Eternal Jewels

Lee Kangwon stands among the world's foremost authorities in the field of jewellery. As the wife of a former diplomat, she has lived across four continents, visited more than 100 countries, and made her home in cities including Brasilia, Bonn, Addis Ababa, Washington DC, Bogota and Buenos Aires. In 2004, she founded the World Jewellery Museum in Seoul, which houses one of the world's most comprehensive jewellery collections. Lee is also an acclaimed poet whose works have been internationally published, including First Aid Kit for the Soul, Tango and Guerilla and The Tears of a Chameleon. Over two decades, she has played a prominent role in the museum field as founding president of the Seoul Museums Association and board member of the Culture Foundation of the National Museum of Korea. In 2016, she was awarded the Korean Presidential Citation and the Seoul Culture Award for her outstanding contributions to promoting international cultural exchange.

• Foreword 6Introduction 18Amber: Three Stones of Fortune 28Amber 34The Diplomat’s Wife 42Rings 48Ethiopia, My Love 54Ethiopian Crosses 64Emerald: The Poet’s Stone 70Sacred Objects from El Dorado 78Anklets & Bracelets 88Brooches & Pendants 102Modern Masters 114The Tree of Love: A Journey into the Amazon 122San Telmo: Where Time Tangos 128Blessed Jewels: From Sister to Señor 136Necklaces 142Earrings & Headdress 158Precious Curiosities 174Index 182

"Ultimately, Eternal Jewels: A Collector’s Journey is a beautiful book about human stories, both of the creators of these jewels as well as those of the collector." - Bedouin Silver