There was much to celebrate at Wednesday’s inauguration of President Joe Biden—the jewelry worn by women sharing the stage being one of the bright spots. And while there’s much (warranted!) talk of the women in pearls, it was the gilded dove sported by anthem songstress Lady Gaga that I found most moving.
A symbol of peace, this dove carrying an olive branch was actually a part of the custom Schiaparelli haute couture dress designed by creative director Daniel Roseberry. It could set off a wave of massively oversize brooches to accompany our (someday) out-of-quarantine attire, but it also could instigate demand for doves.
Because at a time when consumers are reaching for meaningful, symbolic jewelry, what could be more powerful than a dove? A symbol of peace and harmony, something we could all certainly use, whether internally or externally.
No doubt there will be sources aplenty for finding the ideal dove design for your store, either newly created or seen in a new light. One such source is the New York–based Girl Up Collection, a collaboration between jewelry manufacturer Uni Creation and designer Hal Rubenstein. The line honors Girl Up, a leadership development initiative founded by the United Nations Foundation that works to advance gender equality around the world.
The collection, which is specifically designed with Generation Z and millennial consumers in mind, features designs in sterling silver and gold of iconic symbols: the laurel leaf, representing the foundation’s logo and the Olympic games; the globe, for unity; the Fearless Girl; the star; and—just what we’re looking for at the moment—the dove.
“The dove is the universal symbol of peace and love; the olive branch is a symbol of peace and perseverance. We have both as core motifs of Girl Up Collection,” says Rubenstein. “The dove comes from the Girl Up logo and the leaves from the United Nations foundation logo: these two icons, along with the Fearless Girl, are the trifecta of powerful values upon which we built the first line for Girl Up Collection. For us, once Lady Gaga walked out on that stage, we saw all three. Her brooch carried the dove and olive branch, but fearless women were everywhere!”
Top: Flight necklace in sterling silver with sapphire beads and 0.25 ct. t.w. sapphires, $420; Girl Up Collection
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