The £9.7M Miracle: How One Donated Gemstone Is Powering Humanitarian Aid
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1 day ago
The gem that keeps on giving
A chunk of rough jadeite donated by Asprey is helping to support humanitarian initiatives around the world, says Juliet Herd.
The Story Behind Asprey’s ‘Precious Heart’ Jewellery Collection
Talk about good karma. When Asprey decided to donate a kilo of rough jadeite to charity, the renowned British luxury house expected it to yield a total of 12 pieces of jewellery worth around £4 million.
By any measure, a generous gesture. But, in an extraordinary stroke of luck (after all, the revered gemstone is meant to symbolise good fortune), the hunk of jade in question turned out to be of the purest kind – vivid green imperial jadeite of such exceptional clarity and quality that Asprey’s experts have compared it to that rarest of gemstones, the red diamond. ‘We’re talking red diamond level,’ enthuses Asprey’s UK retail director Bobby Gill. ‘No museum in the world houses this quantity of jade in terms of the quality.’
On discovering that the lucky chunk (originally from China and in Asprey’s possession for more than a decade) was a remarkable 93 percent pure, the figures were swiftly revised to allow for 20 pieces to be made with a value of more than double the original estimate: a cool £9.7 million.
Last week, the exquisite, handcrafted collection, comprising necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and anklets set in 18k gold and featuring diamonds, amethysts and natural pearls, was unveiled in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirate’s third largest city. Proceeds from the sale of the pieces will fund humanitarian initiatives supporting refugees, displaced people and vulnerable communities around the world.
Known as the ‘Precious Heart’ collection, it was developed as part of an historic agreement signed in London last year between Asprey and two Sharjah-based organisations, The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) and Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council. The Foundation helps children and their families in vulnerable situations in more than 20 countries outside the UAE, while Irthi empowers women through the creation of an artisan economy. The international partnership lays the foundation for a new cross-cultural model fusing craft organisations, humanitarian foundations and luxury brands.
‘This collection honours the heritage of the UAE and underscores our shared dedication to sustainability and humanitarian service,’ Asprey CEO John Rigas said at the launch. ‘It’s a testament to what can be achieved when values align.’
Added Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, chairperson of both Irthi and TBHF: ‘When one party carries the legacy of heritage, another champions humanitarian responsibility, and a third the excellence of design, their partnership becomes a creative humanitarian initiative.’
The jewellery’s intricate designs are inspired by the traditional Emirati craft of Talli, which has been revived by Irthi’s female artisans, dedicated to preserving and promoting indigenous craft heritage. Primarily used to decorate clothing and bags and passed down from mothers to daughters, this complex embroidery involves hand-weaving braided ribbons, often with a silver or gold thread in the middle, to create colourful shapes with symbolic meanings. So culturally significant is the skill considered in the UAE that it has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Through the contemporary design of the ‘Precious Heart’ pieces, the craft has been given a new lease of life – and a far wider audience. As for the rough jadeite, it really is the gemstone that keeps on giving.
