Majors

De Beers, Tiffany Among Those Donating Millions to COVID-19 Relief

MajorsApr 13, 2020

De Beers, Tiffany Among Those Donating Millions to COVID-19 Relief

A few of the major players in the jewelry industry have given large sums of money. Here’s where the money is going.

New York—Relief during the COVID-19 crisis is coming in all forms.

In the jewelry industry, in addition to transitioning to the manufacture of masks, gloves and hand sanitizer, several of the big jewelry, gem and mining companies are donating large sums of money.

Here’s where their money is going.

De Beers Group
De Beers Group will contribute $2.5 million across Botswana and Namibia, two of the countries in which it mines diamonds, to aid the COVID-19 response.

The company said its contributions are part of a larger effort across its four producing countries, including Canada and South Africa, to support governments and communities with procuring medical supplies, logistical support, food security, water supply, COVID-19 awareness and education, and local clinical support.

De Beers also has created a community response plan in collaboration with community, traditional and faith leaders, and government agencies to better understand their needs and make sure the company provides the right support, both during the pandemic and during the economic recovery phase.

Additionally, Anglo American and De Beers will give donations of $2 million to South Africa’s Solidarity Fund, designed to help address the impacts of COVID-19, and $1 million to the Oppenheimer family’s South African Future Trust, established to support small and medium-sized businesses through the crisis.

“We have refocused our business in our host communities to support the response to the pandemic and our priorities are clear: prepare communities for the crisis, support the emergency response and be a partner in economic recovery,” De Beers Group CEO Bruce Cleaver said.

Tiffany & Co.
The Tiffany & Co. Foundation has announced a $1 million commitment to causes related to the coronavirus pandemic. 
It has allocated $750,000 to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization and $250,000 to The New York Community Trust’s NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund.

The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund prioritizes the greatest needs around the world to ensure all countries are prepared and supports global efforts to help countries prevent, detect and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Support will help send essential supplies to frontline health workers, enable countries to track and detect the disease, ensure access to the latest science-based information to prevent infection and care for those in need, and accelerate the development of vaccines, diagnostics and treatment.

The NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund, meanwhile, distributes grants and loans to New York-based nonprofits working to meet the needs hitting the city.

Additionally, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation has signed on to the “Philanthropy’s Commitment During COVID-19” pledge,  committing to nonprofit partners their support and flexibility so they are able to respond quickly and accurately. 

Tiffany is also doing a dollar-for-dollar match of employee donations to qualified nonprofit organizations supporting COVID-19 relief efforts.

“During this global health crisis, we must all be responsive to the urgent needs of our global communities. We are proud to support organizations providing immediate relief for communities impacted by COVID-19, including our hometown of New York,” said Anisa Kamadoli Costa, chair and president of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation.

Graff
Also benefiting the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund is the Graff Foundation, which will donate $1 million as the WHO continues to lead and coordinate the global efforts to detect and respond to the pandemic.

This month, the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund bought and shipped personal protective equipment to 75 countries, supplied close to 1.8 million diagnostic kits to 126 countries, created and distributed technical and public health information to millions, and supported drug trials.

“The challenge presented by the pandemic has had a profound effect on all of us at Graff. As an international business, it has been terrible to witness the speed with which the virus has spread, and the pain and uncertainty it is causing throughout the world,” said Francois Graff, trustee of the Graff Foundation.

“The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund is a vital tool in the global response to the virus. We are proud to contribute to its life-saving work and support the medical community and key workers who are heroically devoting their lives to caring for others during this global crisis.”

GJEPC
India’s Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council is contributing the equivalent of $2.8 million to the PM-CARES Fund on behalf of the country’s gem and jewelry trade.

The government of India set up the fund to provide relief and financial assistance.

“I am hopeful that GJEPC’s contribution toward the PM-CARES Fund can make a difference to several initiatives undertaken by the government toward relief of COVID-19,” said Chairman Pramod Agrawal.

“The economic situation of our country and that of several industries has taken a severe beating. We have also called upon our members, trade associates, and gem and jewellery associations to come forward and donate generously to the PM-CARES Fund.”

Alrosa
Alrosa has spent nearly $4.2 million to purchase sanitizers, medical equipment, medicines and personal protective gear for healthcare institutions, corporate healthcare facilities, operating sites and subsidiaries in the Yakutia region of Russia and Moscow.

The diamond miner procured mobile labs to run express testing before sending samples to institutions in Yakutsk and Novosibirsk and provided local hospitals in Mirny, Lensk and Aikhal with financial aid to purchase antibiotics, antivirals and other medicines and materials.

It added it’s also in the process of choosing a supplier from which it will purchase lung ventilators and related equipment for the area.

Additionally, CEO Sergey Ivanov reduced his stake in the company from 0.0083 percent to 0.00415 percent. Proceeds from the sale—more than $250,600—will be used to pay for medicine, medical and personal protection equipment for Mirny.

Kering
The Kering Group will purchase and import from China 3 million surgical masks for the French health service and it made a financial donation to the Institut Pasteur to support its research on COVID-19.

The contributions follow on the luxury group’s donations to the four major foundation hospitals in Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany and Lazio in Italy as well as to the Hubei Red Cross Foundation in China to help fight the spread of the virus.

David Yurman
The Yurman Family Foundation, Inc. has committed $1 million to COVID-19-related causes across America, starting with New York.

“Our hope is this will go in some way towards helping so many of our friends, neighbors, employees and customers who are going through this challenging time,” the Yurman family said in a statement.

Rolex
Globally, Rolex is supporting the Red Cross, which the brand said it believes can have a significant impact in alleviating the suffering of the most exposed populations in this global crisis.

On a local level, Rolex is also supporting other organizations including City Harvest, Mount Sinai Hospital and the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to include information about David Yurman and Rolex and to reflect that Alrosa’s spending has increased from the $2.2 million reported earlier to $4.2 million. 

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

The Latest

CD Peacock Mansion in Oak Brook, Illinois
EditorsNov 22, 2024
Out & About: Inside the CD Peacock Mansion

Step inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.

Xander Jane earrings
CollectionsNov 22, 2024
Piece of the Week: Xander Jane’s ‘Spiked’ Pearl Studs

These punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.

Facets of Fire Pear and Marquise Diamonds
SourcingNov 22, 2024
Facets of Fire Expands to Include Pear, Marquise Diamonds

The company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.

Jewelers Mutual Group Cybersecurity
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for Jewelers

From protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.

5 main.jpg
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry Catalog

Sponsored by Tasha R

Weekly QuizNov 21, 2024
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
18-karat gold Tiffany & Co. pocket watch Captain Arthur Rostron
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2M

Three Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.

Cynthia Erivo wearing Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo collection
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ Collection

Cynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.

Article-Top-Image.jpg
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYC

This fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.

Mary Moses Kinney
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team

Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.

Sotheby’s New York building
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax Fraud

The auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.

Kering logo
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability Focus

The four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.

Model wearing pieces from Camera Oscura collection
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New Collection

The “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.

Columbia Gem House “Pebbles to Pines” fundraiser
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation Efforts

The money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.

The jewelry symposium 2025
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship Applications

The event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.

Stock image of police cars with lights on
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry Store

Local reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.

Tsar Ferdinand I Bulgaria colored diamond pin and emerald diamond ring
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry Sale

A collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.

Trove NYC flagship exterior
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYC

The Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.

Snoop Dogg and Carolyn Rafaelian
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love

“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.

Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s Rebrand

Hampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.

Andrea Jose jewelry
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry Week

The group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.

Dolly Parton and Kendra Scott
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra Scott

The collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.

IGI Expressions
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition Returns

This year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.

New York Comic Con Javits Center crowd
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic Con

Senior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.

Marie Lichtenberg and Raiz’in collection
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ Designs

The latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.

Citizen 100th Anniversary Limited Edition #1 Pocket Watch
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket Watch

No. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.

My Next Question store security episode
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure

On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.

18th century diamond necklace
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M

Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy