a gorgeous oval lavender sapphire is east-west set in buttery 18k yellow gold with a substantial bezel, rounded for comfort, on a thoughtfully-designed knife-edge band, by artist-jeweler Benedicta Awere-Malik of DidiRose Jewelry
1.62 ct lavender sapphire, solid 18k yellow gold, currently size 6.5 and resizable
About the Artist
Benedicta Awere-Malik is the owner and curator of Didi Rose Jewelry. She says she has always loved working with her hands. She learned to braid hair at age 7, learned to sew at 11, and because her mother was a baker, she has always loved to bake.
She recalls starting to work with jewelry around age 9, writing, “I also used to make beads from wire. This involved cutting the wires into little pieces after taking out the copper bit then frying them a little in palm oil so they melt and look like raw uncut coral. I’m talking about the little red electrical cord that we used in Nigeria in the 80s.”
“Just like any woman from Southern Nigeria, I love jewelry and I always have… My grandmothers were huge gold and coral buffs. Many of the pieces I make are inspired by those amazing woman. My maternal grandmother with her patterned hoops/rustic looking pendants and my paternal grandmother with her signature long coral necklace that she tied to make it look like a lariat. Also, I love the look of gold jewelry. Doesn’t hurt that it looks really great against my dark skin. And silver? Don’t say it again, I love…”
Benedicta took that inspiration and admiration for beautiful materials and translated it into works of gold, silver and gemstone, artistically presented as impressive works of art one can wear each day. Benedicta creates from her studio and retail shop – Didi Rose Design. Her shop is open to the public in Buford, Georgia.
