Vara of London Unveils Privé Collection of Jewels

I first met Mayuri Vara in 2014 at an upscale Hong Kong bar with sweeping views of the city. It was there that the former pharmacist showed me her first collection of jewels under the brand, Vara of London.

Diya pink sapphire and diamond ear jackets in 18k Gold that can be converted to studs VARA OF LONDON

At the time I lauded her initial collection of classic and elegant of jewels as a well-thought-out mix of products where individual pieces match but in a variety of innovative ways. The jewels were made of sterling silver plated with yellow gold or white gold, with some pieces having a black rhodium finish. The collection was dominated by a mix of smoky quartz, amethyst, citrines, peridot, tourmaline with some diamonds sprinkled among the gems.

Rani ruby and diamond ear drops in 18k rose gold that can be converted into ear jackets. VARA OF LONDON

Five years later I met Mayuri at Madame Fù, a contemporary Chinese restaurant in a recently opened cultural and shopping center that used to be the Central Police Station. She showed me pieces from her newest collection, “Privé,” which remains true to her original inspirations that include the glamour of Elizabeth Taylor, her British and Indian heritage and the dynamic city of Hong Kong. The self-taught designer said she started creating jewels because she had difficulty finding pieces she loved.

Serpentina Linea 18k rose ring with diamonds VARA OF LONDON

“I design fine jewelry that I would wear myself as an everyday accessory,” she said. “Statement pieces, worn with a crisp white shirt during the day, through to evening wear. My clients, most of whom are women, financially independent, choose to purchase fine jewelry for themselves, wearing pieces that empower them, choosing to self gift for a birthday or reaching a personal or business goal.”

The new collection of approximately 12 elegant and fashionable pieces reveals how Vara has upped her game in materials and versatility. Her new collection boasts pieces in 18k white and rose gold set with rubies, pink sapphires and diamonds.

Mayuri Vara

Mayuri Vara founder of Vara of London VARA OF LONDON
Like her previous collection it has strong focus and the pieces could be mixed and matched without appearing as if it is a suite of jewels. However, she has increased this versatility by creating a few transformable pieces. For example, her Rani earrings, which feature rows of round rubies, could be worn as long silky drops or as ear jackets. Her Diya ear jackets are available with either diamonds or pink sapphires as the dominate gem. Like her other earrings these are transformable with the jackets being removable so they can be worn as elegant studs.

Meanwhile, her Serpentina Linea necklaces, bracelets and rings use thin coiled 18k white or rose gold in the form of a snake, paved with rows of diamonds. Earrings from the same line use black rhodium gold and black diamonds. Like her first collection, the dark color contrasts provide an edge to the elegance of the pieces.

Serpentina Linea earrings in black gold and black diamonds VARA OF LONDON

Vara is involved in certain charitable causes. For example she has donated jewels for charity auctions such as Christina Noble Children’s Charity which support underprivileged children in Vietnam, and The Womens Foundation Hong Kong, which empower women in poverty.

Vara’s next plan is quite ambitious, saying she wants to exhibit at Paris Couture week, which would place her young brand with some of the most important high jewelers in the world.

Serpentina Linea bangle in 18k white gold & diamonds VARA OF LONDON
Vara of London jewels are available through the company’s website or on the website of the Harvey Nichols department store.

Source: DCLA

Vara of London Unveils Privé Collection of Jewels

I first met Mayuri Vara in 2014 at an upscale Hong Kong bar with sweeping views of the city. It was there that the former pharmacist showed me her first collection of jewels under the brand, Vara of London.

Diya pink sapphire and diamond ear jackets in 18k Gold that can be converted to studs VARA OF LONDON

At the time I lauded her initial collection of classic and elegant of jewels as a well-thought-out mix of products where individual pieces match but in a variety of innovative ways. The jewels were made of sterling silver plated with yellow gold or white gold, with some pieces having a black rhodium finish. The collection was dominated by a mix of smoky quartz, amethyst, citrines, peridot, tourmaline with some diamonds sprinkled among the gems.

Rani ruby and diamond ear drops in 18k rose gold that can be converted into ear jackets. VARA OF LONDON

Five years later I met Mayuri at Madame Fù, a contemporary Chinese restaurant in a recently opened cultural and shopping center that used to be the Central Police Station. She showed me pieces from her newest collection, “Privé,” which remains true to her original inspirations that include the glamour of Elizabeth Taylor, her British and Indian heritage and the dynamic city of Hong Kong. The self-taught designer said she started creating jewels because she had difficulty finding pieces she loved.

Serpentina Linea 18k rose ring with diamonds VARA OF LONDON

“I design fine jewelry that I would wear myself as an everyday accessory,” she said. “Statement pieces, worn with a crisp white shirt during the day, through to evening wear. My clients, most of whom are women, financially independent, choose to purchase fine jewelry for themselves, wearing pieces that empower them, choosing to self gift for a birthday or reaching a personal or business goal.”

The new collection of approximately 12 elegant and fashionable pieces reveals how Vara has upped her game in materials and versatility. Her new collection boasts pieces in 18k white and rose gold set with rubies, pink sapphires and diamonds.

Mayuri Vara

Mayuri Vara founder of Vara of London VARA OF LONDON
Like her previous collection it has strong focus and the pieces could be mixed and matched without appearing as if it is a suite of jewels. However, she has increased this versatility by creating a few transformable pieces. For example, her Rani earrings, which feature rows of round rubies, could be worn as long silky drops or as ear jackets. Her Diya ear jackets are available with either diamonds or pink sapphires as the dominate gem. Like her other earrings these are transformable with the jackets being removable so they can be worn as elegant studs.

Meanwhile, her Serpentina Linea necklaces, bracelets and rings use thin coiled 18k white or rose gold in the form of a snake, paved with rows of diamonds. Earrings from the same line use black rhodium gold and black diamonds. Like her first collection, the dark color contrasts provide an edge to the elegance of the pieces.

Serpentina Linea earrings in black gold and black diamonds VARA OF LONDON

Vara is involved in certain charitable causes. For example she has donated jewels for charity auctions such as Christina Noble Children’s Charity which support underprivileged children in Vietnam, and The Womens Foundation Hong Kong, which empower women in poverty.

Vara’s next plan is quite ambitious, saying she wants to exhibit at Paris Couture week, which would place her young brand with some of the most important high jewelers in the world.

Serpentina Linea bangle in 18k white gold & diamonds VARA OF LONDON
Vara of London jewels are available through the company’s website or on the website of the Harvey Nichols department store.

Source: DCLA

Kimberley’s last diamond miner, Ekapa, struggles to stay afloat as artisanal miner deal unravels

KIMBERLEY Ekapa Mining, the last major diamond company operating in Kimberley, has imposed a three-month, 12.5% salary reduction across the board on its staff in an attempt to remain economically viable in the face of slumping diamond prices and renewed problems with illegal miners on its property.

The operation was formerly run as a joint venture with London-listed, Petra Diamonds, which sold its 75.9% controlling stake in July last year to partner Ekapa for R300m.

At the time, Ekapa was experiencing major problems with illegal miners operating on its properties, but had – hopefully – reached a workable solution after surrendering 600 hectares of its ground to the illegal miners provided they stayed off the rest of the company’s lease area.

That was in terms of a deal brokered by the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy and the Sol Plaatje Municipality which runs Kimberley. The deal, lauded at the time by mines minister, Gwede Mantashe, was called the Batho Pele initiative and the former illegal miners were reclassified as artisanal miners.

Yet KEM CEO, Jahn Hohne, has now revealed that KEM is still spending R3m a month on security measures to keep the miners off mine property after further incidents including arson on some of the company’s haul vehicles.

Hohne could not be reached directly for comment.

In reply to written questions the company issued a statement saying: “Kimberley Ekapa Mining is reliably informed that an alleged new third force of illegal miners is attempting to muscle in and around the Batho Pele initiative.

“They are using force; trespassing; conducting illegal mining; sabotaging mine infrastructure and allegedly being supported by illegal diamond traders”.

Asked what was being done about the situation, the company replied: “Kimberley Ekapa Mining is working closely with all relevant stakeholders … to ensure the success of the initiative”.

According to the statement the current crunch in the global diamond market, which has hit small diamond prices particularly hard, “… equates to an approximately 20% year-on-year price decrease in dollar terms for Ekapa’s mining operations in Kimberley”.

Hohne had originally proposed a 25% wage cut which was vehemently rejected by the National Union of Mineworkers and the union has also rejected the 12.5% cut now imposed.

This is despite Hohne’s commitment that the reductions will be repaid “… from the earliest available distributable profits when the new business model is successful”.

The statement said management was engaging directly with the NUM in the Northern Cape and that “… at the time of this response Kimberley Ekapa Mining had not received any formal notification of a dispute being declared”.

Source: DCLA

Kimberley’s last diamond miner, Ekapa, struggles to stay afloat as artisanal miner deal unravels

KIMBERLEY Ekapa Mining, the last major diamond company operating in Kimberley, has imposed a three-month, 12.5% salary reduction across the board on its staff in an attempt to remain economically viable in the face of slumping diamond prices and renewed problems with illegal miners on its property.

The operation was formerly run as a joint venture with London-listed, Petra Diamonds, which sold its 75.9% controlling stake in July last year to partner Ekapa for R300m.

At the time, Ekapa was experiencing major problems with illegal miners operating on its properties, but had – hopefully – reached a workable solution after surrendering 600 hectares of its ground to the illegal miners provided they stayed off the rest of the company’s lease area.

That was in terms of a deal brokered by the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy and the Sol Plaatje Municipality which runs Kimberley. The deal, lauded at the time by mines minister, Gwede Mantashe, was called the Batho Pele initiative and the former illegal miners were reclassified as artisanal miners.

Yet KEM CEO, Jahn Hohne, has now revealed that KEM is still spending R3m a month on security measures to keep the miners off mine property after further incidents including arson on some of the company’s haul vehicles.

Hohne could not be reached directly for comment.

In reply to written questions the company issued a statement saying: “Kimberley Ekapa Mining is reliably informed that an alleged new third force of illegal miners is attempting to muscle in and around the Batho Pele initiative.

“They are using force; trespassing; conducting illegal mining; sabotaging mine infrastructure and allegedly being supported by illegal diamond traders”.

Asked what was being done about the situation, the company replied: “Kimberley Ekapa Mining is working closely with all relevant stakeholders … to ensure the success of the initiative”.

According to the statement the current crunch in the global diamond market, which has hit small diamond prices particularly hard, “… equates to an approximately 20% year-on-year price decrease in dollar terms for Ekapa’s mining operations in Kimberley”.

Hohne had originally proposed a 25% wage cut which was vehemently rejected by the National Union of Mineworkers and the union has also rejected the 12.5% cut now imposed.

This is despite Hohne’s commitment that the reductions will be repaid “… from the earliest available distributable profits when the new business model is successful”.

The statement said management was engaging directly with the NUM in the Northern Cape and that “… at the time of this response Kimberley Ekapa Mining had not received any formal notification of a dispute being declared”.

Source: DCLA

GEM DIAMONDS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LARGE DIAMONDS’ PRICES DESPITE MARKET

Gem Diamonds, which operates the Letšeng diamond mine in Lesotho, has published its sales performance for the first half of the year ended June 20, 2019. Gem Diamonds sold 55,714 carats during the period, achieving an average price of $1,697 per carat – 10% more than the average price for H2 2018. Revenue for the period totaled $41.6 million USD.

During the period, the miner sold a 13.32 carat pink diamond for a Letšeng record of $656,934 per carat, and recovered three diamonds greater than 100 carats. It sold 15 diamonds for more than $1 million each. Gem Diamonds added that it is on track to deliver its targeted $100 million “in incremental revenue, productivity improvements and cost savings over the 4-year period to end 2021”.

Gem Diamonds concluded by announcing that prices for the smaller and commercial goods “have been under pressure for some time with the larger goods having been less affected, although showing recent signs of weakness”. However, the miner expects “Letšeng’s unique, ultra-high-quality goods to be less vulnerable over time to market pressures”.

Source: DCLA

GEM DIAMONDS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LARGE DIAMONDS’ PRICES DESPITE MARKET

Gem Diamonds, which operates the Letšeng diamond mine in Lesotho, has published its sales performance for the first half of the year ended June 20, 2019. Gem Diamonds sold 55,714 carats during the period, achieving an average price of $1,697 per carat – 10% more than the average price for H2 2018. Revenue for the period totaled $41.6 million USD.

During the period, the miner sold a 13.32 carat pink diamond for a Letšeng record of $656,934 per carat, and recovered three diamonds greater than 100 carats. It sold 15 diamonds for more than $1 million each. Gem Diamonds added that it is on track to deliver its targeted $100 million “in incremental revenue, productivity improvements and cost savings over the 4-year period to end 2021”.

Gem Diamonds concluded by announcing that prices for the smaller and commercial goods “have been under pressure for some time with the larger goods having been less affected, although showing recent signs of weakness”. However, the miner expects “Letšeng’s unique, ultra-high-quality goods to be less vulnerable over time to market pressures”.

Source: DCLA

Botswana Diamonds Shares Jump On Licence Extension

Shares in Botswana Diamonds PLC jumped Thursday after it extended two “strategic” diamond licences for further two years, as it considered forming a joint venture to develop the projects.

Shares in Botswana Diamonds were 9.9% higher at 0.54 pence in London on Thursday.

Botswana Diamonds – through its wholly-owned Sunland Minerals Ltd subsidiary – extended the Prospecting Licences PL232 and PL235 in Botswana to the end of September 2021.

The firm explained the “key” licences were “strategically located” in the centre of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, covering 500 square kilometres. Botswana Diamonds has already identified “prospective drill ready targets” following “intensive” work at the sites.

Botswana Diamonds said it was “already in extended discussions” with a “major” diamond producer regarding the formation of a joint venture for the next phase of the work on the licences.

Source: DCLA