1 September 2021
New charitable pendant celebrates completion of book trilogy
Shaped like Africa and sparkling with a Zambian emerald, a Mozambican ruby and stunning sapphire, the new Jewel of Africa x Gemfields pendant celebrates the ‘Big Three’ this September.
To mark the completion of the landmark trilogy of coffee table books sponsored by Gemfields and devoted to the ‘Big Three’ coloured gemstones, Gemfields has partnered with Jewel of Africa to create a special limited edition of 100 Jewel of Africa x Gemfields pendants crafted in the shape of the African continent and containing the ‘Big Three’ gemstones – a Zambian emerald, a Mozambican ruby and a blue sapphire – in a symbolic continental kaleidoscope.
Launching on the first day of September, for which sapphire is the birthstone, the pendants are available to buy online via The Alkemistry with the full sales price of GBP 795 per pendant supporting construction of a new computer training laboratory for children and adults displaced by the insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province.
Jewel of Africa is a family-run business and is Zambia’s leading jewellery manufacturer and an expert in emerald mining. Rashmi Sharma of Jewel of Africa said: “This particular collaboration is akin to completion of a puzzle, with Gemfields gemstones fitting perfectly into Jewel of Africa’s jewellery – two companies whose mutual goal is to benefit African communities. This is about Africa and its resources working for Africa.”
The Jewel of Africa x Gemfields pendant features a 0.20 carat round Zambian emerald, a 0.12 carat Mozambican ruby and 0.12 carat sapphire, all set in an 18-karat yellow gold outline of Africa.
Gemfields’ CEO Sean Gilbertson said: “We’re delighted to mark the completion of our coffee table book trilogy with the continentally colourful Jewel of Africa x Gemfields pendant. Today, more value than ever accrues to Mozambique and Zambia from their coloured gemstone resources. In designing this piece, Jewel of Africa’s talented team in Zambia has brought to life a talisman signifying a key Gemfields tenet: that Africa’s gemstone wealth must contribute meaningfully not only to host-country economies but also to host communities and the next generation by way of education, healthcare and livelihoods projects. We look forward to seeing the new computer laboratory in action.”
The new computer laboratory is being led by the Gemfields Foundation, the charitable arm of Gemfields dedicated to supporting communities and conservation in Africa.
The release of Sapphire completes the landmark trilogy of coffee table books sponsored by Gemfields and devoted to the ‘Big Three’ coloured gemstones – emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Emerald was released in 2013 and Ruby in 2017, meaning completion of the project spans almost a decade of work and research by author Joanna Hardy.
Sapphire Book Publisher: Thames & Hudson in association with Violette Editions
Sapphire Book Author: Joanna Hardy
Sapphire Book Editor: Robert Violette
Sapphire Book Designer: Studio Frith
Inclusion Images: Christopher P. Smith/American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)
Gemstones: Diacolor and Gemcloud
Pendant: Jewel of Africa
Retailer: The Alkemistry
Photographer: Casey Moore
Model: Ayo Oyeleru
Talent Agent: Body London
Make-up: Julia Laza