World-renowned jewelry designer Anna Hu has designed three unique pieces to raise funds for the fight against Covid-19. They will be sold by Diamonds That Care, a newly launched social responsibility initiative of Alrosa, the world’s largest diamond mining company.
The project has been organized in cooperation with the non-profit Diamonds Do Good, which supports programs that develop and empower people in natural diamond communities. Christie’s will host the online auction from July 3-13 and all proceeds will go to supporting healthcare workers fighting against the coronavirus.
“Many people are in distress, and no one can remain indifferent to this pandemic. The world needs positivity, empathy, a sense of support, care and love. I hope to express all these feelings in my three pieces of jewelry. I was inspired and grateful to have received the opportunity to work on something larger than simply beautiful jewelry, something meaningful and with heart,” Ms. Hu commented.
The three pieces have all been created using the same rich brown diamonds extracted by Alrosa in Yakutia, a region in the Siberian Far East. Alrosa, which accounts for every fourth stone sold on the global market, also leads the industry in social responsibility. It controls its entire chain of mining and production for maximum traceability and donates three percent of its revenue to social development programs each year. The partnership with Ms. Hu further enhances its reputation as a force for good in an industry that has so often caused controversy.
Sergey Ivanov, CEO of Alrosa, said: “We are living in a different world, where old divides are no longer important because we all face the same threat. By working with Christie’s, which operates in all the regions affected by the coronavirus, and the brilliant Chinese jewelry artist Anna Hu, we are raising funds for a US-based charitable organization supporting activities in various countries. This project is a living example of how countries and stakeholders can unite in their efforts to help those in need.”
Christie’s, which has had to adapt its own business model in the wake of the pandemic, has expressed its excitement at hosting what will be a landmark event for the jewelry industry.
“Anna Hu’s works are characterized by elegant forms and color combinations. They are rarely sold at auction and when her pieces come to the secondary market, demand is high. As an artisan jeweler, Anna produces no more than thirty pieces a year, each a unique creation. Her involvement will create international excitement and we are pleased to offer our leading online platform and engage with our international clients to bid for this worthy cause,” said Max Fawcett, Christie’s jewelry specialist.
The pieces
A necklace with fancy color and colorless diamonds, centering a Fancy Brown-Yellow diamond weighing 27.02 carats. It is manufactured with 18 k white gold and 18 k red gold.
An 18k red gold ring with fancy color diamonds and colorless diamonds, centering a Faint Brown diamond weighing 1.59 carats.
A pair of earrings made of 18k white gold and 18k red gold, with fancy color and colorless diamonds, each earring centering a pear shape 3 carats diamond.