“Through the Miss Universe crown,Jewelmer is sharing the best of the Philippines to the world through the South Sea pearl, our national gem.” Courtesy of Jewelmer
The Miss Universe Organization partners with Jewelmer for this year’s prize crown, making it the first Filipino-crafted crown in the pageant’s history.
To trace the inception of a Jewelmer piece is to follow a long string of meticulous acts. From the long hours put into collection—wherein a majority of women farm managers lead a community of divers, pearl farmers, and marine biologists—to a screening process where only the top 2% of harvest are brought to the hands that make, a single golden South Sea pearl could be the result of a decade’s worth of dedicated work.
This month, the brand will lend this artistry to the Miss Universe Organization, making the first Filipino-crafted crown to top the pageant’s world stage. “Miss Universe is admired for their universal themes of nature, femininity, and community, values and qualities akin to the very nature of the golden South Sea pearl,” says Jewelmer chief marketing officer Marion Branellec De Guzman. “[We are] honored to shine the light on the Philippines’ beauty and artistry to international audiences.”
The crown is adorned in 23 golden South Sea pearls, each one “carefully matched in color and luster throughout years of harvest.” Handcrafted by Filipino master craftsmen honed in the traditional techniques practiced at Paris’ Place Vendôme, Jewelmer’s pride gems space out gold spirals that meet at a centerpiece: sun rays animated by seed pearls.
“From the design to the selection of the pearls, every step was taken with great intention,” Branellec De Guzman elaborates on the process. “Ultimately, the crown is a celebration of every Filipino’s artistry and talent on a global scale.”
At the same time as the crown’s debut, Jewelmer celebrates its 45th anniversary. The 377 steps taken to complete the piece are a testament to its legacy, aimed at uplifting Filipino craft and its artisans through French techniques. “Through the Miss Universe crown,” Branellec De Guzman shares, “Jewelmer is sharing the best of the Philippines to the world through the South Sea pearl, our national gem.”
Since 1979, the brand has taken inspiration from life itself, embodied in the pearl and the care that extends from our fingertips. “Countless hands have contributed to this piece,” she continues. “The crown carries with it the extraordinary spirit of everyone who took part in its creation.”
Designed to celebrate the empowered woman and her innate strength, Jewelmer believes that this partnership with the Miss Universe Organization is only fitting. “The crown is more than just a piece of jewelry,” Branellec De Guzman muses. “It embodies the pride of a nation.”
The Miss Universe 2024 pageant will take place in Mexico City on November 17, 2024.
