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Kay Jewelers and Zales Honor Dr. Opal Lee and Juneteenth with Special Edition Pendant June 30, 2023 (0 comments)
Akron, OH--Kay Jewelers and Zales have honored Dr. Opal Lee — famously known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" — with a unique edition pendant.
The companies announced in a joint news release that the pendant, featuring a black lab-created opal cabochon, commemorates Juneteenth and is available exclusively at Kay Jewelers and Zales.
According to the news release, from June 1 to July 31, 20% of each $149 pendant sale ($30) will be donated to the Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC), a 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to fostering the growth of Black professionals in the gem and jewelry industry.
Dr. Lee, a social impact leader and activist, played a significant role in making June 19 a U.S. national holiday, celebrating the end of slavery. Dr. Lee is best known for her walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., spanning over 1,400 miles, at the age of 89 in 2016, to urge lawmakers to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday.
The release noted that the unique edition pendant was presented to Dr. Lee during a private event at Riders Field in Frisco, Texas, on June 19. Employees of Signet Jewelers, the parent company of Kay and Zales, participated in a 2.5-mile walk around the stadium, symbolizing the 2.5 years it took for the Emancipation Proclamation to reach enslaved people in Galveston, Texas.
As per the release, Jamie Singleton, Signet Jewelers Group President, and Chief Consumer Officer, expressed profound honor in celebrating Juneteenth and Dr. Opal Lee with the unique edition pendant. Signet's Chief Diversity Officer, Reggie Johnson, emphasized the importance of Juneteenth, representing liberty and freedom for all, and acknowledged Dr. Lee's role as an inspiration.
The release noted that the exclusive necklace, a symbol of hope and perseverance, was designed to honor Dr. Opal Lee. It features a black lab-created opal cabochon, symbolizing vibrant light emerging from darkness, set in sterling silver shaped in a sunburst flame with a band of polished 10K yellow gold. The necklace also includes a star-shaped backplate inscribed with the year "1865" and a "Juneteenth" tag near the clasp.
The Juneteenth pendant is available for purchase on the companies' websites. This initiative reflects the partnerships across Signet that serve to enact its purpose of "Inspiring Love," with collaboration from its various Business Resource Groups, such as the Black Employee Network BRG.
Read the original news release.
[All images via Kay Jewelers and Zales]