JEWELRY IN STYLE

by Kathy Corey, VP Merchandising

Created in precious 14 karat gold with a .03ct diamond, this pendant for $249.00 is a priceless inspiration in the name of courage to fight cancer. Chain sold separately.

The Butterfly of Life® . In life’s journey, most of us have experienced the pain of a loved one who has been or is currently affected by cancer. In my close inner circle of dear and dedicated employees, Jean, who has worked for me for 8 years, was one of them. Two years ago, my mother Elizabeth was diagnosed with colon cancer. While going through 9 dreadful months of chemotherapy, she was also taking care of my Dad who is stricken with Alzheimers. A few months ago, my husband Jeff and I attended a going away party for one of our employees. This large circle of friends included current and past employees, one of whom was Kathy. She wearing a head scarf as she had lost all her hair from chemotherapy. Her beautiful smile and incredible optimism brought tears to my eyes. All these women have shared their gifts of life, love and laughter with us, in spite of their battles with cancer – they are my true heroes.

The Butterfly of Life® jewelry collection is a symbol of hope for lives touched by cancer. These beautiful butterfly silhouettes represent courage, strength but most of all hope. For every purchase a Butterfly of Life® piece of jewelry, 10% of the price will be donated to the Mayo Clinic to support cancer research and education in efforts for a cure. The designer Rita Willaert and cancer victim, has set a goal is to raise $1,000,000 for this cause. Click here to view Day’s Jewelers collection of Butterfly of Life.

"Made in Botswana" - Fair Trade Diamonds

For more than 100 years, diamonds have been stripped from these poor African countries and immediately sent out to other parts of the world to be cut and polished. For the first time in history, a diamond is sourced, cut and polished in a single African nation so the people of that country are able to fully benefit. This is the concept named “beneficiation”. Kathy and I were in Africa last Fall. We saw the terrible poverty first hand. It is a wonderful feeling to know that we truly can make a difference in our world.

Best of all, our help was not a handout. A Botswanan citizen created a beautiful diamond and offered it for sale at a fair price. You purchased this diamond to commemorate a special relationship. It is a great story. “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”.

This is a very exciting time in history for Day’s Jewelers as well as for the entire diamond industry. “Made in Botswana” diamonds are now available in all of our Day’s Jewelers locations. What is so special about them;

1. For the first time in history, an African diamond can be 100% guaranteed, in writing, to be “non-conflict”.
2. For the first time in history, an African diamond can be traced, without question to where it was sourced (Botswana Jwaneng mine).
3. For the first time in history, 100% beneficiation has been accomplished in an African Nation where a diamond has been sourced, cut, polished and sold in one nation. This is a landmark step in curtailing poverty in the poorest continent on earth by offering good paying jobs to its people.
4. “Made in Botswana” diamonds are GCAL certified, the most complete gemological certificate in the world.
5. These diamonds are exceptionally well priced, starting at under $400, because we’re buying them directly from the cutter eliminating the distributor and wholesaler.
6. The diamonds are exceptionally well cut and absolutely gorgeous.

Listen to Day's Jewelers radio ad for Botswana Diamonds by clicking here.

For more information about Day's Jewelers' Botswana Diamonds initiative, please visit http://www.daysrocks.com/botswanadiamondlist.htm