The Hope Will Catch Our Tears Initiative will produce 100 specially created pendant necklaces, which will be sold by Guild members to raise funds for Beyond Blue Australia and advocate for mental health resources and support.
Diamond Guild Australia executive officer Melissa James unveiled the ‘Hope Will Catch the Tears’ pendant designed by Niki Jackson from J Farren-Price; $2,000 from every one sold will go directly to Beyond Blue.
“The pendant features a single pear-shaped diamond 'tear drop' below which two curved gold sections represent a pair of hands. This reflects the idea of being supported through depression and anxiety, the idea of acknowledging the difficulty for those who suffer from mental health challenges but also the importance of those around them that are their support network,” James announced at the Gala.
“We will be offering a limited edition of 100 of these pendants through our Guild members stores over the next 12 months and hope to generate a $200,000 donation Beyond Blue to support their much needed work, but also to honour the many individuals and families that have suffered the effects of depression and suicide."
James Thredgold of James Thredgold Jeweller inspired the campaign through his mental health advocacy efforts. Thredgold lost his wife Holly to depression in 2016 at the age of 42 and said she was “amazing and wanted to be an advocate for mental health.”
“While I was on holidays my amazing kids, Melissa and the team had come up with the idea which almost brought me to tears,” he said.
Thredgold has been a long-time supporter of mental health resources and is a Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation ambassador where he gives presentations about destigmatising the conversation surrounding mental health and provides advice for seeking support based in his 15 years with Holly.
“I think if we see people talking about it in all different walks of life and they see that just like cancer or any other disease, it doesn’t choose people according to race colour or wealth, then we can raise funds to find triggers,” Thredgold said.
“One day I hope that we can at least help reduce the number of people who suffer form it. If we can raise awareness for mental health I think people will listen.”
Editor’s note: A full report of the Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Awards Gala, will appear in the December issue of Jeweller. The special edition will also feature The Great Diamond debate with in-depth discussions around the rise of synthetic diamonds.
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