Pollinators such as bees keep the planet and its people healthy, and for World Bee Day on May 20, Pyrrha and other jewelry brands are highlighting the noble bee, the essential role it plays, and the challenges it faces in the environment.
To celebrate World Bee Day, starting today Vancouver-based Pyrrha will donate $50 from every sale of its Honeybee talismans to the beekeeping nonprofit Hives for Humanity, which Pyrrha founders Wade and Danielle Papin say fosters inclusion and a sense of belonging through its beekeeping programs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside area.
“We’re thrilled to deepen our relationship with Hives with this charity piece because their commitment to community and our planet aligns perfectly with our values,” Wade Papin tells JCK. His company’s environmental initiatives include operating a certified Zero Carbon studio, using recycled metals, and belonging to both the Responsible Jewellery Council and 1% for the Planet.
Pyrrha’s Honeybee collection includes rings, link and braided bracelets, and chain and bead necklaces with the talismans in 14k gold, sterling silver, or bronze. These jewelry pieces are available at the company’s website as well as at its Vancouver and Los Angeles stores.
Bees are a common jewelry symbol, and many brands include the bee in their nature-inspired designs. Italian high jewelry maison Buccellati has designs resembling the beehive in its Tulle line, which features gold handworked into a lace-like honeycomb pattern.
Canadian jewelry company Birks, founded in 1879, modeled the hexagonal pendants, earrings, and chain links of its Bee Chic collection after the honeycomb of a beehive. Birks annually donates a portion of the net proceeds from Bee Chic pieces to environmental organizations, such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, to support pollinators and biodiversity worldwide.
The honeybee is a signature motif in Harwell Godfrey’s jewels, designed by Lauren Harwell Godfrey. Its 18k gold and diamond Honey Bee pendant is available in various colors, with the bee’s stripes set with diamonds, amethysts, green tourmaline/tsavorite, or yellow or blue sapphires. They are part of Harwell Godfrey’s Menagerie collection, showcasing divine creatures that travel by air, earth, or sea.
Jane Win also has a bee pendant, though it was created to honor sisters by blood or choice. One side of the Sisters Forever coin pendant depicts twin bees facing each other, a symbol of the eternal, loving bond between sisters and close friends.
World Bee Day was designated by the United Nations in recognition of the importance of bees and other pollinators (including bats, butterflies, and hummingbirds) to our ecosystem and of the increasing threats to their survival, such as pesticides and climate change. May 20 was selected because that is the birthdate (in 1734) of Anton Jansa, who pioneered modern beekeeping practices.
To support bees, the U.N. recommends planting diverse native plants, sponsoring a beekeeper’s hive, avoiding the use of pesticides or herbicides in home-based gardens, buying honey from local farmers and products grown by sustainable agricultural practices, and raising awareness about the bee’s plight.
Top: Pyrrha’s Honeybee talisman, showing a bee within a wreath of roses, is available as a 14k gold–on–silver pendant with a choice of chains, priced from $395. (Photo courtesy of Pyrrha)
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
