While celebrities and diamonds are often associated, this tends to be more common amongst movie stars and musicians than with politicians. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, is changing that. The first lady has participated in numerous fundraisers and other events that have linked her to some of the most beautiful diamonds in the world.
Jennifer Newsom is far from a quiet political wife. With degrees from Stanford University and Stanford business school, this politico has made quite an impact already in her life and shows no signs of slowing down. She has worked as a doctor’s assistant in third world countries, started numerous environmental organizations, acted in television and movies, and even formed her own production company. She has played numerous competitive sports and is a supporter of many causes, primarily involving the environment as well as the rights of women and children.
Newsom hosted the launch of the Hearts on Fire Architectural Collection. This collection is considered “wearable art”, and is modeled after some of the finest architectural designs from around the world, with pieces modeled after such landmarks as the Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston, MA, and the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. The collection traveled to Fashion Week in New York City and made an appearance at the 2008 Emmy awards. The collection is currently on a tour of both the US and international jewelry markets.
While this launch is exciting for Newsom, it is not her only big event that involves beautiful and rare diamonds. In fact, the first lady has a jewelry exchange with some of the biggest diamond purveyors in San Francisco, who have loaned her numerous pieces of exquisite and beautiful jewelry.
S.H. Silver Co. specially crafted a beautiful platinum diamond necklace valued at approximately $500,000 to wear on her wedding day this past summer. The “knife edge” design necklace, while it did not overshadow the event, was certainly something to be talked about. The piece looks beautiful next to the six figure Tiffany engagement ring Newsom received from her husband when they were dating.
Also worn at the wedding were a pair of platinum and diamond studs worth about twenty thousand dollars and a set of platinum drop earrings with sixteen cushion cut diamonds that weighed in at over six and a half carats. These pieces, totaling over fifty thousand dollars were on loan from family friend Steven Silver, who owns two high end jewelry salons in the city.
The first lady was seen in diamonds again this month for a benefit to support Newsom’s documentary “Women and Power” about women in politics and other professions and the obstacles that they still face. The benefit was co-hosted by the S.H. Silver Company, Steven Silver’s company, and the event was so successful that the valets had to turn away hopeful guests.
Newsom wore a gold sequined dress, which was stunning to be sure, but guests were likely distracted by the jewel hanging from the first lady’s neck. Around her neck hung the amazing 104.15 carat Great Chrysanthemum Diamond. Valued at over five million dollars and more impressive than the Hope Diamond, the diamond has 189 facets. It’s named after its color, a rich reddish brown.
The event, held at the famed Ritz-Carlton, was a success by all measures. Silver is said to be considering further joint promotions with Newsom. Another promotional fundraiser for the film was held in partnership between the San Francisco Film Society and Silver rival Cartier. The two companies insist that there are no hard feelings between the two and that there is plenty of custom work to go around for both of them.
Newsom is by all accounts one of the most successful and prominent first ladies in some time. At only thirty-five, she has worked in numerous countries and performed in a number of successful television shows and movies. She even acted in the play Six Degrees of Separation at the San Francisco Playhouse.
While she is committed to her life as the mayor’s wife, Newsom continues to put her most into her charity work and her films. She has been successful on so many fronts that it is hard to believe she is still so young. Whether you are talking about the diamonds she famously wears or the personality that lies inside the woman wearing them, Jennifer Siebel Newsom certainly sparkles and shines in any situation.