ON THE COVER
The collection of the cover is the Halo collection but the inspiration of the shapes is Saba collection. This ring is a unique piece with white gold, emeralds, diamonds, blue sapphires, citrine, white and black diamonds by Opera Omnia.
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As I write this editorial, I am in Brazil, having just attended the ICA Congress whose theme was “Ethical Mining and Fair Trade.” This is an important subject and one that was discussed quite seriously by a Blue Ribbon panel of experts in the gem and jewellery fields. You can read a summary of it starting on page 100.

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Over the last few years, a number of organizations have been created to address these issues, incorporating corporate social responsibility, environmental protection, and sustainability. And, no doubt, others will spring up in the future to try and accomplish a number of important goals throughout the entire gem and jewellery supply chain. After all, as one speaker so eloquently stated, “When consumers buy jewellery, they should know that not only is it an expression of value, beauty, and emotion, but they have contributed to making a better life for people who need it most dearly.”

Here, though, I would like to mention briefly something that came out of the Congress that is very encouraging, even if not directly related to the gem and jewellery sectors. One of the event’s speakers was from FIRJAN, the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro. With crime on the rise in Rio, the government decided to take dramatic action. It created a special police unit, called UPP, to go into the favelas (Rio’s shanty towns) and confiscate the weapons and drugs. Once the area was “pacified,” in their words, organizations such as FIRJAN came in to create a positive environment. Part of its efforts are directed at promoting athlete programs for kids, literacy programs, senior activities, health care facilities, educational programs, etc. The results are so positive that other Brazilian states are following this example. My friends who live in Rio say that it has made a big difference: crime is down, property values are up, and people feel generally safer.

And, there is a jewellery connection. Working with FIRJAN, the Rio state jewellery association, AJORIO, has created programs to teach young people how to make simple but attractive pieces of jewellery that they can sell in the local street and beach markets. Surprisingly, or perhaps not surprisingly, some of the designs are really quite creative, even if made from inexpensive metals and materials.

At the end of the Congress, to assist in FIRJAN’s ongoing efforts, one of ICA’s major Congress sponsors presented the agency with a check for $30,000, and ICA president Wilson Yuen pledged $50,000 over the next ten years, with $5,000 per year to help these worthy efforts. Bravo to both of them for their generosity.

In this issue, we continue our message of colour, showing the Fall 2011 colours forecast by Pantone, along with matching jewellery. In terms of trends, the butterfly and snake themes are among the biggest for 2011 and are featured here along with the major colour directions.

Enjoy your summer.

Cynthia Unninayar