Policies & IssuesMar 02, 2022
When It Comes to Russian Diamonds, Industry Is Watching, WaitingEditorsMar 25, 2022
3 Madeleine Albright Pins the World Needs Right Now
The former diplomat used her brooches to send a message, some of which need to be heard right now, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff writes.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright accepting the Gem Award for Jewelry Style in 2010, an honor she received for her bountiful collection of brooches, which she used to send messages to other heads of state. She died Wednesday at the age of 84.
Madeleine Albright was known for being the first female secretary of state, a woman who co-opted one Bush’s catchphrase, “Read my lips,” for her own diplomatic and accessory needs.
Albright, who died earlier this week at the age of 84, served as secretary of state from 1997 to 2001 and was known as a trailblazer, a skilled diplomat, and an avid pin collector.
She used her accessories to send messages to other heads of state, a practice she detailed in 2009’s “Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box,” a book with an accompanying touring exhibition organized by the Museum of Art and Design in New York.
The following year, she received the Gem Award for Jewelry Style for her lifelong dedication to the brooch.
In introducing Albright at the 2010 Gem Awards, journalist Tina Brown joked that Albright “added the brooch to the arsenal of diplomacy,” as she crashed through the glass ceiling, rising from an aide in President Jimmy Carter’s office, to President Bill Clinton’s ambassador to the United Nations to the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the U.S. government as of 1997.
Having a woman secretary of state “turned out to be such a great idea that we’ve had two other women hold down that job since,” Brown quipped.
Since 2010, another well-accessorized woman, Kamala Harris, has topped Albright, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton in terms of being the highest-ranking woman ever in the U.S. government, and it took only 232 years to get there.
I was lucky enough to attend the Gem Awards back in 2010, and I had the foresight to stand in line after the ceremony to have my copy of “Read My Pins” autographed by Albright.
In light of all that’s happening in the world right now, I took some time Thursday afternoon to thumb through the book, which, admittedly, I haven’t picked up in years, to pick a few pins that send messages of hope, accountability and courage.
Dove Pin from Leah Rabin
While it seems an obvious choice—the dove is well-known as a symbol of peace—what Albright wrote about this particular pin moved me.
The gold-plated dove, made by Cécile et Jeanne in France, was a gift of the late Leah Rabin, widow of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Albright wore the pin for an appearance before the National Press Club in August 1997 where she outlined ideas for peace negotiations in the Middle East and her plans for a visit to the region.
Albright, who died earlier this week at the age of 84, served as secretary of state from 1997 to 2001 and was known as a trailblazer, a skilled diplomat, and an avid pin collector.
She used her accessories to send messages to other heads of state, a practice she detailed in 2009’s “Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box,” a book with an accompanying touring exhibition organized by the Museum of Art and Design in New York.
The following year, she received the Gem Award for Jewelry Style for her lifelong dedication to the brooch.
In introducing Albright at the 2010 Gem Awards, journalist Tina Brown joked that Albright “added the brooch to the arsenal of diplomacy,” as she crashed through the glass ceiling, rising from an aide in President Jimmy Carter’s office, to President Bill Clinton’s ambassador to the United Nations to the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the U.S. government as of 1997.
Having a woman secretary of state “turned out to be such a great idea that we’ve had two other women hold down that job since,” Brown quipped.
Since 2010, another well-accessorized woman, Kamala Harris, has topped Albright, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton in terms of being the highest-ranking woman ever in the U.S. government, and it took only 232 years to get there.
I was lucky enough to attend the Gem Awards back in 2010, and I had the foresight to stand in line after the ceremony to have my copy of “Read My Pins” autographed by Albright.
In light of all that’s happening in the world right now, I took some time Thursday afternoon to thumb through the book, which, admittedly, I haven’t picked up in years, to pick a few pins that send messages of hope, accountability and courage.
Dove Pin from Leah Rabin
While it seems an obvious choice—the dove is well-known as a symbol of peace—what Albright wrote about this particular pin moved me.
The gold-plated dove, made by Cécile et Jeanne in France, was a gift of the late Leah Rabin, widow of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Albright wore the pin for an appearance before the National Press Club in August 1997 where she outlined ideas for peace negotiations in the Middle East and her plans for a visit to the region.
A few weeks later, Leah Rabin paid a visit to Albright in her hotel room in Israel and gave her a matching necklace featuring a flock of doves along with a note.
As recounted in “Read My Pins,” the note read: “There is a saying: ‘One swallow doesn’t announce the spring’—so maybe one dove needs reinforcements … We need hope, which is so much lost.”
Alright wore the pin again in 1997 when paying her respects to victims of the genocide in Rwanda.
Related stories will be right here …
As recounted in “Read My Pins,” the note read: “There is a saying: ‘One swallow doesn’t announce the spring’—so maybe one dove needs reinforcements … We need hope, which is so much lost.”
Alright wore the pin again in 1997 when paying her respects to victims of the genocide in Rwanda.
The Three Monkeys
“Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil,” is a well-known adage most often depicted by a trio of monkeys covering their ears, mouth and eyes.
But, Albright noted in her book, the true meaning behind them often is lost.
Part of Japanese folklore, the non-hearing, non-speaking and non-seeing monkeys are a reminder about “accepting responsibility for wrongful thoughts and actions”—in other words, not shutting down or turning the other way when you know something is wrong.
Albright bought the pin, which features the monkeys carved in tagua nut sitting on pink-, purple- and orange-colored glass cabochons circled by crystals, in Brussels.
Notably, she first wore it to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in early 2000, a meeting in which she called attention to the human right violations Russian was committing then in Chechnya.
Of meeting Putin, she wrote: “My first impressions of the Russian leader were mixed—he was obviously capable, but his instincts appeared more autocratic than democratic. As the months passed, my early hopes were deflated by Putin’s single-minded pursuit of power.”
Embed from Getty Images
Any Dragonfly Will Do
Albright wrote in “Read My Pins” that when she was a diplomat, she had to carefully consider the symbolism behind animals to various cultures.
Outside of government, however, she was free to pick the creatures she liked, which included one of my favorites, the dragonfly.
Pictured in the slideshow above is an Albright dragonfly featured at the MAD exhibition, one of a half-dozen featured in the book alongside a pretty incredible mosquito pin.
“Known to the English as the ‘devil’s darning needle,’ the [dragonfly] is associated by the Japanese with courage, happiness, and strength,” the caption reads. “Artists find dragonflies fascinating; so do I.”
Rest in peace, Madam Secretary. Thanks for sharing your pins.
More on Editors
The Latest
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
Marco Bicego Names New Global Marketing DirectorThe Italian jewelry company appointed Matteo Cuelli to the newly created role.
ColumnistsFeb 04, 2026
January Jewelry Sales: More Dollars Spent, Fewer Units Sold Sherry Smith unpacks independent retailers’ January performance and gives tips for navigating the slow-growth year ahead.
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
What Designers Should Know About Saks Global’s BankruptcyFrom how to get an invoice paid to getting merchandise returned, JVC’s Sara Yood answers some complex questions.
Brought to you by
The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program: Attracting & Training the Next Generation of Bench JewelersLaunched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.
TrendsFeb 04, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: February Birthstone BlissAmethyst, the birthstone for February, is a gemstone to watch this year with its rich purple hue and affordable price point.
Weekly QuizJan 29, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
Frederick Goldman Updates Leadership TeamThe manufacturer said the changes are designed to improve speed, reliability, innovation, and service.
Policies & IssuesFeb 03, 2026
Tariff Relief on Horizon for India as Trump, Modi Make DealPresident Trump said he has reached a trade deal with India, which, when made official, will bring relief to the country’s diamond industry.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers Can Fight Back Against Cell JammersCriminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.
CollectionsFeb 03, 2026
Jade Trau Releases New Charms, Introduces RondellesThe designer’s latest collection takes inspiration from her classic designs, reimagining the motifs in new forms.
WatchesFeb 03, 2026
Casio America Calls Jersey City HomeThe watchmaker moved its U.S. headquarters to a space it said fosters creativity and forward-thinking solutions in Jersey City, New Jersey.
SourcingFeb 03, 2026
Nivoda Reveals Upgraded Gemstone MarketplaceThe company also announced a new partnership with GemGuide and the pending launch of an education-focused membership program.
GradingFeb 02, 2026
IGI to Acquire American Gemological Laboratories IGI is buying the colored gemstone grading laboratory through IGI USA, and AGL will continue to operate as its own brand.
CrimeFeb 02, 2026
Ylang 23’s Dallas Store BurglarizedThe Texas jeweler said its team is “incredibly resilient” and thanked its community for showing support.
CollectionsFeb 02, 2026
2026 Winter Olympic Medal Design Symbolizes UnityThe medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the fact that the 2026 Olympics are taking place in two different cities.
SurveysJan 30, 2026
These Are the Top Brands of 2026, Says YouGovFrom tech platforms to candy companies, here’s how some of the highest-ranking brands earned their spot on the list.
CollectionsJan 30, 2026
Follow the Beat With Etiq’s ‘Khol’ RingThe “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.
MajorsJan 30, 2026
Arch Crown’s 2026 ‘Tag & Label’ Catalog Is HereThe catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.
CollectionsJan 29, 2026
Ghirardelli’s ‘Chocolocket’ Returns for Valentine’s DayThe chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”
AuctionsJan 29, 2026
These Were Bonhams’ Top 10 Jewelry Lots in 2025The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.
SourcingJan 29, 2026
Stuller Website to Mark AGTA-Sourced GemstonesAny gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.
WatchesJan 29, 2026
Audemars Piguet Opens AP House in AtlantaThe Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”
SourcingJan 28, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair to Debut Designer Showcase in TucsonThe new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.
ColumnistsJan 28, 2026
Peter Smith: Setting the Next Generation Up for SuccessIn his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.
SurveysJan 28, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls Below Pandemic Lows in JanuaryThe index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.
IndependentsJan 28, 2026
Foundrae Heads to Aspen for Latest Store OpeningThe new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.
FinancialsJan 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Sales Resilient as LVMH’s 2025 Sales SlipThe brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.
CollectionsJan 27, 2026
De Beers London, GemFair Debut New Collection Highlighting Artisanal DiamondsThe collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.
