Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor certainly knew something about the power of a dazzling diamond ring. From 68-carat sparklers to stunning yellow stones, diamonds have always captured the zeitgeist of high-style glamour. But what if jewelry lovers today could purchase a diamond that had a special kind of brilliance? A lifetime splurge, which could change the lives of others half a world away?
That’s the idea behind Diamonds of Wonder by R.F. Moeller Jeweler in the Twin Cities, a forward-thinking company that wants to change how people buy diamonds. “We knew that this collection had to be bigger than us,” says Bergit Mars, director of marketing at R.F. Moeller Jeweler. “It had to give back and contribute to the well-being of people and communities who make natural diamonds possible.”
Photography provided by R.F. Moeller Jeweler
It all begins with the rough stones selected using strict standards. The diamonds are guaranteed to be natural, untreated, conflict-free and non-Russian. These precious stones only pass through organizations that meet the American Gem Society and international ethics, human rights, environmental and labor standards.
With every Diamonds of Wonder purchase, a portion of the proceeds is donated to The Dow Academy in Mochudi, Botswana, which serves children from daycare through secondary school. The learning center offers safe and cost-effective education while affording parents, most of whom are single mothers, a chance to work outside of the home. “Without the diamond industry, Botswana would not be where it is today,” Cheshe Dow, chief executive officer of The Dow Academy, tells us. “The ethical and sustainable mining and selling of natural diamonds has allowed us as a people and a country to make and keep promises that matter. These promises include universal access to healthcare, education and a secure, peaceful country.”
The Dow Academy is undoubtedly different from your standard educational model, as this innovative school mixes traditional teaching principles with tangible, 21st-century life skills. They integrate computer coding into the elementary school curriculum, along with their Rebuild a Laptop program, which gives pupils a chance to take donated laptops apart, refurbish the machines and then put them back together again. Even their Graphic Novel Design project is geared toward a sense of discovery. Students learn the fundamentals of drawing, character development and storytelling while creating their own novel.
“Diamonds capture the imagination in every way, from the natural wonder they are to the beauty and uniqueness of each,” Dow points out. “Our students are just that, too. Inherently precious, each one is special and requires love, passion and attention to enable them to flourish. That’s why we call them our diamonds.”
This creative approach to learning inspired R.F. Moeller Jeweler to infuse each of their Diamonds of Wonder pieces with a one-of-a-kind beauty. Clients select their diamond, then choose which settings strike their fancies — the most challenging part is deciding. “We have a stunning 7.70-carat fancy intense yellow pear-shaped diamond with pear-shaped white diamonds on either side,” Mars says. “The setting is simple, allowing the center diamond to capture the light beautifully and sparkle like a glittery snow globe. It is one of the most beautiful diamonds I have ever seen.”
In recent years, oval-shaped diamonds have become popular, she says. The jeweler has also seen a growing interest in cushion-cut gems and radiant-cut diamonds, with a few marquise and pear shapes added. “Another trend we’re seeing is the Toi et Moi, or You and Me, ring setting that often features two diamonds in different shapes,” Mars tells us. “We have a remarkable 2.01-carat, loose, cushion-cut white diamond that I am daydreaming of setting in a pendant. It has amazing fire and brilliance and makes me smile when I see it on display in the store.”
High-quality, specially chosen gems are a signature of R.F. Moeller Jeweler, a three-generation family business that has been around since 1951. Because Moeller family members live in the same community as their clients, they are uniquely committed to providing exceptional designs. Their mission is to bring joy through tailor-made, one-on-one service to clients — the kind of attention not typically found at larger jewelry houses.
And now, with their new global initiative, R.F. Moeller is bringing another facet to the jewelry world. Diamonds of Wonder is adding a new “C” to this classic diamond standard — charity, along with color, clarity, cut and carat weight. “We’ve noticed that individuals have a greater interest in ensuring that the money they spend is doing good,” Mars sums up. “We hope Diamonds of Wonder will inspire people’s interest in natural diamonds and open their eyes to the stunning ripple effect they can have on the lives of children halfway across the world.”
