Lorraine Schwartz launched her ‘Diamond Monkey Collection’

DIAMOND MONKEY JEWELRY COLLECTION

Overview:
Inspired by the popular, See no Evil. Hear no Evil. Speak no Evil. mantra, Schwartz has designed a collection which is called the "Diamond Monkey" Collection. “The concept behind see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil is a means to leading a peaceful, positive life” says Schwartz. “Wearing this emblem is a constant reminder of these three mantras and helps keep you grounded by empowering you to take charge of your emotions and block out negativity.” The collection, which is available by wait list only, features 18k gold and blackened-gold monkeys representing the three aspects of the adage. The handmade monkeys are adorned with canary yellow diamonds and contrasting white diamonds for the eyes. The Lorraine Schwartz Monkey Collection includes necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings and cufflinks which can be worn layered or as a single statement piece, and are available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman.

From a oct. 28, 2007 post on concreteloop.com

“I collect the see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil monkeys. The are very nice looking. It’s nothing racial about it…they are monkeys, covered with diamonds…hence “diamond monkey collection”…plain and simple. blacks always wanna take something out of proportion!!!” 

My Response:

What a great example of unintended irony. Analyzing this quote, an extremist might view it as a subliminally racist metaphor; however, I just hope it was just a curiously comical coincidence. Though the post is describing the jewelry, imagine it as a description of the celebrities themselves… “… The(y) are very nice looking…they are monkeys covered with diamonds…”, very disturbing right?  At least whoever posted this comment referred to these people as black rather than negro/

The main point of this issue is not black folks being hypersensitive on race issues; it is about Loraine Schwartz’ lack of creativity. Schwartz’ choice to call her collection by this name is simply uncreative. Most know the tragic stereotypes created to align blacks with primates in the past so I will not loom there. How about this…let us all: black, white, and brown, evolve and stop perpetuating the stereotypes placed on us from years ago. Again, the point is Ms. Schwartz could have chosen a much more creative and sensitive title for her collection. I would have expected young Skateboard P (Pharell Williams) to check her on that shit; but there he is smiling for the paparazzi. Maybe this is a class issue. To me it seems as if these uber-rich celebrities are losing sight of reality. Hey, this is America, a free country; so I guess the folks wearing the jewels do not care about the name of her collection. Should they? If you can afford it and want to wear a bathing ape T-shirt and Red Monkey Jeans designed by a Japanese man, adorn yourself with monkey diamonds from a white (Jewish?) woman, and rap about shooting people of color and selling them crack then good for you. Wow…Dance monkey! Looks like Ms. Klum brought her own real life diamond monkey…j/k, I like them and have no problem with interracial dating, but I had to say it. I’m sure some ignorant-racist-bigot was thinking it somewhere; I just wanted to beat them to it and steal their power.