Dubai: The Donna Hourani x Gemfields ‘The Bridge’ collection is an exciting new collaboration designed to showcase the power and serenity of emeralds. Lebanese-born fine jewellery designer Hourani launched her eponymous label in Dubai in 2016, inspired by her lifelong fascination with emeralds, something she shares with others with discerning taste: from Cleopatra and Moses to the Indian Mughal emperors.
The Bridge collection is a testament to this love affair: it uses fine Zambian emeralds, all from Gemfields, a world-leading miner of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones and the majority owner of the Kagem mine in Zambia. Gemfields mines coloured gemstones with transparency, legitimacy and integrity as its core principles, leading the way in the industry and making the group a perfect fit for Hourani, who has always been passionate about responsible sourcing.
The Bridge collection’s name was inspired by one of Hourani’s favourite mantras, the quote by Rumi: “Love is the bridge between you and everything.” Fittingly, pure emerald-green is the colour of the heart chakra. Each of the 11 pieces in The Bridge collection features a Zambian emerald between a lab-grown diamond (which represents the wearer) and another coloured gemstone (which represents a specific achievement) – the emerald serving as a bridge of love between one’s true self and goals in life (such as self-love, womanhood and connection with the universe). These pieces are intended to serve as a reminder that “love is the bridge between you and everything”.
Among the highlights of the collection are the kaleidoscopic “To Glory” bracelet, with Zambian emeralds sitting alongside a lively mix of diamond, peridot, tourmaline, opal, turquoise, amethyst, tanzanite and blue topaz. Simpler is the “To Passion” necklace, with emerald bridging fire opal, citrine and diamond. The “To Creativity” dangle drop mismatching earrings boast a beguiling sequence of emerald, iolite and diamond. The “To The Universe” ring cleverly expresses the idea that “the universe is inside you”, with its diamond representing the wearer, its opal representing the universe and the spiral of emeralds forming the connection between the two. All are set in 18k yellow gold. “To Peace”, “To Divinity”, “To Self-Love” and “To Womanhood” are a few of the others, each one using coloured gemstones to inspire the wearer to a higher purpose.
“This collection is an inspired feast for the eyes, and a true testament to Donna’s exacting creative flair. Each piece is so cleverly thought through, delighting both in meaning and the pleasing arrangement of colour. After half a billion years in darkness, patiently awaiting discovery, it is a joy to see Gemfields’ Zambian emeralds celebrated in these kaleidoscopic creations, promising a bridge of love to their future wearer.” Emily Dungey, Gemfields director of marketing and communications.
Hourani’s upbeat designs are informed by her appreciation of the simple joys in life, like nature and pure love. She believes that emerald is the gemstone that allows the wearer to operate from the heart level, representing unconditional love and self-compassion and harmony with nature. Thus, emerald is perfectly cast as the “Hero” gemstone of this collection.
