Look Book

Visionary Bridal A new collection by Dawes Design By Brooke Conner Sevenau d e s i g n ec opro f il s r ntente J e n n i f e r d aw e s A visionary artist dedicated to sustainability and transparency in all aspects of her jewelry business, Jennifer Dawes, owner and principal of Dawes Design, is launching a new bridal collection using "storied" diamonds from reliable, ethically-sourced diamond partners. "I feel a strong responsibility for being honest with my clients about where my diamonds come from and the practices that were used in producing them," says Dawes. "My business is about sustainable beauty and I have to choose sources that reflect this." Dawes came to this epiphany while she was pregnant with her first child – as the importance of creating jewelry that echoed her personal convictions inspired her to rethink and refine her brand. Since relaunching Dawes Design in 2005, she has been actively seeking sustainable options for metals and gemstones. Involved with the Green Gem Foundation and the Board of Ethical Metalsmiths, Dawes has worked hard to encourage sustainability awareness in the industry. "This has been a David and Goliath story," explains Dawes. "But it is the next logical step in the industry. It is the future." She sees the trend growing among her clients – people willing to spend money on an engagement or wedding ring, but only on something meaningful that is in keeping with their values. Now, she has even more to offer them by partnering with Avilan Storied Diamonds and with Brilliant, The Jewelry Experience, by Jamie Jaffe. Both of these are ethically acquired with a traceable history. Avilan offers a sustainable alternative to mining diamonds by providing recycled, post-consumer stones. By creating a network of sellers and buyers, Avilan allows diamonds to stay in the supply chain rather than relying on newly mined diamonds. Pioneers in the concept, Avilan is the first third-party certified diamond company that deals in all recycled stones. Brilliant, The Jewelry Experience, is a partnership between fourth-generation jeweler Jamie Jaffe and Lewis "Lazer" Wolf, one of the world's best-known diamond cutters whose work is on display in the Smithsonian. Lazer is best known for cutting the 116-carat Hope Diamond of Africa, a fancy yellow found in the 1990s. He brings a unique perspective to the industry – that diamonds are imperfectly perfect. Believing that a diamond's intrinsic characteristics give a stone depth, Lazer works to bring a stone to life, not to make a uniform gem. 40 W W W.theWeddingringbook.CoM

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