With humanitarian efforts ongoing to aid Ukraine during the Russian invasion, the jewelry industry continues its fundraising campaigns in hopes of helping the Ukrainian people during this chaotic and dangerous time.
Some jewelers, in coordination with International Women’s Day on Tuesday as well as Women’s History Month throughout March, have also focused on specific charities that support female refugees and survivors of war.
For example, Pomellato on Tuesday announced as part of its Pomellato for Women campaign and International Women’s Day advocacy that it has made a donation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and is launching a fundraising campaign benefiting UN Women, which seeks to protect and empower women and girls in Ukraine.
Pamela Love also donated as part of International Women’s Day, saying in a statement: “In light of recent events we’ve decided to mark International Women’s Day with a donation to CARE’s Ukrainian Crisis Fund…. 50% of today’s proceeds from the Divine Feminine Collection will be dedicated to lifting up these women who are the backbones of their families and the protectors of their children.”
Another donation of note is from Boston-based Dune Jewelry & Co. As part of its monthlong giving campaign, 15% of net proceeds from its everyday sales March 9–10 will go to the Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
“We’ve had such great success with our Giving Week events and are continuing them with wonderfully deserving organizations during the entire month of March this year,” says Dune founder and CEO Holly Daniels Christensen. “Our world is very much in need of positivity, so not only will we be donating 15% of net proceeds, we will also be highlighting each charity to bring awareness to their mission.”
Another eye-catching campaign comes from Bibi van der Velden and her hand-crafted Ukrainian alligator. The alligator’s body is created with specially sourced gemstones. The blue topaz is an empathic stone associated with compassion and communication, building bridges between people. The yellow citrine strengthens our endurance and represents the joy and peace we all long for, the designer said in a statement.
The earring is designed in 18k yellow gold with the alligator’s mouth acting as the earring’s closing mechanism to snap onto the ear. The eyes are blue and yellow sapphires, and the tail on the alligator gently moves. A single earring can also double as a pendant. The designer said 100% of the proceeds will be donated to UNICEF, “which is doing everything it can to respond to this devastating crisis,” she said in a statement.
Here is a roundup of other charitable efforts across the jewelry industry for Ukraine:
• California-based Holly Yashi is partnering with the International Rescue Committee to help families affected by this crisis. Now through March 31, 25% of the proceeds from the retail sales of its Free Spirit feather earrings will go to the International Rescue Committee to support families displaced by the invasion. These earrings are “symbols of honor, strength, and freedom as a sign of solidarity and remembrance of the freedoms we so often take for granted,” the company said in a statement. So far, Holly Yashi has sold more than 50 pairs of these earrings, the company said via email.
• Throughout the month of March, London-based fine jeweler Rachel Boston, who is known for combining art deco–inspired forms and modern silhouettes in her collection of fine jewelry and engagement rings, will donate 20% of sales of her new 18k gold and diamond chunky knife edge necklace and matching bracelet to Women for Refugee Women, a female-led charity that helps to empower and give a voice to refugee and asylum-seeking women in the U.K.
• British fine jeweler and goldsmith Cece Fein Hughes is donating 30% of all sales between March 4 and March 12 of her hand-enameled signet rings and pendants to UNICEF as they endeavor to support families affected by the conflict in Ukraine and bring basic services to those who are most in need.
• British fine jeweler Minka Jewels, who is known for her use of colored gemstones, is donating 15% of all sales between March 1 and March 12 to Women for Women International. The charity, which has helped more than 500,000 women in eight countries since 1993, aids women survivors of war in rebuilding their lives and working toward a better future for themselves and their families through the charity’s training programs and support network.
• Tomasz Donocik and Bea Bongiasca have stepped up to raise money in order to support Ukraine during this time. All sales from Bea Bongiasca’s e-commerce store on March 1–2 (8,572 euros) were donated to Red Cross Ukraine. Tomasz Donocik created a leather wrap bracelet in Ukrainian blue and will be donating 100% of the profits to SOS Children’s Villages UK.
• Eden Presley has designed a limited-edition version of her Peace & Love pendant. The peace sign lock closure for this limited-edition version is set with yellow and blue sapphires. All of the proceeds from the sales of this design will be donated to United Help Ukraine, a local nonprofit volunteer group providing medical supplies and humanitarian aid.
• Sig Ward Jewelry is donating all proceeds from the sale of its two reeded gold rings, each set in 14k yellow gold with deep blue lolite or vibrant citrine. Proceeds will be donated to Razom for Ukraine, a nonprofit that supports Ukraine’s democracy and civil rights.
Top: To support the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, Bibi van der Velden created her hand-crafted Ukrainian alligator. The alligator’s body is made with specially sourced gemstones in the colors of the Ukrainian flag (photo courtesy of Bibi van der Velden).
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