It was in late Spring, on a visit to Women for Women International, the Washington based NGO that supports women survivors in war torn regions of the world, that I first saw a stunning necklace made of bold pieces of faceted fluorite in an unusual deep sea green color . It had been a gift presented to Zainab Salbi, the remarkable founder of WWI, from the women in Afghanistan. I was struck by its beauty, workmanship and compelling story that highlighted the mission of our company to support women in regions of conflict. And knew that with some redesign this lovely necklace was to be the next product on the Collection.

Eight stone cutters and jewelry makers are now part of the workshop that creates The Kabul Necklace of Courage. They are primarily war widows who have been left without resources to support their families and are participants in WWI's income generating programs in Afghanistan. Our intention is to work closely with these women (and others who will be mobilized) as the initiative grows stronger and we are able to place more orders.

We received a prototype of the necklace in early summer and our holiday orders were placed. Soon after we learned that the supplier of fluorite who lived on the border of Pakistan had disappeared suddenly and that a new supplier would have to be found. It was not clear how long this would take. At the same time as we learned this news, we were also informed that the seamstresses in Karbala, Iraq who were creating the delicate jewelry bags were not able to get the exact kind of colorful ribbon that we had agreed upon. The marketplace from which they usually purchased their supplies had been bombed. In each instance, the women would reassure us that they would find a way - "Inshallah - God Willing!".

We also learned of the exquisite work of jewelry designer Nadia Dejani in Jordan who supports women in her design workshop - many the sole supporters of their families. It was Nadia who upon an inspiring meeting with Zainab Salbi had created the beautiful "Remember Me" silver charm that has been sewn onto each jewelry bag, as a symbolic reminder that even when CNN and the media move on, and our world focus moves on, we must remember the men and women left behind to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. For them, there is no moving on.

It was in mid November that all of the elements of this complex initiative came together and we received our first shipments of The Kabul Necklace of Courage in our warehouse. Its journey had been powerful. For no longer was it just another lovely object brought to you from a distant part of the world. Rather it was - and is - much more. Transformed into "an emissary of peace" , The Kabul Necklace of Courage is a reminder that as you wear it, the courage and resilience of the women of Afghanistan, Iraq and Jordan is reflected in each of its translucent stones.

(To learn more about the important work of Women for Women International, please go onto their website at www.womenforwomen.org. Amber sits on their Business Advisory Council.)