Press release: Gems Keep Giving© is thrilled to announce a special collaboration with renowned Italian brands Petramundi and Margherita Burgener to launch a one-of-a-kind jewelry project to support mining communities worldwide. The centerpiece of this initiative is a limited edition of ten GemsKeepGiving© pins, beautiful pieces of unisex jewelry designed to raise funds for the organization’s mission to promote sustainable practices and improve the lives of small-scale gem-mining and cutting communities.
The pins were introduced to the jewelry community this past week at the VicenzaOro fair in Vicenza, Italy where they enjoyed a warm reception. Soon they will travel to Tucson for the gems shows, during which Gems Keep Giving© will donate the original prototype, featuring a Montana Sapphire and representing North America, to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC.
These limited-edition pins represent a “Display of Generosity,” says Hayley Henning, Board Chair of Gr ems Keeps Giving©, “and will be awarded to the top ten Gems Keep Giving© donors over the next three months.” For more information on the pins, where to view, or how to donate, please contact Henning at the email address below.
The pin project was realized as a joint effort between Petramundi, led by Rocco Gay, recognized for his expertise in gemstone cutting, and Margherita Burgener, a brand celebrated for its high-end jewelry and unique designs. Handcrafted in a limited edition of ten examples in Valenza, Italy—the historic hub of both brands—the pin offers a design that pays symbolic tribute to the foundation’s core mission.
Designed by Emanuela Burgener, the pin is crafted in titanium, reflecting her innovative approach to design and offering a fresh perspective on luxury jewelry. At the center is a pink titanium heart, evoking the organization’s logo and symbolizing love, unity, and the foundation’s commitment to bettering the lives of those in mining communities. From the heart, five titanium branches sprout outward, representing the five major gem-sourcing continents and signifying a global effort to support sustainable practices and respect for Nature. Each pin also features a unique gemstone, with its color and origin chosen to represent the specific community or country that a particular project is focused on, reinforcing the deep connection between the gemstone and the community it represents.
“Each of the ten GemsKeepGiving© pins will be gifted to the top ten donors to Gems Keep Giving’s ongoing and future projects as a symbolic display of their generosity,” says Hayley Henning, chairperson of Gems Keep Giving©, adding that “the collaboration with Petramundi and Margherita Burgener is a powerful example of how the world of fine jewelry can unite for a worthwhile cause that transcends borders.”
Rocco Gay comments that he became involved in creating the pin because of a “desire to make something beautiful and meaningful that could be given to donors, something that would represent the foundation and its values. We decided on titanium, which is innovative, lightweight, easy-to-wear, unisex, available in colors, and is very modern. We also wanted the pin to include a prominent heart-shape in pink titanium, as well as a heart-shaped gemstone, both of which would evoke the foundation’s logo.” With these general guidelines, Gay turned to Emanuela Burgener for the final design.
“I am deeply honored by Rocco Gay’s invitation to design a jewel for Gems Keep Giving©, an association devoted to supporting artisanal mining and cutting communities,” says Emanuela Burgener. “Wearing the Gems Keep Giving© pin is more than just an accessory,” says Burgener. “It is a small, yet profound, gesture of generosity and concern for the world and a celebration of sustainable beauty, born from respect for both humanity and Nature.”
About Gems Keep Giving©
Gems Keep Giving© is a non-profit 501c3 organization, dedicated to improving the lives of small-scale mining and gem-cutting communities around the world. Through ethical partnerships and transparent funding, the organization focuses on projects that provide sustainable resources, better living conditions, and respect for both people and the environment. Originally launched by the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), the foundation now operates autonomously, accepting contributions from sponsors, foundations, and donors who share its values of social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Its inaugural project, located in Kamtonga, Kenya, has already made a significant difference by providing clean drinking water and solar energy to a local tsavorite mining community. Gems Keep Giving© aims to replicate this model across other mining regions, empowering local people with the tools and resources they need for a sustainable future, while ensuring that the benefits of mining are shared fairly and transparently.
Contact: Hayley Henning, Chairperson¸Gems Keep Giving©
Email: info@gemskeepgiving.org; Website: http://www.gemskeepgiving.org
For more information about Gems Keep Giving© and the GemsKeepGiving© pin, visit http://www.gemskeepgiving.org or check out the article in the recent issue of InColor magazine.
