Reciprocity Jewels will open its exhibition next week, showcasing jewelry from its group of more than 20 designers including co-founder and Peruvian designer Andrea Jose Castro, who made the necklace pictured above.
New York—Reciprocity Jewels, a group of designers who have partnered with a network of artisanal miners in the Amazon, will return to New York City Jewelry Week for an exhibition, including panel discussions and receptions.
The group was created with the aim of reshaping the jewelry supply chain by emphasizing the value of responsibly and transparently sourced materials, specifically Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
A selection of gold jewelry from Reciprocity Jewels’ Christine Olowonira, the designer behind Cocoerow Fine Jewelry
More than 20 independent jewelry brands from across the world will have traceable pieces on display, including the following: Andrea Jose; Assorted JJAR; Barbosa; Clarisse Rassi; Cocoerow Fine Jewelry; Dana Bronfman; Delphine Leymarie; Delphine Tempels; Emily Chelsea Jewelry; Estudio Alba; Gina Melosi; Johanna Brierley Jewellery Design; Kathryn the Younger; Melissa Scoppa Fine Jewelry; Moribijoux; Sandrine B. Jewelry; Saskia Shutt Designs; Susan Wheeler Design; TUR Jewellery; and Zangar.
They have worked with miners from Peru’s Madre de Dios region, a remote mining corridor in the Amazon that is home to Asociación Minera Tauro Fátima (AMATAF).
Miners in the collective received training in mercury-free mining and reforestation techniques from Pure Earth, a global nonprofit focused on protecting communities from toxic pollutants like lead and mercury, and employing sustainable solutions in collaboration with governments, communities, and industry leaders.
The education has helped them achieve Fairmined certification, making AMATAF the first alluvial mining organization in the Amazon to do so, said Reciprocity Jewels.
The showcase celebrates responsible sourcing, excellence in design, and a collaborative spirit that transcends borders, said Reciprocity Jewels, highlighting the role of responsible jewelry as both an art and a social movement.
A unique bio-jewelry collection will be on display as well.
It’s the result of a collaboration between the Wyss Academy for Nature and Neofibers, a Peruvian fashion tech company co-created with fashion designer Sumy Kujon, and two Indigenous communities from Ese Eja and Yine Peoples in the Madre de Dios region.
Their “Shay: Together for the Ancestral Art” initiative fosters a meaningful exchange between Western and ancestral arts, Reciprocity Jewels said, preserving traditional techniques and promoting sustainable natural fiber use.
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The Reciprocity Jewels exhibition will open at 2 p.m. on Nov. 19. at Brazilian restaurant Berimbau Midtown, located at 3 West 36th Street.
The event will be held in its upstairs event space, which features a hand-painted jungle ceiling mural by Brazilian artist Jeffer Zion.
A panel talk will take place on the same day, Nov. 19, at 4:30 p.m. titled “From Drops to Rivers of Change: The Power of Collaboration in Responsible Sourcing.”
Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez, head of North American development at the Responsible Jewellery Council, will moderate.
Panelists include Caroline Baylor, the program manager at Pure Earth who oversees miners’ training; Cristina Villegas, director of sustainable markets for international nonprofit Pact; Jennifer Gandia, co-owner at Greenwich St. Jewelers; and Dana Bronfman, a jewelry designer and Reciprocity co-founder.
"Sometimes we feel powerless to create impact, like we are only a drop in the ocean. But when we collaborate, we create rivers of change that keep flowing and become oceans," Bronfman said.
"Reflecting on growth in the responsible jewelry movement, we’re inspired by how these combined efforts have made a lasting impact, including transformation within the miners of Madre de Dios. This panel will explore the evolution of responsible jewelry from risk avoidance to transformative models that bring dignity and sustainability at every level, and how collaboration can continue to drive positive change across the industry."
Following the panel, a private reception will be held from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. featuring an Amazonian-inspired menu crafted by Berimbau’s chef Victor Vasconcelos paired with signature Pisco cocktails by Peruvian wine producer Tabernero.
On Nov. 20 and 21, the exhibition will be open to the public from 12:00 - 6 p.m.
The organization will also host a panel on Nov. 21 from 1 - 4 p.m.
“Weaving Reciprocity: Solutions from the Amazon for a Better Future,” will feature Renzo de la Peña, regional program manager for The Wyss Academy for Nature; Eddie Ajalcriña, founder of Neofibers; and Andrea Jose Castro, an engineer and jewelry designer at Jarapay B Corp and Reciprocity co-founder.
The talk will explore sustainable solutions and inspire collective action for the Amazon, the group said, and it will be followed by a roundtable discussion from 1:30 - 2 p.m. and a networking cocktail event from 2 - 4 p.m. with lunch prepared by Vasconcelos.
Those interested can RSVP for the afternoon event here.
A portion of the exhibition’s proceeds will benefit Pure Earth.
Reciprocity Jewels was co-founded by four jewelry designers—Andrea Jose Castro, who spearheads production and partnerships; Jacqueline Barbosa, the group’s curator; Dana Bronfman, who leads communications; and Delphine Leymarie, who oversees finance and project management.
The co-founders of Reciprocity Jewels, from left to right, Andrea Jose Castro, Dana Bronfman, Jacqueline Barbosa, and Delphine Leymarie
The group’s name comes from the Andean principle of “ayni,” meaning reciprocity, which celebrates the bond between people and nature.
Reciprocity Jewels said it embodies the Andean proverb “Today for me, tomorrow for you,” a philosophy the group is led by in its commitment to creating a transparent jewelry supply chain that benefits both creators and consumers.
“Geographically isolated miners are vital to a responsible supply chain,” said Leymarie.
“If we fail to invest in them, they’re forced to resort to unsustainable methods just to get by. By working together, we’re not only supporting their livelihoods but also creating solutions to deforestation and transforming the jewelry supply chain into one that truly benefits everyone.”
