A Lebanese jewellery designer is facing serious outrage after she created and released her latest piece of jewellery, ‘The Blast Ring’ that is reportedly inspired by the devastating Beirut explosions that tore through the city. Nada Ghazal has sparked off controversy after she created and released a 18-carat yellow gold and champagne diamond ring, which Ghazal said is supposed to represent Beirut’s strength and resilience in the face of the aftermath of the tragedy. The ring is currently priced at $5,830. Ghazal has been accused of trying to profit off the tragedy and death of so many people.
Ghazal, who reportedly lost her workshop, then existing store and suffered great damages to her home, told Forbes that the champagne diamonds set atop the ring were “reminiscent of the dust clouds she saw after the explosion.”
Netizens were left outraged as the photos of the jewellery piece went viral who felt Ghazal was trying to make bucks out of the tragedy of her fellow countrymen and women.
“set with champagne diamonds reminiscent of the dust clouds she saw after the explosion” ♀️ pic.twitter.com/jmuMhYqgWb
— Sarah Dadouch | سارة دعدوش (@SarahDadouch) March 1, 2021
Yet someone else trying to profit off the pain of thousands. And of course at a price most Lebanese couldn't possibly afford.There is a big difference between depicting trauma through art & creating unaffordable, unattainable fashion off the back suffering #BeirutBlast https://t.co/wyxj8ZHtZk
— Sarah Copland (@sas_yvonne) March 1, 2021
.@NadaGhazalJewel apart from the insensitive exploitation of a blast that affected thousands and traumatized millions, the design has nothing to do with the blast – meaning that you just designed a random ring and slapped the bomb on it to get media attention. Shameful @Forbes.— Jad #WearAMask (@JadELTAL) March 1, 2021
By the way, it costs more than what most people in Lebanon are making in a year at the moment pic.twitter.com/F7TsSgmdu6— Laudy Issa (@laudyissa) March 1, 2021
It’s just despicable to be honest. Regardless of the price, even if was free, I find this unethical at all levels.— Raef Kobeissi (@RaefKobeissi) March 1, 2021
I had a fleeting moment when I hoped that this was from @TheOnion. Then I came back to my senses and remembered that some people actually promote buying USD $7,000 rings as “resilience”.— Catherine Weibel (@CatherineWeibel) March 1, 2021
Incredible insensitivity.— Katharine (@catarinak1) March 1, 2021
This is not the first time designers have tried to incorporate elements and themes of the Beirut blast into their projects. Last year, an accessories brand in Lebanon was criticised for selling a bag made of glass from the August 4 Beirut port blast. The brand named Vanina had said it was trying to pay tribute to the victims of the blast but was called out for the insensitiveness.
The Beirut port blast killed over 200 people and injured 6,000 and also led to serious destruction of people’s homes and properties.