There is a special story behind every jewel or diamond. For example, as a young girl, Debora Huisman – Leeser received a bracelet that belonged to her deceased grandmother. Kitty Leeser also received a special gift twelve years ago: a necklace with a smile and a tear. Both women talk candidly about their memories of these jewels.

When Debora, Chief Creative Officer at GASSAN Diamonds, looks at the bracelet that belonged to her deceased grandmother and hears it tinkling, her memories come back to life: “Around the age of nine, my mother gave me a bracelet that belonged to her mother. , my grandmother, had been. A golden one good gourmet food link bracelet with hanging guilders on it. My mother knew how special I thought this bracelet was. Of course, I often get comments about my jewelry, but when I wear this bracelet, it is really striking how often people say something about it. I have also been asked if we could have it recreated, but yes, there are old-fashioned guilders on it and they no longer exist.

I had a very good relationship with my grandmother, her name was Sophia, I was completely crazy about her. She often picked me up from school, together with my mother, and she always took Lange Jannen for me in her bag. I remember very well that she used to come to our house every Thursday and Sunday and always sit in the same chair in the living room. I always sat on the floor next to her and watched her bracelet dance around her wrist. That image, that sound, it completely radiated who she was. 

“That image, that sound, it completely radiated who she was

At one point she became very ill, but she absolutely did not want to go to a doctor. My mother tried to get her into the hospital, but she refused. She then said: 'If you take me to a doctor now, I will be dead in two weeks.' But when she fell deathly ill, she had to. She died two weeks later. Colon cancer. In retrospect, if she had gone to a doctor in time, maybe they could have done something. But she knew it was wrong. She felt that too. Now I only have her bracelet, but that way she is still with me.”

Laughter and a tear 

Kitty Leeser, vice president of GASSAN Diamonds, received a special gift twelve years ago: a necklace that reminds her of an intense period in her life: “I actually got all my jewelry. I often receive a beautiful piece of jewelry at Christmas. Then there is often something new and Benno comes up with something beautiful for under the Christmas tree. It is of course the ultimate gift to receive at Christmas. I did not receive the smiley necklace from Benno, but from friends of ours from France in 2010; the year I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

''I think it's beautiful, but at the same time it's also very charged''

Alain Roure used to be a business associate of ours, but over the years a dear friendship has developed. Benno and I had invited Alain and his wife to join us for dinner. They were aware that I had been ill and had brought the necklace for me that evening. A kind of encouragement, because I had such a bad year. On one side of the pendant you see a happy smiley and on the other side a sad face. They always alternate, because the chain is constantly turning when you have it on. I think it's beautiful, but at the same time it's also very charged. The disease brings uncertainty, and that is reflected in the necklace.

When I see the chain, for example when I look in the mirror, I always feel a little fear that the cancer might come back. Unfortunately, that fear became reality when I contracted the disease again in 2018. After that I had to take medication for 5 years and I am now in my last year. It's not a superstition, but it does make me feel good to have it on.

Fortunately, the emotion I felt when I received the necklace always prevails: Gratitude. It had been so well thought out and that is what struck me at that moment. That doesn't happen very often, that people think very carefully about these kinds of things. I still find that very special.”