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.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Editors
The Latest
Policies & IssuesJul 24, 2026
New Trump Tariffs: What They Mean for Jewelry The new sweeping slate of tariffs impacts 60 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Ode to ‘The Odyssey’From coin pendants to diamond shields, these old world-inspired jewels are the perfect accessory for an epic journey.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Courtney Leidy’s Silk Cord Pendants Center Unexpected Pairings Our Piece of the Week pairs a checkerboard-cut amethyst with an ivy green silk cord.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
PodcastsJul 23, 2026
Episode 7: Reinhold Jewelers on the Power of RelationshipsMildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.
Weekly QuizJul 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJul 23, 2026
De Beers’ Production Jumps 88 Percent in Q2 Production also was up in the first half of 2026 but is expected to “substantially” decrease in H2 as two key mines undergo maintenance.
CollectionsJul 23, 2026
Silvia Furmanovich’s New Collection Travels Back to the 1920s“Art Deco” fuses ancestral techniques, rare materials, and modern perspectives as a tribute to the optimism and curiosity of the movement.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
IndependentsJul 23, 2026
Sissy's Log Cabin Opens Casino StoreThe jeweler’s newest store is inside Arkansas’ Saracen Casino Resort.
WatchesJul 23, 2026
Movado Inks Licensing Deal With Kate Spade New YorkThe watch company will design, manufacture, and distribute Kate Spade New York watches.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2026
Trump to Put 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.
CollectionsJul 22, 2026
Monica Rich Kosann’s High Jewelry Is FruitfulThe “Enchanted Garden” series features a cherry, lemon, and pear that each hold a little secret inside.
IndependentsJul 22, 2026
Liljenquist Beckstead Opens Rolex New BoutiqueIt’s located in Tysons Galleria, an upscale shopping center in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Events & AwardsJul 22, 2026
NY Now Returns in August Under New OwnershipThe show, recently acquired by Rockview Management Group, will be held at New York City’s Javits Center from Aug. 2-4.
ColumnistsJul 21, 2026
Sherry Smith: Shattering the Illusion of the ‘Either/Or’ Diamond MarketSmith offers retailers guidance on creating an environment where natural and lab-grown diamonds can both thrive.
Events & AwardsJul 21, 2026
Apollo Funds Completes Emerald AcquisitionFormer Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky has transitioned to the role of senior advisor.
CollectionsJul 21, 2026
Graff’s New Butterfly High Jewelry Brooches MetamorphosizeThe 12-piece capsule collection transforms from brooches to pendants.
SourcingJul 21, 2026
Anglo Reportedly Selects Gareth Penny’s Consortium as Top Bidder for De BeersA Botswana government official told lawmakers Anglo has selected The Global Diamond Consortium, an entity chaired by Penny, to buy De Beers.
Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones ExemptThe new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.
CollectionsJul 20, 2026
Vhernier Transforms ‘Freccia’ Collection Into High JewelryThe collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.
MajorsJul 20, 2026
Krista Collins Walters Promoted to Publisher of InstoreShe will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.
Events & AwardsJul 20, 2026
TJS Accepting Speaker Proposals for 2027 EventOrganizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
