DiaMondaine Diamantaires Club (DDC) is set to organise diamond safari tours in southern Africa, home to major diamond-producing countries.
The latest statistics released by the Kimberley Process show Botswana, Angola, and Namibia in the top five of the major diamond-producing countries by value.
Botswana and Angola are in the top five of the major diamond-producing countries by volume.
DDC founder Agnes Abdulahu told Rough&Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa that the launch of the first diamond safari will be done in Botswana, where they will host “Brilliant Africa”, to showcase the potential of African luxury brands and tourism.
She said DDC wants to combine very authentic journeys to discover Africa in informed, ethical, sustainable ways to purchase luxury, which is defined by empowering local communities.
Below are excerpts from the interview.
What was the reason behind the setting up of DiaMondaine Diamantaires?
DiaMondaine Diamantaires Club is a premium platform for the gem, jewellery, and watch industries.
Since its inception, we have been on a mission to connect brilliance and facilitate meaningful relationships through premium events, education, and experiences.
After two successful editions of “Diamond Networking Trips” in Dubai, partnerships with many jewellery and watch exhibitions and exhibitors, government bodies, and private companies, DDC decided to move to the next level of unique, passion-driven immersive experiences for industry professionals, enthusiasts, and customers worldwide.
Driven by a revolutionary soul to bring collective hedonism, from mine to market, DDC continues to inspire many with amazing collaborations, events, exhibitions, and global journeys to explore diamonds, gold, and gemstones.
Since we understand that the key to luxury is exclusivity, we create a desire to be part of our and your jewellery stores. We deliver optimism, and excellence and make differences that spark dreams.
For a mining company, the dream is to attract more investment, for a trader to get financing, and for the designer to tell their story and spark more interest.
What is the future of your club?
As an avant-gardist of our time in developing the entrepreneurial flair and ability that are supposed to be coming into the system, we can proudly say that we are pushing boundaries and walking on unconventional paths to foster a global vision of the diamonds, gold, and gemstone industry, from mining to delivering your story into the piece of jewellery product.
I understand you are planning Diamond Safari tours in Southern African countries. What inspired these tours?
African diamonds, gold, or gemstones are not considered luxury in a conventional understanding, while Safaris are luxurious tours to experience Africa. We want to combine very authentic journeys to discover Africa in informed, ethical, sustainable ways to purchase your luxury which is defined by empowering local communities.
Buying a jewellery piece because it is expensive is not enough to define your luxury purchase. We provide the missing gap, and that is offering collective hedonic escapism in forming customers' desires through authentic and experiential forms of exclusivity.
Diamond Safari welcomes individual, couples or group travellers to join for educational purposes, unique experiences, or to buy their piece of forever. The launch of Diamond Safari will be held in Botswana, where we will host “Brilliant Africa”, to showcase the potential of African luxury brands and tourism.
What are the benefits of attending your events?
We create space for informed choices, and ethical practices, and serve as a platform to empower designers. Some of the events we deliver will focus more on investment, others on creating space for connecting products with customers through unique exhibitions and jewellery fashion shows, in Monaco and Dubai.
Which organisations are you working with this year as a jewellery partner?
We are this year’s Jewellery Partner of Club Viva Nova, Barclays Private Bank, Relentless Magazine, and the International University of Monaco, during the Monaco Yacht Show. We are providing an opportunity to heavily network with future investors, partners, or buyers.
What are some of the events pencilled for 2024?
After Monaco, we have scheduled two Networking Trips to Dubai for October and November, due to the high interest in these trips that connect businesses in the gem, jewellery, and watches World. We are happy to announce we are moving slightly networking trips to India and South Africa, for 2025 in partnership with IIG.
One of the collaborations worth mentioning is with Stukkert & Co., whose founder is a billionaire, to organise the High Jewellery Show along with Investment Congress in Monaco and Dubai, next year.
If we recognise the importance of collective hedonism, a necessity for unique experiences, escape from ordinary life in pursuit of luxurious moments, informed purchases, education, and mindfulness in the value chain we are recognising DDC’s vision as futuristic and needful.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
