In this month's spotlight of Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC)-owned jewelry businesses it is my pleasure to present the top-notch and delightfully elegant work of Didi Rose Jewelry.
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Meet Benedicta Awere-Malik, owner, silversmith, goldsmith and creator behind Didi Rose Jewelry. With her roots in Southern Nigeria, Benedicta grew up loving jewelry. The gold and coral that her grandmothers wore are part of her inspiration to this day. Her creations are classy and well-designed, perfect as stand-alone pieces and also fitting to be layered or stacked together, like these beautiful Organic Gold Ring Bands.
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I asked Benedicta a few questions to get to know her and her process a bit more. Here are her own words:
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In a few words how would you describe the soul of your work that you hope comes across to the customer or viewer?
Benedicta: My soul of my work is rooted in simplicity with a little flash of the unexpected. I always want that to come through when someone views my work. Uncomplicated. So you don’t have to think too much about how you’re going to style the pieces. Comfortable. So the wearer doesn’t have to worry about having to take them off everyday.
What is your ideal working situation that fuels your creativity?
Benedicta: I generally prefer to work in absolute silence. Years ago, I would work mostly late at night when the city was asleep but moving to a small town and having to use hammers (noisy little things) have made that impossible so now I start working at about 10am which is also a quiet time. I work 85% of the time in silence and the other 15% I’m listening to either Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, Neyo or Alicia Keys. I don’t like podcasts. It’s too much talking.
Anything you’re making right now that you’re really excited about?
Benedicta: Not really making anything right now as I’ve been completely focused on opening my store. I’m however excited about my new collection which I’ll be releasing on November 27th. I finished the initial pieces a month ago and sent them out for photography. It’s a little like my usual work (textured) but also a little unlike my usual work (lots of color) which makes the pieces quite interesting. I’m looking forward to having some good bench time again soon after I invest in noise cancelling headphones to drown out staff maybe, LOL.
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Speaking of Benedicta’s new collection out in just a few days on November 27th, here’s a little preview of it!
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A huge step for any jeweler, and one that takes an exceptional kind of bravery in my opinion, is the decision to open a physical store and showroom. Benedicta is doing just that. The grand opening is on November 27th, coinciding with her new collection drop, which also happens to be Small Business Saturday. If you are in, or ever will be in Buford, Georgia, please visit Benedicta’s store! The info is on her website.
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I’d like to share a few more images of gorgeous Didi Rose jewels that really shine (pun intended). This necklace below features a perfectly subtle rainbow of gemstones set in a style called flush-setting.
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Another excellent example of Benedicta’s skill with flush setting are the Amaye Earrings, a new and take on diamond studs made with recycled gold.
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Perhaps you’ve heard of Enhydro Quartz? I hadn’t until recently. It is a kind of clear quartz with internal water-filled cavities, creating a bubble that often visibly moves inside the stone. They are quite enchanting and luminous. Benedicta has an assortment of rings and necklaces made with these, all set simply in silver or gold.
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I’ll close by sharing a Didi Rose engagement ring with unique texturing and a striking stone. This beauty is made of 14k gold and moissanite, a lab-grown gem with durability and sparkle like a diamond, but without the mining or the high price tag. It is currently available on her website
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If you are in the market for an engagement ring or any jewelry for that matter, Benedicta loves to do custom work. You can contact her on her website or instagram. Be sure to follow @didirosejewelry for news about the grand opening of the store too!
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