Animal motifs have always had a place in jewelry, but many of today’s buyers are looking for more than ornament; they want one-of-a-kind pieces with a story and sense of purpose. That shift has created space for designers to rethink traditional themes, a direction reflected in Samira Mazloom’s “Fading Footprints” collection.
A seasoned designer and gemologist from a family of jewelry makers, Mazloom is deeply rooted in the craft. The author took an interest in Mazloom’s work at the Gem & Jewelry Exchange, where she was carefully sourcing very specific gemstone cuts for her latest pieces. When she spoke about her work, it was clear this was more than a collection—it was a calling.
Each piece in “Fading Footprints” embodies an endangered species. Crafted primarily in platinum and 18K gold, the designs feature a single high-clarity, high-domed cabochon. The stone acts as a lens, magnifying the representation of the animal’s footprint beneath it. Mazloom works closely with her jeweler, Chuang Yu, to bring each piece to life.
Awareness is central to the collection. Mazloom has traveled to conservation sites in Laos, Thailand, Kenya, South Africa, and beyond, drawing inspiration from animals she has encountered firsthand. Each gemstone is chosen intentionally to connect with the story. For her Asian rhinoceros piece (figure 1), she selected an Australian opal. The opal’s shifting rainbow colors evoke the modern, magical imagery of the unicorn, a mythical creature often compared to Asian rhinos due to their endangered status. Her polar bear design features crisp blue topaz (figure 2), inspired by Arctic ice.
For Mazloom, jewelry is not simply decoration—it is storytelling and quiet activism, embedding remembrance, protection, and meaning in a wearable form.
Lisa Kennedy is technical advisor at GIA in New York.
Animal motifs have always had a place in jewelry, but many of today’s buyers are looking for more than ornament; they want one-of-a-kind pieces with a story and sense of purpose. That shift has created space for designers to rethink traditional themes, a direction reflected in Samira Mazloom’s “Fading Footprints” collection.
A seasoned designer and gemologist from a family of jewelry makers, Mazloom is deeply rooted in the craft. The author took an interest in Mazloom’s work at the Gem & Jewelry Exchange, where she was carefully sourcing very specific gemstone cuts for her latest pieces. When she spoke about her work, it was clear this was more than a collection—it was a calling.
Each piece in “Fading Footprints” embodies an endangered species. Crafted primarily in platinum and 18K gold, the designs feature a single high-clarity, high-domed cabochon. The stone acts as a lens, magnifying the representation of the animal’s footprint beneath it. Mazloom works closely with her jeweler, Chuang Yu, to bring each piece to life.
Awareness is central to the collection. Mazloom has traveled to conservation sites in Laos, Thailand, Kenya, South Africa, and beyond, drawing inspiration from animals she has encountered firsthand. Each gemstone is chosen intentionally to connect with the story. For her Asian rhinoceros piece (figure 1), she selected an Australian opal. The opal’s shifting rainbow colors evoke the modern, magical imagery of the unicorn, a mythical creature often compared to Asian rhinos due to their endangered status. Her polar bear design features crisp blue topaz (figure 2), inspired by Arctic ice.
For Mazloom, jewelry is not simply decoration—it is storytelling and quiet activism, embedding remembrance, protection, and meaning in a wearable form.
Lisa Kennedy is technical advisor at GIA in New York.
