No one thought we would be celebrating Christmas in the midst of a pandemic, yet here we are. This year, things are a little different: We’re pulling our lens back to examine our year and shine the spotlight on little things over the next 12 days – both material and immaterial that one can either gift or savour now or in the next year. Here’s Day 10, for those looking for a gift that is meaningful in more ways than one.
The holiday season has many of us thinking of ways to give back, and Dr. Claudine Pang is no exception.
Pang is an eye specialist; she provides all sorts of ophthalmology treatments at the Asia Retina Eye Surgery Centre, which she helms as Medical Director. She’s also the woman behind Eye Care Without Borders, a non-profit organisation that operates locally and beyond to offer eye care and eyewear to those who do not have access to either.
You can imagine how being paralysed by the pandemic, unable to travel past said borders felt for someone with philanthropic impulses like Pang. She channeled them, instead, into the birth of the iCare Joypack: an S$88 bundle comprising a month’s worth of food and necessities.
In collaboration with Food Bank Singapore and Beyond Social Services, Eye Care Without Borders distributed these bundles to low-income families around Singapore during the circuit-breaker. But Pang still wanted to do more.
That’s how she ending up working with Daughters Diamonds. The local brand, which Pang herself has long been a fan of, works with GIA-certified diamonds to create bespoke jewellery. This holiday, they’ve dreamed up the “Promises” collection, comprising 50 jewellery designs that leave an impact.
We’re not just talking about style; the sale of each Promises piece is matched with a donation of an iCare Joypack. You could gift a ring or a necklace from the collection to a family member, and you’ll be helping to provide for another family, too.
The Promises collection is already a meaningful gesture from Pang and Daughters Diamonds, but there’s even more to read into in the sparkling sapphires used throughout the collection. The gems come in different colours that symbolise things like peace (blue), joy (orange), love and compassion (pink).
These thoughtful touches are courtesy of Daughters Diamonds designer Sarah Tseng, who played around with the stones (each ethically sourced and specially selected) to create exquisite, everyday jewellery.
Many of the solitaire rings in the Promises collection are stackable, while the dainty pendant necklaces can easily be layered together. One ring, lined with a row of tiny, multicoloured sapphire stones, stands out with its contemporary and fun appearance.
The sapphires are mostly cut in classic shapes like emerald, oval and trillion, but there are also a handful of nature-inspired styles resembling flowers and butterflies that add a dash of romance to the collection. Some jewellery pieces also get an extra shine with the help of pearls and diamonds. All of them were crafted by local jewellery artisans that have worked closely with Daughters Diamonds since its inception in 2016.
With a purchase from Promises, then, you’ll be supporting both local design and a worthy cause. And with prices ranging from S$388 to S$1,488, you’ll be sure to find something from the limited-edition range that catches your eye and keeps well within your gift-giving budget. It’s undoubtedly a beautiful way to spread some Christmas cheer in 2020.
Discover the Promises collection at Daughters Diamonds’ boutique in Paragon, where it will be available until 25 December. Alternatively, you can skip ahead to the giving back bit and donate to the iCare Joypack fund here.
Header photo credit: Daughters Diamonds
Pameyla Cambe
Senior Writer
Pameyla Cambe is a fashion and jewellery writer who believes that style and substance shouldn't be mutually exclusive. She makes sense of the world through Gothic novels, horror films and music. Lots of music.
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