Story Highlight
– De Beers launches 12-piece diamond capsule collection.
– Collection features GemFair artisanal mining sourced diamonds.
– GemFair supports 7,000 workers across 500 mine sites.
– Environmental project converts abandoned mines into farmland.
– Collaboration marks GemFair’s first dedicated jewellery collection.
Full Story
De Beers London has unveiled a new capsule collection comprising 12 pieces of jewellery that uniquely incorporate diamonds sourced from the GemFair artisanal and small-scale mining initiative. This marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time GemFair diamonds have been featured in a dedicated jewellery line.
Launched in Sierra Leone’s Kono region in 2018, the GemFair programme has expanded to encompass over 500 mine sites and supports an estimated 7,000 workers. It aims to provide artisanal miners—a group that represents around 10% of the global diamond supply by value—with a transparent route to market through sophisticated digital tracking tools.
Since its establishment, GemFair has acquired more than 20,000 diamonds and has conducted approximately 5,700 compliance checks to ensure responsible mining and labour practices. The new jewellery range includes a blend of polished and rough diamonds, showcasing their raw beauty. Furthermore, GemFair will serve as an approved supplier for upcoming De Beers London collections.
In addition to its focus on ethical sourcing, GemFair is also committed to environmental sustainability. Since 2020, the initiative has transformed around 160 neglected mine sites into arable land and has provided local communities with 1,000 kilograms of seedlings.
Emmanuelle Nodale, Chief Executive of De Beers London, expressed pride in being the first retailer to present a collection featuring ethically sourced diamonds from GemFair, emphasising the importance of sharing the compelling stories of artisanal miners. “By introducing both rough and polished diamonds within the same creation, we offer a rare and tangible connection to each diamond’s path, from its discovery in ancient riverbeds to its transformation into a jewel,” she stated.
Steve Allan, the head of GemFair, remarked that this collaboration signifies a pivotal moment for the organisation, as it brings beautifully crafted, ethically-sourced artisanal diamonds into a dedicated jewellery line for the first time.
