Only Memories and Diamonds are Forever

You don’t have to own lots of bling to enjoy its charms. Why not go on a diamond tour?

The doors to Jewel Africa are imposing, inspiring the kind of awe we often feel towards gems themselves. Take a closer look, and your eyes may be teased wide with wonder. A free diamond tour with the experts easily unlocks the complexity of the stones that make the world go wild.

Past the entrance and up the stairs, a certain  shiny-eyed entrance into the showroom is quite natural; you’ve just begun an hour of adventuring through a private haven of jewels.

Jewel Africa is nestled in Bo-Kaap parallel to Buitengracht Street. The showroom filled with collections of loose and set stones offer unique and free diamond tours in Cape Town. Africa produces 55% of the world’s diamonds. South Africa is diamond country. And the opulent beauty of Cape Town is the place to explore some diamonds and diamond rings of course. This in itself is a good reason to learn more about diamonds when in Cape Town.

A world of jewels – so many facets

Master diamond cutter, Richard Alston, has forty years experience in the intricacies of a mineral that formed over 100 million years ago, 200km below the earth’s surface. He’ll have you versed in the fine art of the 4 Cs before you’re finished the diamond tour. All the essentials about the cut, carats, colour and clarity of diamonds are shared with insight.

Exploring the nature, history, and processing of diamonds reveals their deeper beauty. The fiscal value of a ring is a revelation, but understanding just how long it takes to cut a diamond is priceless.

Richard’s talks during the tour are intimate, and easily understood. It makes for an intriguing outing perfect for a rainy day and cool during a hot summer day. Especially since a chauffeur driven door to door service is offered for free - so no reason not to enjoy the diamond tour.

You can request a diamond tour from Jewel Africa in any language and whether you’re more interested in the history of diamonds or how they are cut, you’ll learn something new about these precious stones. All in all an unusual way to discover this symbol of Africa.

 Did you know?

• 30% of the flaws in top graded stones are not visible to naked eye.  You may be able to get a larger diamond for less.
• Diamonds were once weighed in relation to carob fruit.  A carat is roughly equivalent to the mass of a carob seed.
• You can get a rainbow of hues in diamond. They also come in black. Red diamonds are incredibly rare.
• Plan your own jewellery and have your design turn from idea to end product within a day.
•  It’ll help you get the most out of your investment (Want a bigger diamond? Change the grade. Can’t afford a diamond? Think cubic zirconium. Jewel Africa’s products start at R50).
• Jewel Africa is one of only 15 South African diamond site holders, buying directly from De Beers catalogue and offering competitive prices as a result.
• Diamond Surprise tours - Each guest receives a glass of champagne, inside of which is a sparkling gem. One of them is a diamond, so sip carefully!
• The diamond tour also gives you advice on what to look for when buying diamonds
• Diamond tours can be tailored to hen parties, conferences or to bring some sparkle to a dull day.

It’s clear that a special diamond tour at Jewel Africa is a cut about the rest and a good way to explore the multifaceted world of diamonds. They may be the hardest known mineral to mankind but they are not that hard to understand in the right setting. 

By Jess Henson
 

Not sure how to spend your time (and money) in Cape Town wisely? At CapeTownMagazine.com we’d be happy to introduce you to an array of beautiful other Things to do in Cape Town.