Empower Yourself - International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated on March 8th, is a global event dedicated to honouring the achievements, contributions, and resilience of women across all walks of life. It’s a day that emphasizes gender equality, empowerment, and the continued fight for women's rights. 
 
Over the last few years, I am proud of the work I’ve done with women to create jewellery that empowers and motivates them, symbolises important milestones and shows they have taken control. Jewellery may just seem like an accessory, but to many it carries deeply symbolic and sentimental status. Not only through the gemstones, but also through design and origin. 
 
Here we explore some of the ways women can empower themselves whilst showing their strength and resilience this International Women’s Day through their gem and jewellery choices.

Power Gems for Power Women

Many gems and crystals have long been associated with specific qualities, virtues or energies that resonate with the empowerment and strength of women. 
 
Amethyst, for example, is known as the stone of inner strength, courage and protection. Ideal for women who are pursuing goals and personal growth, it’s said to help balance emotions and encourage clarity of thought. So, if you’re embarking on a new journey, or you’ve overcome adversity, then it could be a great choice for you.
 
Citrine is associated with wealth, abundance and personal power. Known as the “Merchant’s Stone”, it is said to attract prosperity and encourage confidence in abilities. A great symbolic choice if you’re an entrepreneur or striving for financial independence and personal success. 
 
If you’re a woman in leadership, then sapphire may be the gemstone for you. Traditionally associated with wisdom, truth and spiritual enlightenment, they are said to enhance mental clarity, intuition and judgement, helping you make decisions aligned with your true goal.
 
Looking for a boost of energy and motivation? Garnet is often considered a stone of passion, vitality and energy and thought to increase motivation, creativity and courage by boosting the root chakra. So, if you’re looking to spark a fire within and propel yourself to take bold action towards your dreams, then this may be what you need. Garnet comes in many colours meaning you can choose one that complements your preferences and skin tone. Tsavorite is a luscious green colour whilst rhodolite garnets are a purplish red. The choice is yours!

Mining a Path Forward

Many of the natural diamond mining companies are working hard to improve sustainability, biodiversity and working conditions within the industry. Although many recognise De Beers as a jewellery house, they also mine a 1/3 of the world’s natural diamonds in countries such as Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Something that is less well known, is the way in which they support women in developing countries. For example, they have invested an additional $3 million to extend their AWOME (Accelerating Women-Owned Micro-Enterprises) programme in southern Africa. Partnering with UN Women and local government, the programme has helped provide business training and mentorship to more than 2.400 women entrepreneurs in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Find out more https://www.debeers.co.uk/en-gb/discover-de-beers/our-commitments

Colour Me Happy

For many a diamond is seen as the ultimate status symbol when it comes to jewellery. It’s an emblem of clarity and strength, perfect for the woman who has overcome challenges and want to celebrate their enduring strength and determination. However, your diamond doesn’t have to be white and there are rarer, scarcer coloured diamonds in the market that would really set you apart. Yellow is the most common and you can find yourself gaining a fantastic deal by opting for the bottom end of the colour scale rather than a verified fancy yellow. Black is also popular and in ready supply. However, pink, orange, blue, purple, green and other colours do exist but finding a natural, unheated fancy colour diamond makes them rare and therefore expensive. But sometimes, the expense is secondary to the symbolism.  

Accessorise the Part

Why wait to be gifted your dream bit of jewellery? Plenty of our female clients have taken the lead and had a piece of symbolic, emotional jewellery made that tells their deeply personal story. Pendants, as they are worn close to the heart, are a strong contender, but by far the most common are rings. It allows a freedom of expression that can be worn very prominently as your hands are so visible. However, earrings are also popular, especially those than can be jazzed up from day to night with detachable elements (earring jackets).

Remodel to Refocus

Sometimes a remodel is about making something wearable again because it’s not to taste and sometimes it’s about making a brand-new piece of jewellery that is far removed from its original form. This can be an empowering process, especially if the jewellery is a result of a separation. Many engagement, wedding rings and anniversary presents can be remodelled into something totally different and fantastic. They showcase the ability to be reborn and reimagined in a way the owner wants.

Follow Female

It may seem like a small thing, but recommending, working with and supporting female jewellery owners is huge. The gem and jewellery industry is still a male dominated space and when people think of the type of person using a private jeweller, they often conjure up the city banking types using the jeweller their father used. This perpetuates the stereotype that a man would use a man for his jewellery needs, where in fact there are more and more woman dominating the space now. A bespoke piece through a female jeweller is completing the circle – it enables us to continue to do what we love whilst providing you with a unique value piece of jewellery.

Empowering the Future

Storytelling through gem and jewellery choices is powerful. It allows a woman to tell their story in the way they want. Bespoke pieces can serve as powerful symbols and reminders, and they can be passed down through generations, carrying with them stories of the women who wore them. This can be a beautiful way to create heirlooms that honour the legacy of strong women in your family, while also ensuring that their achievements are celebrated long after they are gone. So, what are you waiting for? Start your empowering story today!