering my sign off from the usual “talk to you tomorrow…” to the more precise “See you tomorrow”!

(Embrace your own innovation www.skype.com)

New Politics of Fashoin

2009-01-25T21:13:00.001-08:00

The subject of politics seem unavoidable these days. Yet, in the context of art, maybe we can all see eye to eye, or at least agree that we are witnessing something interesting, and remarkable, and that being of the same opinion is not prerequisite to sharing precious experiences.

The recent election of Barak Obama has dominated headlines on a scale second only perhaps to the economy. There are many reasons why people are enthralled with our new president, not the least of which is his wife, Michelle, who represents an ideal of a strong, independent woman perhaps better than any First Lady before her - at least for my generation. And while her professional resume and accomplishments as a mother are impressive, it is her personal style that is on my mind.

Michelle has been praised for her ‘accessible glamour’, mixing adventurous looks from little know designers like Isabel Toledo with basics from lower priced chains like J-Crew. And while her populist style is probably more a show of restraint than a reflection of a diminishing income, her price consciousness is something that we can all relate to. But it is her preference for boutique designers outside New York’s 7^th Avenue guard that most excites me. This could also be construed as a political move – supporting small business falls in nicely with the Obama rhetoric. But if you take a closer look at the actual designers she has worn, you see a pattern emerge that goes beyond conventional wisdom. The designs of Jason Wu, Thakoon, and the above mentioned Toledo are sculptural works of art that transcend trend and are crafted with a quality fit for a museum. Could it possibly be that Mrs. Obama, between her legal career, raising her daughters, and campaigning for her husband, also has the time to understand and appreciate these designs for the fine works of art that they are?

Those of you reading this blog, and who have an almost equally demanding life style, know that the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’, and that style is not merely an indulgence for those with an abundance of time and money. Once one avails themselves to the superior quality, impeccable craftsmanship and thoughtful details of wearable art, one realizes why the best clothing and accessories deserve the same high regard as the best paintings and sculptures, and that the fashion you wear is a display of your sophistication and appreciation for such. But most importantly, it is an expression of your personal style, and it is wonderful to have a woman in such a high position as Michelle embrace hers with such flair and passion…and politics have nothing to do with

Our New Year’s Resolution

2008-01-03T15:38:00.000-08:00

No, we are not joining a gym, but we are trying to slim down – on mailings, that is! During our recent annual meeting, we set a goal to reduce our paper mailings by 20% by the end of 2008. All of our newsletters and brochures are digital and sent via e-mail, and have a permanent home on our website under the News and Events tab.

If you are capable of communicating electronically, you can help us reach our goal by asking us to remove you from our printed mailings list, and give us your e-mail address, if we don’t already have it. Please send your request to denise@sarahgraham.com.

We currently mail our news letters to 3400 of you - we'll keep you posted on our progress as we count down to 2720.... Happy Digital New Year!

Cookie Time!

2007-12-08T11:55:00.001-08:00

Yes, it is that time of year, when the clichéd Love/Hate relationship rises to new heights – when we send a box of beloved homemade cookies to each of our stores. But before you dive into your own delicious bag of self loathing, I offer the following advice, and I hope it helps you enjoy each buttery crumb of chocolate chip goodness.

According to weight loss experts, the most effective (and, um, obvious!) ways to maintain or lose body weight is to engage in regular, sustained aerobic activity. We suggest the following exercises: Lift our heaviest gold and steel necklaces around the necks of as many customers as you possibly can. Actively play with your customer’s wild children so she can enjoy a quiet moment to buy the most expensive piece of jewelry in the store. Or take a jog downtown with ten of your favorite items to make a personal presentation to all the husbands who really, really need your advice. Following these simple ideas will make not only you, but your store inventory, much lighter – no matter how many cookies you eat!

Happy Holidays and best wishes for another fantastic year from Sarah, Michael, Denise, Sarah Greenberg, Erica, Kristen and Stefon!

Top: Denise, Angie, Susan and Laura disposing of the broken cookies

Middle: Max, the cookie supervisor, overseeing production (is that a health code violation?!)

Bottom: Perhpas we should have hired Brinks for this valuable shipment

Denise's Auriferous Adventures

2007-09-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

(written by Denise Long, Business Manager at Sarah Graham Metalsmithing)

New adventure and discovery began when I bought my husband a metal detector last year. I envisioned him with the detector, leisurely looking for hidden treasures on the beach, at a park, in a stream, or on a hike while I sat comfortably in a chair reading a book. Little did I know something very different was in store for us.

The owner of the prospecting store where I bought the detector in Joshua Tree, California, informed me that there were classes at Copper Mountain College on placer mining and gold detecting. With a new metal detector in hand, I knew this would be right up my husband’s alley and signed him up. When he encouraged me to come along, I thought what the heck could be out there in the middle of the desert between Joshua Tree and 29 Palms?

But what I discovered was amazing and so interesting! I had no idea that this area had been an active gold mining district as early as 1881. Nor did I know that there had ever been as many as 3,000 miners in the area at any one time. These towns were near the two largest producing mines—the Supply and the OK, both of which were closed in 1917, resulting in the abandonment of the small towns. Though some mining continued through the depression, all the mines were closed by executive order at the beginning of World War II.

Aside from the history of the place, there was much more waiting to be discovered. We used a mining technique called placer mining that involves (as we learned it) digging, classifying, dry dredging and panning for gold—exactly in that order. We began our search for gold at a sand bank close to the hills where there is quartz and black sand. The water trail running through these hills encourages great gold deposits.

For the next five weeks we explored different claims around the area of 29 Palms and the back side of Big Bear, California, with twenty people sometimes moving about a ton of dirt at a time! The hard work paid off. Many times we found “pickers”—gold that is large enough to pick up with your fingers (as opposed to gold flakes). One day, though, our search came to nil when our instructor took us to a potential new find area. (No new finds there!) Another miner stopped by our site, pointed off into the distance where he had been mining, and showed us his finds for the day—seven nicely sized pickers and nuggets! After his find that area was known as the Lucky Nugget.

On our very last day we all went out to the Lucky Nugget to see what we would strike up. This area in the Pinto Mountains was absolutely beautiful—expansive hills with water-carved paths, and plentiful large quartz rocks (always a good indication of gold deposits). We dug quite a large area and started with the usual: dig, sift, classify, dry dredge and pan. My husband got bored with the panning and decided to go play with the metal detector. He went down to the wash were we had classified and piled all the rocks (which usually someone does if they have a detector because sometimes the rocks are so covered with dirt they all look the same, and you wouldn’t know if there was gold within unless you washed all the rocks off). As he was metal detecting, we heard quite a stir. My husband’s first words were, “ I won!” Then we heard people going down to the wash and saying “I can’t believe it!” I went down to find out what the commotion was—he had found a 2.5 ounce gold nugget! It was beautiful, quite oddly shaped, and truly amazing to see in its natural form. It was a great ending to our class, but a great beginning to more adventure. After that tremendous find, there is a new claim in that area. I think the name Lucky Nugget suits it perfectly!

The Model Equation

2007-03-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

What makes a model? The more I work with models, the more I realize I am dealing with a much more complex equation than beauty = tall, thin, and pretty.

And why even use models? The answer is, of course, that the jewelry looks so much better when worn. But associating a “face” with a brand is a notoriously tricky business. Our customers (you!) are incredibly diverse, you represent a broad range of styles, ages, bodies, ethnicities, and social backgrounds. One face can never represent all of you. So by choosing one model, do we risk alienating you?

I suspect large corporations spend countless hours and dollars analyzing which face will best resonate with their customers. We, however, rely instead on our intuition and instinct. I have had the good fortune of meeting many of you in person, and have found that, despite our uniqueness; you aren’t so different from me! So I base my decisions on my own experience, which is this: I like to look at models that appear beautiful yet natural, glamorous yet approachable, sophisticated yet friendly – in essence, all the things I aspire to be, and on my good days, all the things I am!

I love looking at beautiful women in magazines – it inspires me to try new hair styles, pull my wardrobe together more creatively, and yes, occasionally, to exercise. But my experience with these models behind the scenes, without all the hair, makeup and fabulous clothes and jewelry has given me a new perspective. As with anyone we meet, those with remarkable lives and unique experiences are far more captivating then their most gorgeous picture could ever portray.

Our Model, Krysia, is a perfect example of a great model. Her looks are enviable, it's true, but it was her other interests that really captivated all of us at her photo shoot. It turns out she has quite interesting hobbies, including knife throwing and Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, and she treated us to a an exhibition, which we photographed and share with you here. Capoeira was created by African slaves, in Brazil, approximately 400 yrs. ago as a martial art. Capoeira possesses a very unique style that brings together beauty and power, developing mental balance, physical conditioning, self-defense, music and a profound sense of art, all at once. Capoeira can be done by anyone of any age or size. More than a martial art, Capoeira is also a social event filled with tradition and history.

Not up for knife throwing? Don't despair, the point is to nurture what we can control - our minds. Be exceptional, and you will attract exceptional people.

Working with Krysia has made the answer to my equation a bit clearer. I think it looks something like this: Beauty = Interesting, strong, and creative. Throw in some fabulous jewelry, and you are the most captivating woman in the room!

Mining The Issue

2007-01-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

A jewelry designer blogging about conflict diamonds? Should this blog instead be titled Conflict of Interest? One thing is for sure, I am suffering from conflicted emotions.

I am not a big fan in violence in movies, and I generally don’t go for the big action flick. So it was with reluctance that I forced myself to finally go see the movie Blood Diamond this weekend – almost a full month after it hit the theaters. And if we are going to be honest, I should admit there is another reason I wasn’t eager to see this movie – I was worried about how it would make me feel about my profession, my passion, my art.

The movie follows its main character - a rough pink diamond – through a war torn region of Sierra Leone. In the late 1990s the world became aware that rebel armies in parts of Central and Western Africa were illegally using the diamond trade to fund conflict against governments. The rebels used inhumane practices, including torture and slavery, to extract diamonds from the region. These diamonds became known as conflict diamonds, sometimes referred to as blood diamonds.

So, where does that leave us? ‘Us’ being the jewelers and customers who love, use, buy and wear diamonds everyday – are we complicit in the atrocities that occur when some diamonds are mined? What can we do to stop the suffering? Do we boycott diamonds all together, or perhaps just those from Africa?

I have mined my conscience sincerely on this issue, and have struggled to come up with a personal stance as well as a way to express those feelings to my customers. After exhaustively researching the matter, I found myself faced with enough disheartening facts that I seriously considered boycotting African diamonds – I even contacted a Canadian mine to source new stones. A solemn discussion with my husband on the issue culminated with him posing a final suggestion: “If you truly care about Africa, do what you think, in your heart, is best for their situation.”

To say their working conditions are sub par is an understatement, but to take away the job altogether is not a way to improve those conditions. They live on less than most of us can imagine, but to take away what little they have is not a humane solution. Diamonds are essential to the economies of Africa, and to boycott their diamonds we would be taking away their ability to prosper off their one natural resource. I can’t, in good conscience, recommend a boycott of African diamonds. I do, however, support an embargo on conflict diamonds.

Efforts have been made and are proving to be successful at stemming the flow of diamonds involved in these conflicts, and everyone of us who buys diamonds should support this cause. For starters, insist that the diamonds you are buying comply with The Kimberly Process. Adopted as law by 69 countries and backed by the UN, it is a process through which all diamond traders must comply to ensure that the stones were not used to fund these conflicts. Is this process perfect? Probably not, but it may just offer the best chance Africans in diamond rich regions have for a healthier, safer and more prosperous life.

The movie Blood Diamond focused on the conflict in Sierra Leone, which is now at peace, although the issue is still present in other African countries. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the movie - it was action packed, entertaining, and well acted. It was also terribly violent, disturbing, and gut wrenching, as the subject matter dictates. The jewelry industry has been on high alert for months, dreading the release of Blood Diamond and the effect it may have on diamond sales, spending millions of dollars preparing for the fall out.

The movie has served as a wake up call for designers, retailers and customers, and in my opinion is serving as a positive motivating force for the industry. Since it’s inception, The Kimberly Process and other self imposed actions have reportedly reduced the number of conflict diamonds from 4 percent of the global trade to less than one percent.

The diamonds in our jewelry are certified conflict free in accordance with the Kimberly Process. I encourage you to educate yourself on the issue and be a proponent of conflict free diamonds. If you have an opinion or question you would like to pose, I hope you will do so.