What is Artisanal Small-Scale (ASM) Mining?

Diamonds form naturally deep within the Earth. Carbon under intense pressure creates diamonds, which rise closer to the surface over time. Today, around ten million people globally rely on diamond mining for their livelihoods, with ASM miners making up about 20% of this workforce.

ASM miners work independently, extracting minerals with basic tools, usually by hand, and without corporate employment. Many live in remote, rural areas and depend on mining as their primary income source.

The Lab-Grown Diamond Landscape

High-tech factories now produce lab-grown diamonds, which mimic natural diamonds. In 2019, China produced over half of the world’s lab-grown diamonds, sending 85% of its output to Europe. With high-quality lab-grown diamonds available, it’s fair to ask, “Why keep mining diamonds at all?”

This question is valid, yet I wonder: would ending natural diamond mining lead to true sustainability? Stopping ASM mining would remove livelihoods from millions, pushing vulnerable communities into deeper poverty. Can we really call that a sustainable move?

The post Sustainability in Diamonds versus Lab-grown Diamonds appeared first on Saskia Shutt.

Saskia Shutt Designs is exited to announce that she has recently been nominated to for the International Arts & Crafts Design Awards. In December, the judges will select one of the nominees as their winner, for the 2014 Arts & Crafts Design Awards. You can follow this link to view Saskia Shutt Jewellery’s entry pieces of jewellery for these awards.

Arts & Crafts Design Award is an international, annual competition for all nominated Artisans, Craftspeople and Designers. The primary aim of the Award is to honor and support the best ideas and concepts and recognize its excellent realization. The Award is not divided in different categories. Rather it covers all artcraft-ideas and design concepts.

At the end of the year, the jury will select the prize winners to assign to them the “Arts & Crafts Design Award”which will be announced mid January 2015 on the A&C Design website. All Nominees and winners will be informed about the jury’s choice by email. The Competition is exclusively held on the web.

Quote by the organizer’s of A&C DA about Saskia’s entered jewellery: “aRT, cRAFT & dESIGN! All this is represented in these unique handcrafted, stunning designed, designer jewellery pieces, which exude strength with flowing lines and simple shapes and they were made by one of our latest nominee entry from Belgium.”

There are still a few moths to go before this competition closes. After that, all is left in the hands of the judges to select their winner and the runners up… there are around 250 nominees from 32 different countries and multiple disciplines within the applied arts discipline. The competition will be fierce.

Yellow gold ring remodelled from customer’s own gold rings. The sapphire in one of the original rings was re-set in the new ring after it was remodelled

The post International Arts & Crafts Design Awards appeared first on Saskia Shutt.

By her who in this month, of January, is born.
No gem save garnets should be worn.
They will ensure her constancy,
True friendship, and fidelity.

The February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind.
Freedom from passion and from care,
If an amethyst they will wear.

She who from April dates her years
Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow; this stone,
Emblem of innocence, is known.

Who first beholds the light of day
In spring’s sweet flowery month of May
And wears an emerald all her life
Shall be a loved and happy wife.

The glowing ruby shall adorn,
Those who in July are born;
Then they’ll be exempt and free
From love’s doubts and anxiety.

A maiden born when September leaves
Are rustling in September’s breeze,
A sapphire on her brow should bind
`Twill cure diseases of the mind.

October’s child is born for woe,
And life’s vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest.

Who first comes to this world below
With drear November’s fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz’s amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true.

The post Topaz birthstone November appeared first on Saskia Shutt.

De “Made in Belgium” beurs biedt een unieke kans om 100% Belgische producten te ontdekken, allemaal verzameld op één locatie in de iconische Tour & Taxis sheds. Gedurende een weekend krijgen bezoekers de kans om een breed scala aan producten te verkennen die volledig in België zijn gemaakt. Van eetbare producten tot design en artisanale creaties, de beurs biedt een uitgebreid aanbod van topkwaliteit.

Exposanten en Kwaliteit

De exposanten zijn zorgvuldig geselecteerd, en het evenement staat garant voor een divers en representatief overzicht van wat België te bieden heeft op het gebied van vakmanschap, creativiteit en innovatie. Bezoekers kunnen genieten van niet alleen de producten, maar ook van de animaties en interactieve belevingen die de beurs extra bijzonder maken.

Diversiteit van Sectoren

Van stylisme en design tot speelgoed en elektronica, de beurs brengt bedrijven en makers uit verschillende sectoren samen. Dit evenement is dé gelegenheid om te ontdekken hoe veelzijdig en creatief de Belgische productie is.

Mis het Niet!

Of je nu op zoek bent naar unieke geschenken, innovatieve producten of gewoon wilt genieten van het lokale aanbod, de “Made in Belgium” beurs biedt voor ieder wat wils. Mis deze kans niet om het beste van België te ervaren!

The post Salon Made in Belgium appeared first on Saskia Shutt.

Brussels is alight with a multitude of events.  Venues, shops, galleries and pop-ups are celebrating Design this month.  There will be open door events with Design September all over Brussels.  This weekend is our open door event with Design September!

Atelier

I share my atelier with Julie Menuge and Ilan Weiss.  Julie is a textile and fashion designer.  Ilan is a photographer.  Our work is very different in style, but complimentary.  Julie her work lies in “slow fashion”.  Reclaiming and reworking textiles from all over the world.  Ilan’s photography is experimental in the surfaces he prints his images on.

Open door event with Design September 2014

Welcome to our open door event.  You are cordially invited to join us during our vernissage.  We are hosting an Open Door event with Design September.  During our open door, visitors can view our work which will be on display.  Julie Menuge is a textiles and fashion designer.  Ilan Weiss is a photographer and me, Saskia Shutt, the jeweller.

Come and mingle.  Feast your eyes on the work on display.  Wine and nibbles will be served during the vernissage.  Talk to the designers about their work.

Public vernissage on Friday 19/9 from 18:00 till 21:00  Saturday, 20/09, the workshop will be open to the public from 11:00 till 19:00.

Saskia Shutt

My jewellery will be on display during this event.  These are stunning silver sculptural pieces. Each jewel is unique and handmade.  Bold pieces, highly polished and often textured.  To add a spice of colour to each jewel, I hand pick beautiful gemstones.  Most of my jewellery is set with colourful gems.  I have a weakness for peridot, tourmalines and topaz.

Interested in joining us?  Contact me via email or call for more information.  You cn also follow updates on my FB event.

The post Design September 2014 appeared first on Saskia Shutt.

The post 555 Days appeared first on Saskia Shutt.