A Committed Collective
Collaboration, community and a commitment to responsible sourcing are at the heart of a new natural diamond initiative created by De Beers Group.
Creating opportunities to have conversations about responsible sourcing and the impact of natural diamonds on global communities is vital for Natural Diamond Council members. De Beers Group’s latest initiative, ReSet, is a vehicle through which these constructive conversations can be had, while engaging jewellery designers and consumers who are personally dedicated to giving back and taking positive steps towards sustainability.
ReSet is framed as an on-going series of partnerships with jewellery designers and is aimed at shining a light on the significant positive contribution that natural diamonds deliver for the people and places where they are found. This initiative will enable designers, and in turn their consumers, to make a more informed decision around the gems they choose to buy.
The debut project under the ReSet umbrella is the ReSet Collective, a collaboration with five leading US designers who were taken to visit De Beers Group’s operations in Botswana in late 2019. The visit highlighted a range of community and conservation programmes that De Beers Group supports , and enabled the designers to experience first-hand the Group’s commitment toBuilding Forever by championing women and girls, protecting the environment and sourcing responsibly.
The designers, Julez Bryant, Sara Weinstock, Jennie Kwon, Jade Trau and Zoë Chicco, then decided that each will create a one-of-a-kind pendant inspired by the journey of a diamond and the people, wildlife and landscape of Botswana. These pieces will be auctioned for charity later this year, with a supporting consumer marketing campaign.
Jennie Kwon highlighted: “Us designers formed such a special bond while we were out in Botswana with De Beers Group and we wanted to commemorate the experience by collaborating on a project that would live on beyond the trip.”
By providing designers a first-hand experience of diamond producing communities, ReSet is creating ambassadors for responsible sourcing who can contribute to the global conversation with knowledge and enthusiasm. This is a new generation of natural diamond advocates who share a passion for positive change and a sustainable future.
Designer Jade Trau reflected on the impact of the trip: “It empowered and educated me in the rough diamond space, as well as the supply chain, and it makes me feel good about choosing to design and sell diamond jewelry as my career.”
ReSet Collective designer, Sara Weinstock, also commented: “I wanted to be part of this campaign because I want to highlight to consumers – young and old – the good that the natural diamond industry does and the ethical ways in which diamonds are mined since there are some outdated representations out there.”
More information about each of the designers chosen for the ReSet Collective can be found on De Beers Group’s website. Their comments highlight how even those with successful careers in diamond jewellery design still have space to learn and develop their appreciation for the positive impacts that diamonds have for the people and places where they are found.
Zoë Chicco explained: “When we went to Botswana, I had no idea that De Beers Group is in a partnership with the people of the country through Debswana. In fact, for every $1 of diamonds sold through Debswana, about 80 cents goes back to the people of Botswana, which is pretty amazing. Also, 50 years ago when Debswana was formed, the country had high levels of poverty with only three schools. Now there are over 300 schools, with a thriving economy and many industries, made possible through revenues received from the diamonds. We also met with female entrepreneurs who were not necessarily involved in the diamond industry but were still benefiting from it through their businesses.”
“I have chosen to be a part of this because the land of Botswana is sacred and it’s in my soul now”, emphasized Julez Bryant.
Discover more about De Beers Group’s ReSet Collective here.
For further information about the natural diamond industry’s pledge for a sustainable future, click here. Read more about the Framework for an Ethical and Sustainable Diamond Industry.
